Foreign Degree Evaluation in the USA?

Help. Need advice on Masters Degrees in Physical Therapy in the USA. And ?´s about my PT degree convalidation.?

• I am about a third of the way through my studies in Costa Rica, to be a licentiate (I dont know the exact translation) it´s a degree that is after bachelor, but before masters. For example, our PT program for "bachelor" is 2.5 years long, however one cannot work as a PT with a bachelors degree as this is more "symbolic", one must graduate as a licentiate to work as a PT in clinics, hospitals, etc which takes another 1.5 years. This is also because "bachelor" is mainly theoretical focusing on subjects such as anatomy, neuroanatomy, functional anatomy, kinesiology, sports physiology, biomechanics, physical agents, massage therapy, orthopedics and traumatology, medical pathologies 1, 2, 3, etc.. While "Licentiate" is putting all that into practice with subjects such as "Applied PT 1, 2, 3" "PT in community" "PT applied to neurology" "PT evaluation techniques".Making the total career length to be 4 years. I dont know if it can be understood. -- SEE BELOW--!! In Costa Rica, after you are a "licentiate" you are basically like a "General" PT. Having knowledge in most fields including sports, massage, neurology, geriatrics, pediatric, hospitals, clinics, etc. However if one wants to "specialize" in anything we go for the Masters Degree which is aprox. 2 more years. For example, if I would like to specialize in "Sports Rehab" or "Neurological Rehab" "cardiovascular rehab" I would aspire to study an extra 2 years and get my masters degree on that particular specialization. I would like to specialize in another country, such as the USA (I am a USA citizen which would also make it easier), so I would like to know what must I do to aspire for a masters degree over there? What confuses me however is that I have spoken to many PT´s online, graduates from a USA university and it all seems confusing, so I don´t really understand HOW I can with a foreign title aspire to get a M.D. in the USA. For example some have told me that the study plan is way different in bachelors/licentiate over there, others have told me that you have to go through some "pre med" school first, others have told me that over there there is no such thing as a "specialization" and that a PT graduates as a doctorate already. So I am pretty confused, as OBVIOUSLY things work differently. I would like to know. Does my "licentiate" convalidate over there, or no because of the differences in the programs? What must I do to have mine convalidated? Also is it possible that I can go over there with my licentiate from over here and apply to "specialize" and get a masters degree in any particular field? What tests must I do to get accepted into a university? I would also like to know what aprox. price ranges does it cost to get a masters degree in PT in the USA per subject. I know community colleges are cheaper, are community colleges good universities? This is the study plan for bachelors and licentiate in my university. Its in spanish but its understandable, however I will translate to the best of my ability below. Please tell me if it is similar or drastically different to the program in the USA. http://www.uspsantapaula.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67 1 block: anatomy, general biology, physics, integral rehab (introduction to PT) 2: physiology, neuroanatomy, enfermery, general medicine 3: general psychology, neurophysiology, functional anatomy, medical pathology 4: medical pathology 2, traumatology and orthopedics, exercise physiology, applied psychology 5: psychiatry, ethics, sports and recreation, medical pathology 3 6: kinesiology and biomechanics, intervention in health methods 1, epidemiology, statistics and investigation methods. 7: biomechanic agents, physical agents, neurodevelopment normal and pathological, every day activities, and massage therapy. --- This takes 2.5 years and will grant you a bachelor degree --- 1: evaluation techniques 1, electrotherapy, therapeutic exercises 1, applied PT 1 2: evaluation techniques 2, supervised practice 1, intervention in health 2, applied PT 2 3: applied PT 3, supervised practice 2, practice in community 1, therapeutic exercises 2. 4: supervised practice 3, practice in community 2, applied PT 4, neuromuscular facilitation techniques, propiosceptive techniques. -- this takes 1.5 years, licentiate degree, and grants you the ability to work in clincs and hospitals -- what is this title/program equivalent to in the USA? "general PT" , "assistant PT" ?? And is it good ? Or lacking many things? THANK YOU.

• Answer:

  Hi Sebastian, I received you e-mail, but I'm assuming you would ask me the same things that you asked here, so I will try to advise you here. Probably one site you need to go to is the Federation of State Boards of PT. If you have a particular state in mind, you mind be able to go directly to their website to see what their foreign application process is. So you might want to go here: https://www.fsbpt.org/index.asp The problem with most post secondary education in the US as compared to other countries is that bachelor's degrees are meant to give students a very general knowledge base in the sciences, but also electives and humanities. When I look at the courses you've taken, it's pretty comparable to the US program in terms of their prerequisites, but you lack general humanities and electives. You might also have to take another semester in bio, chem, and physics. In the US, your first four years are very non-specific and you focus on general classes....not just your basic sciences, but also art, history, humanities, foreign language, etc. You MIGHT qualify for a license in the US after you are done with your licentiate. This could potentially be seen as equivelent to a master's degree in the US...but difficult to tell from here. You would be a general PT. If you wanted to continue your education in the US, there are a couple options for you. If you want to specialist in a particular type of therapy, you could find entry level work in that setting and then apply to take an exam that would give you the credentials as a board certified therapist. You might want to also consider a residency program which gives rather intense focused learning. You can find more information here: http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Residency&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=118&ContentID=15371 You might also want to consider transitioning to a doctorate degree in PT (called a DPT). There are numerous transitional programs in the US for PTs who are already licensed. The cost can vary dramatically...so much so that I wouldn't want to even begin to throw numbers at you. You will not be able to complete a program like this at a community college. You also mentioned becoming an MD. This is completely different. This would be training to be a physician. If you want to be a physician, I would work towards that, and don't become a PT first. I would say your best option is to complete your licentiate and apply to have your records reveiwed by the FSBPT. If they feel you are deficient in some coursework, you may need to do that first, but then you can apply for a visa to the US and enter one of may different tracts that you can do to specialize.