Recently, I called the Arizona and Texas board about licensure being a foreign grad. I told both office that I've been practicing since 2003 and passed the NPTE. Both states stated that I have to take an English exam, TOEFL, which I think is a waste of time and money because I'm already communicating over the phone. So, I did take the TOEFL and scored out of 30 in each 4 sections as follows: Reading 21/30, Speaking 27/30, Listening 25/30, Writing 28/30, total of 101, AZ requires 100.

I emailed the state board of AZ and here's the reply:  "Hi Ron, no unfortunately, your Listening score is too low.  You must attain a score of at least 25 in each of the 4 categories."

I'm totally frustrated with the response. Just because I'm a foreign grad, they required me to take an English exam when I can clearly speak in English. Hence, the results in the speaking and writing. Most foreign grads fail in these categories. I don't believe that TOEFL scores that AZ is requiring reflects my capacity to communicate. It will not determine if I'm going to be a good therapist. I am a good PT and I have been doing it since I got my license.

Basically what their saying is, "you're a foreign grad so we'll make it hard for you". Huh? How many foreign MDs who are now practicing have to take TOEFL and required to score this high? Some of them can't even speak straight English. But of course, they're doctors so there's an exemption. But PTs, having a weak system, every state has to have their own rules. Even though there's a national exam in place, that will not guarantee practice in different states.

Let me give you an example: In Texas that kind of TOEFL score is more than enough to get started as a foreign PT. They just want you to score 26 on the speaking part which is understandable as some foreign grads can't really speak English well.  But to offer no exemptions is just plain ridiculous. If you do that with African-Americans, let see what the results would be. "Well, since you're black, I will require you to take an English exam." It does not sound right, eh? Well, let me rephrase it, "Well, since you're a foreign grad, I will require you to take an English exam." Does it sound right now?

How can we unite PTs in US when we don't even have a national rule in place? Every state has their own rules. But I guess, if you're a foreign grad, most of the states will not care about you. I doubt that PT organizations care about foreign PTs who are now practicing in the US. Not all foreign grads are equal, which applies the same to local US grads.

I just hope that I could blog about this in the Advance magazine so that the APTA will see that there's something wrong with how we treat foreign PT grads.