One of the most in demand workers in the United States aside from nurses today are physical therapists. With the increasing population of the elderly the need for more therapeutic services, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics of 2006 had foreseen the demand for more physical therapists by 30 percent through the year 2018 at a much faster rate compared to other occupations.
The statistics bode well for the Filipino physical therapy (PT) graduates who want to work in the US—especially now that the suspension to take the US National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) has been lifted by the the US Federation of State of Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).
Like other graduates from other countries such as India, Egypt, and Pakistan—Filipino PT graduates were among the “restricted groups” identified by the FSBPT. They were prohibited to take the July 2010 NPTEdue to an alleged leak in the exam questions by some schools and review centers in the country last 2007.
According to the FSBPT, the prohibition of PT graduates from the Philippines, India, Egypt, and Pakistan in July was based on intensive investigations made through “exam performances, as well as a variety of legal actions brought by the Federation in the United States and abroad.”
It was also stated in the FSBPT website that the investigations also led to the raid and seizure of some evidences, “which revealed the sharing of live test items” in the review center of St. Louis in Manila and its owners or operators.
The FSBPT, however, recently disclosed that evidence gathered from the investigations were insufficient; therefore permitting PT graduates from restricted countries to take a new set of licensure exams again in May and December of 2011. The exams, designed specifically for the previously restricted graduates, will cover 250 questions; answerable within five hours.
While some PT graduates have regained new hopes with the uplifting of the examination ban; some of the prospective PT practitioners are anxious that they may be singled out because of the country’s history of suspension.
With hopes of clearing the tarnished reputation of medical graduates in the country—particularly the graduates of physical therapy—Patricia Licuanan, head of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), said in an interview that they have already submitted an action plan to the FSBPT that is anticipated to bring back the credibility the physical therapy graduates of the country.
Among the action plans include: The monitoring and the regulation of review centers that are suspected to be the source of leakage; the reinforcement of professional behavior and values in PT curriculum; and the re-tooling of PT educators and professionals.
Professionalism can be proven in many ways. But it is in honesty and integrity towards any work given that one is evaluated. A faulty reputation will remain as it is if not properly acted upon. As long as there is a will to change for the better, there is a chance for redemption. (AJPress)
( www.asianjournal.com )
( Published October 8, 2010 in Asian Journal New York p. 6 )
