Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy

Please note that the Dr. Susan K. L[redacted] has retired; please send subsequent messages to Dr. Kathleen L[redacted], Managing Director
BACKGROUND
INFORMATION:
The
Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) is an
international credentialing agency that reviews the academic credentials of
physical therapists educated outside of the United States in educational
programs not accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy
Education (CAPTE), the accrediting body that accredits all physical therapist
education programs in the United States. The FCCPT evaluates credentials for
purposes of immigration, licensure and application to post-graduate physical
therapy education programs.
An
Academic Credentials Evaluation includes only review and evaluation of
credentials for equivalency to federal immigration or jurisdictional licensure
requirements. As stated on the FCCPT website, it is the applicant’s
responsibility to confirm the jurisdiction’s requirements for licensure.
If
an applicant requires interpretation of the results of an evaluation, the
applicant must apply for an additional service, Planned Learning and Assistance
Network (PLAN), available for an additional fee. Applicants are also advised
that the FCCPT Help Desk cannot recommend or approve courses for an applicant.
If
an applicant’s Credentials Evaluation fails to meet immigration or
jurisdictional requirements, the education is found to be ‘not substantially equivalent’
to a CAPTE-accredited education. Applicants may take supplementary college
courses for credit or complete College Level Examination Program (CLEP) in
order to meet deficiencies noted in education. The applicant may then apply for
a Re-evaluation for the education including the supplementary coursework for an
additional fee. FCCPT is not responsible for verifying that the applicant meets
the evaluation requirements before completing a Re-evaluation, unless the applicant
completes the PLAN program
 
COMPLAINT
RESPONSE:
Applicant/Customer
#[redacted] originally applied with FCCPT for an
Academic Credentials Evaluation in support of application of licensure to the
state of Minnesota in 2009. The applicant’s file contains numerous examples of
detailed e-mail communication documenting the requirements for evaluation and
answering specific applicant questions when allowed by FCCPT guidelines. The
initial evaluation concluded that the applicant’s education was not substantially
equivalent to a CAPTE-accredited education. The applicant subsequently supplied
evidence of additional education completed that was not submitted for the
initial evaluation. As per FCCPT guidelines and as stated on the FCCPT website,
the applicant was required to pay for a re-evaluation to include the additional
education information. The re-evaluation completed in 2010 also concluded that
the applicant’s education was not equivalent, and did not meet the
state-specific requirements.
 
In
2015, the applicant e-mailed the FCCPT Help Desk asking for approval of 2
Mathematics courses to take to meet requirements for a Re-evaluation. The
applicant was advised that the Help Desk does not approve coursework, but that
Intermediate and College Algebra appeared to be adequate. The course
description about the Intermediate Algebra course clearly stated that the
course was not eligible for college credit, however, the applicant elected to
complete the course anyway.
The
applicant’s second re-evaluation demonstrated a shortfall in General Education
requirements for the state of Minnesota. After the second re-evaluation, the
deficiencies were specifically identified for the applicant by e-mail, as
documented in her file. At that time, the applicant was offered a Re-evaluation
at no cost when the applicant completed the deficiencies.
We
understand that the applicant is very upset that his/her education was not
found equivalent to the jurisdiction’s credit requirements however, FCCPT
fulfilled its responsibilities for completing the credentials evaluations,
based on the coursework completed. The applicant never applied for PLAN
services, which interprets the results of evaluations, recommends coursework
and pre-approves coursework.
While
the FCCPT did not intentionally commit any wrong-doings, because the applicant
completed an evaluation and two re-evaluations, the FCCPT already offered to
complete a Re-evaluation at no cost in e-mail communication on 26 FEB 16. Instead,
the applicant filed a complaint with the Revdex.com (Revdex.com). On
29 FEB, after communicating again by e-mail confirming the Re-evaluation at no
cost, the applicant replied by e-mail, “Thank you.
You may contact Revdex.com to close the complaint.”
 
Therefore,
because the FCCPT has followed its guidelines as posted on the public website,
responded to the applicant in numerous documented e-mails, and offered the
applicant a remedy at no additional cost, we respectfully request that the Revdex.com
dismiss this complaint against the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical
Therapy (FCCPT).

cid [redacted]:
Just some supplemental info to my earlier complaint about this entity. An email they sent us confirming that intermediate algebra will be added to course work...

satisfaction. Date: 04/17/2015 11:13 AM Subject: RE: Question about file # [redacted] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Help Desk cannot answer specific questions about an applicant's re-evaluation however, Intermediate Algebra and College Algebra would be applicable in the Mathematics section. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Question about file # [redacted] Good morning, I have a question regarding the general education equivalency requirement in the category of Mathematics. In the attached screenshot from our recent evaluation report, it says we need one course minimum and Misbah has completed two courses in college for this general ed. category. Intermediate Algebra (4 Cr. Hrs) and College Algebra (3 Cr. Hrs). Will both be added to this category to grant 7 credit hours? Hence taking the total to 8.51 total credit hours for the category?
 
Please add intermediate algebra to coursework satisfaction, add chemistry 1 in chem1 course work and re-evaluate. This should complete our evaluation with satisfaction of gen. ed coursework. PS: I had to remove email addresses from above text since Revdex.com site did not allow to put it due to security reasons but I can forward the whole email from FCCPT to Revdex.com if you can provide an email address and my original complaint #.