FCCPT credentialing

Hi,

I am an Australian trained physiotherapist currently dealing with a recruitment company with the hopes of moving the to USA to work.

My problem is that they have told me that there were too many Australian trained physios going over to the USA who weren't up to scratch and now they are changing the licencing procedure/credentialing requirements so that we would need to have completed a physiotherapy course similar to the US based model which includes arts/humanities subjects and they are not sure whether this is going to change.

Has anyone else been given this information? I don't want to go back to uni to do an arts degree just to work in the States.

Also, if I was to do the FCCPT credentialing process myself do we need to do the certificate 1 or just the education review?

Thankyou for your help!

Attachment 902Hey,

I'm a British trained Physio, trying to figure out the FCCPT process as well, to work in Texas. I had a chat with them the other day, and by the sounds of things, whether you need the certificate 1 or education review is dependent on the state you want to register to work in. The Certificate 1 includes a visa review, which is required for some states to work as a health professional. Not sure which states specifically this is for though, I'm afraid - they may be able to help out.

As far as the credits system, I've heard a lot of people saying that their courses have fallen short in the humanities/arts section. Will try and post the evaluation tool they use. I've not started the process yet, but am anticipating having to 'up' my credits as well - it seems these can be done through the CLEP exams. The lady at the FCCPT said that when they do the initial review, they will send a full report. Sometimes they suggest which subjects/areas you need to get more credits in, sometimes they leave it to you to decide. Following this, you can do a re-evaluation.

Hope this is of a little help at least! Good luck!!

Hi everyone,

I am very happy to find this topic here. I am a physiotherapist from Lithuania. I have a masters in Physical Therapy from Lithuania. Currently I live in the USA, Illinois and it's been already 1 year as I am dealing with FCCPT. Not a very pleasant experience so far... After talking to them and my school, dealing with translators and so on... I got my report. It says 14 subjects are missing accoring to the US PT ecudational system. I am totally mad, because they equalise 5-6 subjects from my credentials to 1 US subject. However, they sent me an offer called PLAN. Go to school and take those credits, what would take me 2 years... I am going to go through the reevaluation process. Will see what happens.
My strong recommendation to all who is planning to apply to FCCPT is make sure your course descriptions and syllabi are comprehensive and well expanded.

Any other experiences? Please share!
Best luck and patient to everyone!

Here is the evaluation tool used by FCCPT.

http://www.fccpt.org/download/CWT.pdf

I took CLEP exams to solve expected deficiencies in the general education.

I will know I will be short in professional credits aswell in Emergency Procedures, Delegation and Screening! Such a pain!!

Does anyone know anyone who has succesfully completed the FCCPT evaulation?

Pad:

did you successfully get deficient courses through CLEP?
Is it faster and cost less to do it that way?

PTtasha1:

Not yet :)I am still in the process of re-evaluation. I have lots of work with course syllabi. The requirements seem to be unrealistic. FCCPT ( I believe any other agencies as well) asks for a VERY detailed Syllabus.

ANYONE:
Please share the course Syllabus experience. Did the agencies find your syllabus comprehensive and well expanded (detailed)?

I managed to complete all the credits required. I was lacking general education credits. I went through mainly CLEP. Its 80 dollars an exam, pass or fail. Thy really didnt have a problem with my syllabus, however, I was told I had to many credits and they could only except so many, but after their calculations I was told i was lacking credits. That never made any sense to me but I accepted it and went and got the credits requiered. My next step was to complete 114 hrs of clinical internship, which is where I am stuck at now. The clinical advised passed me, however, the University of St.Augustine failed me and the FCCPT did not accpet those credits because it was a failing grade. So no one has helped or even tried helping me. It almost seems as though they set us up for failure. It is very sad. I have been going through this for the past 4 yrs and its heartbreaking. So that is why I asked if there was anyone who acctually completed the FCCPT credentialing evaluation successfully. So if anyone knows of anyone I would like to know. Good luck to all! And try to hang in there.

Im sorry to hear that, it all seems like a big money making venture between the FCCPT, CLEP and other bodies...If only the FSBPT just evaluated on our current positions as working PT's like NZ or Oz do we would have a better chance of making the grades!

Thats what it seems to me as well. I don't think anyone will confront the FSBPT just because we all have a lot to lose. I think European PTs can bring alot to the US. It's a shame they don't see that.

Yep we are at the mercy of the bureaucrats!!

Whats your plan now? Are they saying prof or general ed credits is what you need?

All I needed was to complete 114hrs of clinical internship, which the University of St.Augustine gave me a failing grade. So now I have to try going back and doing it again. I work full time and have no money for another 3 credits. So right now I am stuck in a very bad place and no one seems to be able to help or give me any options. So what can I do? The professional and general education credits are easy to get. But interning after 4 yrs of being away from my field of study is very hard.

Wow! I dont think i can offer any advice on clinical hours. Youre right in that general and prof credits are relatively easy to get, just time consuming. I only had 10 general and the minimum of 90 prof but i need to do courses in both.

