The Process
Preliminary Stages
Step 1.
Send us your detailed CV/Resume indicating your particular area of interest within occupational therapy and your desired location in the U.S.
Step 2.
We perform an initial review of your case and screen you against two critical measures:
- Experience as an Occupational Therapist – Preference is given to graduates of internationally respected institutions and candidates with significant work experience.
- Fluency in English – Employment requirements necessitate that recruits speak fluent English. Ultimately, prospective recruits will need to successfully complete the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and the TSE (Test of Spoken English), or the TOEFL iBT in order to demonstrate fluency in the English language.
Within a two week period, we will respond to your inquiry.
Step 3.
If you satisfy the above criteria, you will be interviewed by a staff Occupational Therapist and will be asked to send us additional materials that we may require. Upon our approval of your qualifications, you will be offered a written contract; the contract will explain the terms, services, and fees for the rest of the process.
Next Stage
The following steps will begin simultaneously and are interdependent:
NBCOT (Examination requirement)
- If educated abroad, apply for Occupational Therapist Eligibility Determination (OTED) to determine eligibility to take NBCOT exam. Submit required English proficiency exam score, transcripts, course descriptions, license verification, and verification from Program Director.
- Passing NBCOT’s national certification examination (for the State of NY, the passing score is 450)
- Agreeing to adhere to the NBCOT “Candidate/ Certificant Code of Conduct”
- Maintaining professional development activities
*Upon initial NBCOT certification, a certificate is valid for a period of three (3) years.
Please visit www.nbcot.org for more information.
CGFNS-CVS-NY (Education requirement)
- Timing: about 1-2 months from filing Completion of an application form and sending the original form to CGFNS with full payment;
- Completion of the authorization for validation registration / license forms and sending them directly to CGFNS;
- Completion of the authorization for Academic Records (Transcripts) Forms and sending them directly to CGFNS.
- Report issued and sent directly to the New York State Education Department for their Separate Evaluation.
Timing: about 6 months from filing
CGFNS (Visa Screen immigration requirement)
- Under U.S. Immigration Law, internationally educated occupational therapists seeking temporary or permanent residence are required to first obtain a CGFNS/ICHPVisaScreen™ certificate as part of the visa process.
- The VisaScreen(TM) program is comprised of an educational analysis, licensure validation, and English language proficiency assessment.
Please also see www.cgfns.org for additional information.
Timing: about 6 months from filing
NYSED
- NBCOT passing score
- Completion of OT application for registration and full payment;
- Approval of education based on CGFNS report.
Please also see www.nysed.gov for additional information.
Timing: about 2 months from receipt of CGFNS CVS-NY report.
Terms:
NBCOT: The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. – credentialing agency that provides certification for the occupational therapy profession.
NYSED: New York State Education Department – official agency that determines eligibility for issuance of OT licenses.
CGFNS: Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing School – accredited non-governmental agency authorized to verify foreign Occupational Therapist credentials and to issue visa screen certificate for immigration purposes.
CVS-NY: Credential Verification Service for the State of New York – special supplemental verification procedure required only in the State of New York for OT licensure.
Requirements
A. You must be a graduate from an accredited university program recognized as comparable to a U.S. Occupational Therapy degree. (Note that effective January 1, 2007, candidates must have a minimum of a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy, unless they have previous applied with NBCOT.)
B. At least 1,000 hours of supervised fieldwork internship; this experience may be attained during university studies;
C. You must be fluent in English. Within 2 years of the filing of the visa screen application, you must obtain the following examination scores:
- TOEFL: 560 (paper-based) or 220 (computer-based); and
- TWE: 4.5; and
- TSE: 50; or
- TOEFL IBT: 89 (each section must meet the following scaled scores):
- Reading: 18
- Listening: 21
- Speaking: 26
- Writing: 24
* Exemptions for the English Exams: graduates of entry-level occupational therapy programs in Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand and the UK
Please refer to www.ets.org for more information regarding test dates, locations, and registration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will InterFysio do for me?
