Physical Therapist question?

Question

just wondering... if you pass the physical therapist exam does that mean you're a PT even without having a master's degree. my friend has a bachelor's degree in physical therapy from a foreign country and passed his exam. I've been reading that you must have a master's degree to be a PT..I'm confused...

Answer 1

I am assuming you are asking because he hopes to practice in the US? Did he pass the test in his country and THEN come to the US, or has he passed in both his country and the US?  

If he has only passed in his country, he must have his educational records reviewed to make sure that his professional coursework covers the same material as a US course.  It's kind of an expensive and lengthy process...especially because there is the dispartity between the US educational requirements and foreign programs.  So in otherwords, if he would've done his education in the US, he would have been required to get at least a master's degree. Since he was foreign educated, he needs to have his records reviewed, pass the TOFEL exam (English proficiency) and sit for the licensure exam again.  

To get started, he should go the apta website at: http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Sect...

and the federation of state boards of physical therapy for which ever state he will reside.  http://www.fsbpt.org/licensing/index.asp

He certainly can practice PT in his country where the requirement is only a BS degree...but if he hopes to work in the US, he must complete this process.