I hope you get the hours worked out somehow. Good Luck!

Well you can use CLEP. It is easier and cheaper than taking courses. I am not sure if it works for professional credits though. Are you living in the US or still in the UK? I atleast am an American citizen. Good luck to you too.

I did some CLEP modules (e.g Psychology and Sociology) to make up my general credits, these have been approved. Currently doing a few professional credits through Philippine Rehabilitation Institution (400USD per module). Hope to have the 4 modules complete within 3months.

what pad said... CLEP's are for general credits and im doing similar with PRI for prof credits..Im sitting the NPTE with NY in July though.

Im still working in the UK and even citizenship doesnt seem to hold any weight with the FSBPT, crazy.

Good luck one and all.

Pad are you taking any physics courses or just prof bits?

Hi James.

I am aiming for July aswell for NPTE. Applying to Massachusetts through FCCPT.

I don't need physics thankfully, but i am doing Delegation, Screening and two other modules to make up professional credits. Should be OK then. I had to do 3 CLEP exams. Getting there eventually! Plan to start studying for NPTE properly in february.

Alright Pad,

Starting Feb, really?! That makes me think i need to do similar but im doing CLEP college maths in Jan, Physics 1+2 with PRI then the courses you took also and then studying prob from May...im finishing up work in May though so it should help for july 31st, hope so. What books are you using?

---------- Post added at 10:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:46 PM ----------

also Pad, how are you finding PRI? ive heard mixed things...

Re PRI: Not bad so far. Bit slow to get emailed stuff at the moment due to recent typhoon apparently but can't complain. i am waiting on final exam for my first module at the moment. To be honest i don't mind as long as they fulfil my credit deficiencies!

I will be working up until June myself I think so studying will be difficult before that! I have O Sullivan and Siegalman Review and Study Guide. I have skimmed through a few chapter. Lots of stuff we haven't covered in Uni e.g paediatrics, orthotics. Apparently its possible to pass with just this book but ill see. Good to talk someone in the same boat!

typhoons hey, that old chesnut ;) im thinking the same, as long the courses meet the deficiencies and meet what the FCCPT want thats the main thing. You actually sound like your working to the same time scales as me which is good!

Im using O'Sullivan too which isnt an easy read and as you said, quite a few subjects that we didnt cover at uni. Ill take the 2 PEAT exams sometime in June too just to give me some pointers on where im lacking.

Are you going through any agencies in the US or doing things yourself?

Hi, I've been qualified since 2009, and only done my BSc, and currently looking at beginning the process with the FCCPT and applying to work in the US, and after reading your threads (James Physio and Pad), it's all looking a bit daunting and a lengthy process especially with getting credits up. I just wondered if you could tell me whether or not applying for the FCCPT is the only way of finding out how many credits you are short?
And if so, as I understand it, payment of $750 is payed upfront to the FCCPT. Is this correct??

Any information regarding this would be greatly appreciated, along with any tips for helping the process?

Thanks

well id be lying if i said it was quick, easy and cheap. That said it depends on your education prior to the physio degree as the majority of people seem to be more deficient in general education according to the FCCPT.

The FCCPT is one of a few bodies that evaluate and provide the documents which we need to work out there but the FCCPT seems to be the one accepted by all states to work. Yes its 750 USD and then a further 350 i think for the PLAN service to tell you exactly what areas you fall short in and tell you how to get the credits up. I could write an essay on the process but id say look at the documents required and make a decision with who to go with (FCCPT?) and go for it. The initial eval takes about 3-4 months once youve sent all the bits across and then however long to get any credits depending on what you may or may not fall short in.

As i said its a long process and quite frustrating at times but it all depends on what you want to do. For me i know its where i want to be working as i have family in CA and i want warmer weather!!

All the best!

Hello,
I am PT from India. Currently in USA doing general education credit courses.
I am planning on taking 2 subjects which are slightly similar to each other in syllabus.
Will this be a problem with fccpt during evaluation.
2 subjects are:
BIOL 115

Human Biology and Lab – 4 Credits
An introduction to human anatomy and physiology. Suitable for students in the Health Information Technologyprogram, education, sociology, social work, psychology,and criminal justice. Also suitable for non-sciencestudents interested in the workings of the human body. (Students planning to enter nursing, radiologic technology,or the sciences should enroll in Biology 211 and
212.)
(NMCCN BIOL 1124)


BIOL 211
Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab – 4 Credits
Prerequisite: Recommend CHEM 113 with a “C” or higher
within the last 5 years or high school chemistry with a “C”
or higher within the last 5 years
A survey of the anatomy and physiology of the human body from the cellular level through that of organsystems. Systems covered in this course include skeletal, muscular, and digestive. Laboratory is included. Dissectionof non-human biological specimens is required.

Hello everybody on the path of US license. Very specific question:
Does FCCPT accepts CLEP college mathematics - 6 credits exam for mathematics deficiency? I only ask because there is not mathematics field in the CWT form.