InterFysio will license you, sponsor you, and employ you. Our team of lawyers, credentialing/licensing specialists, and staffing professionals will help obtain the required licenses and authorization for employment with us as a speech language pathologist in the United States. We will handle all necessary steps including your visa screen and your license application. We will handle your immigration application and will sponsor you for a work visa or for permanent residence in the United States.
Please note that Australian citizens benefit from a special, expedited work visa.
What are the costs?
You will be responsible for certain credentialing fees.
How long will the process take?
Processing times vary depending on your credentialing and licensure status when you apply with us. If you have not yet begun the credentialing process, it may take approximately one year to obtain the necessary credentialing and licensure approvals for your visa. InterFysio will do its best to ensure timely completion of the process but offers no guarantee on the ultimate timing.
Where do I take the NBCOT certification exam?
he exam is administered in various locations worldwide. For more information on the exam, including locations and schedules, please visit www.nbcot.org.
What is a “visa screen”?
U.S. immigration law requires that certain foreign healthcare workers, including physical (no capital) therapists, obtain a foreign healthcare certificate. There are currently two accredited agencies authorized to issue these certificates for physical therapists: CGFNS (www.cgfns.org) and FCCPT (www.fccpt.org). The certificate issued by CGFNS is commonly referred to as a “visa screen” certificate, whereas the FCCPT certificate is called a “Type I” certificate. The purpose of the immigration law requirement is to verify that foreign health care workers possess the requisite education, (i.e. a 4-year degree, English proficiency and a foreign physical therapy license.)
Am I required to be fluent in English?
Yes. U.S. immigration law and work place realities require proficiency in English. The required scores are:
- Computer-Based TOEFL: 220
- Test of Written English (TWE): 4.5
- Test of Spoken English (TSE): 50
or the new Combined Exam:
- TOEFL iBT: Total 89 (Speaking, 26)
This is required for all applicants who are not graduates of university healthcare programs from Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand and the U.K. Please note that CGFNS must receive your score directly from ETS.
Can my family join me in the U.S.?
Yes, your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 will also receive green cards permitting them to live and work in the US. If you enter on an H-1B visa, your spouse and children will receive H-4 visas allowing them to live but not work in the US.
How will I find housing?
We will provide you with a list of real estate agents and websites which will aid you in your search for a house or apartment. We will also put you in touch with our employees that have recently found housing themselves. We also assist you with references as necessary.
What type of assignments can I expect?
InterFysio’s clients include an entire range of treatment facilities. Most of our clients are mid-size out-patient clinics, doctor’s offices and specialized treatment centers.
What can I expect to receive in vacation time?
You will receive a reasonable amount of vacation time plus several public holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, President’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
If I am unhappy with my assignment, can I choose another?
InterFysio will always attempt to match your skills and preferences with a suitable client. If necessary, we will accommodate your request for a new placement.
How long is the employment period in the InterFysio contract?
Our contracts are the standard industry length of 36 months. The 36 month period begins on the first day of work as a licensed Physical Therapist in the United States, not on the day you sign your contract.
What happens if for some reason I need to go back home during my contract?
InterFysio understands that our employees will from time to time need time off to get back home to take care of personal family matters. For that reason, we are generous with unpaid leave on these occasions.
What type of assignments can I expect?
InterFysio’s clients include an entire range of treatment facilities. While it is impossible to say with certainty what assignment you will get – since you won’t arrive in the United States before 12 to 24 months from the time you sign your contract – most of our assignments are with outpatient clinics, schools, after-school peds centers, nursing homes, adult daycare centers, and home healthcare. You will either be assigned to a single facility or split your time between two facilities. Furthermore, you will not necessarily be assigned to the same facility for your entire employment period with InterFysio. Many of our therapists like the opportunity of switching between work environments in order to enhance their experience base. If you, however, prefer to work at a single facility for the entire employment period, we will do our best to ensure it happens.
Will I be able to take classes or continuing education while working in the United States?
InterFysio offers an annual $400 credit for a continuing education class of your choice. We also offer numerous in-house training opportunities. We encourage you to continue your education and career development. While we do not finance your studies, we will attempt to provide flexibility in your work schedule to accommodate your studies.