Working in the U.S. as a Foreign-born Physical Therapists

Physical therapy is considered an underrepresented occupation in the United States. Therefore, many foreign physical therapists are able to acquire permanent residence in the United States relatively easily. Learn some basic information about the petition process below and contact Durrani Law Firm with further questions.

Do I need certification as a physical therapist before I come to the United States?

Normally, the USCIS requires proof of licensure for the state that you are intending to practice physical therapy in. However, for most employers and employees, this is nearly impossible because the foreign worker is typically overseas during the time he would need to sit for the state licensing exam and because states do not issue licenses without valid social security numbers (something foreign nationals do not have).

To alleviate the problem, the USCIS issues foreign physical therapists H-1B visas valid for one year, in which time they should demonstrate that they meet all the requirements necessary to sit for the state licensing exam and should obtain their license. After that year, they're also eligible to acquire the necessary social security number.

What is the general procedure of becoming licensed in a state to practice physical therapy?

•  Submit your educational credentials to a U.S. state therapy board for a temporary license or permit.

•  Apply for an H-1B visa to work in the U.S.

•  When you receive your one-year H-1B visa, take the appropriate state licensing exam and renew your H-1B visa.

Can I become a permanent resident in the United States as a physical therapist?

Yes. You can do so through the visa screen process, which consists of:

An educational analysis
Licensure validation
English language proficiency assessment
An exam of physical therapy knowledge

Once you've completed all the elements of the visa screen, you will be awarded a Visa Screen certificate, which you can present to a consular office as part of your visa application.

How do I begin the visa screen process? 

There are two institutions authorized to issue visa screens for physical therapists: the CGFNS Certification Program and the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCP). You must be licensed as a physical therapist in your home country (or in whatever country you studied) in order to qualify for a visa screen.

The English language proficiency tests requires that you take the TOEFL test and receive a score of at least 560 (or 220 computerized), a Test of Written English (TWE) score of at least 4.5 and a Test of Spoken English (TSE) score of at least 50. If you got your degree from the U.S. , the U.K. , Australia , New Zealand or Canada (except Quebec ), you're allowed to waive the TOEFL exam.

While the immigration process can seem complex for physical therapists, Durrani Law Firm can help you navigate through the many steps of the process and acquire the appropriate visa. You can contact us via phone at 866-DURRANI or email at info@durrani.com .