Licensing and Credentialing Service

All healthcare professionals qualified outside the United States must be licensed in the state where they desire to practice. To be clear, before beginning employment in any US state, most healthcare experts must be licensed by that state. There are different types of healthcare professionals in the US, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, and nurses. Each discipline has its own examination, agency who handles it, and application process.

Physical Therapists:

The agency who handles the exam for physical therapists is The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). The exam is known as the NPTE (National Physical Therapy Examination). The FSBPT also handles the exam for physical therapist assistants. Each US state has somewhat different requirements. We refer to you PT state agencies for a list of all licensing boards.

Occupational Therapists:

The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT) is the agency who handles the exam for Occupational Therapists (OTR) and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). The NBCOT test is given internationally. For a list of state regulatory agencies; go here: OT state agencies

Nurses:

For nurses, the licensing procedures involve passing the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination). Most states in the US require a CGFNS (Council on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) Certification from foreign registered nurses before they can take the NCLEX-RN.

For obtaining information on registration for the exam, the nursing graduates need to contact the relevant state board of nursing. This Application-based exam is prepared by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). The NCLEX is a computer based exam and is not given overseas.

Those physical therapists and registered nurses who get licensure for a particular US state are eligible to apply for the Schedule A Occupations.

As an applicant, it is always better for you to become fully-licensed as soon as possible in your trip to the USA. Often in tandem with your employer, we at immspec.com will help find creative methods for preparing and taking the above-mentioned exams. Guidance is given to the professional on all aspects of completing the licensure application.

NOTE: Some US state boards may require all communication to be directly with the candidate. In such situation, we will work closely with the applicant to assure all proper steps are taken for a timely and accurate application submission.

The distinct feature of licensing and credentialing is the variation in state regulations from state to state. Consequently, we maintain an extensive database of variables for each state. This requires constant research and updating to remain current. In addition to knowing what to send and where to send it, this allows us to advise candidates and clients on where best to apply if there are options of multiple states. (See the links above for state agencies.)

Our real service is not unlike immigration procedures; in that we help you complete forms accurately, timely, and send them to the right organization with the right fee attached. In summary we help in:

• Application/Registration.
• Verification of licensure from elsewhere as needed.
• Completing the actual application form from information provided by the applicant.
• Helping to obtain fingerprinting, if required.
• Helping with credentialing from various locations as needed.
• Forwarding the application to the candidate for signature when required.
• Submitting the application to the state board with all proper supporting documentation and fees.
• Responding to any requests by the state board for additional information or documentation.
• Maintaining follow up with the state board until the application has been accepted and an authorization to test is issued, or a temporary permit/license is issued, when available.
• Coordinating appropriate review materials or courses.
• Coordinating exam dates and locations (For example, some disciplines may take the exam in a US territory such as Saipan or Guam, or be scheduled to take the exam in the US shortly after arrival.)
• Helping with transportation to and from the exam.
• Coordinating the issuance of the actual license.
• Scheduling for another exam if needed, along with appropriate review.