Understanding PT Credential Evaluation Organizations: FCCPT, IERF, ICD, and TruMerit
If you earned your physical therapy degree outside the United States and want to become licensed as a physical therapist in the U.S., you may need to have your education reviewed by a credential evaluation organization.
Several organizations provide evaluation services for internationally educated physical therapists, including the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT), International Education Research Foundation (IERF), and International Consultants of Delaware (ICD), which operates under TruMerit.
Although these organizations provide similar educational evaluation services, they differ in their areas of specialization, the professions they serve, and the specific services they offer.
FCCPT is unique because it specializes exclusively in physical therapy credential evaluation. Other credentialing organizations serve a broader range of academic or healthcare professions.
Understanding these differences can help you select an appropriate evaluation service before spending money or submitting documents.
What Does a Physical Therapy Credential Evaluation Organization Do?
A physical therapy credential evaluation organization reviews educational records to determine whether an internationally educated physical therapist's education meets applicable U.S. physical therapy educational standards.
Depending on the evaluation service, this may involve reviewing:
- Physical therapy degrees and academic transcripts
- General education coursework
- Professional physical therapy coursework
- Academic credit totals
- Supervised clinical education
- Other educational documentation required for the evaluation
Many physical therapy credential evaluations use the Coursework Tools (CWT) developed by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).
The evaluation may determine that an individual's education meets the applicable standard or identify deficiencies that must be addressed.
Credential evaluation organizations do not issue physical therapy licenses. Licensing decisions are made by the applicable state licensing authority.
What Is the Difference Between FCCPT, IERF, ICD, and TruMerit?
Several organizations provide credential evaluation services for internationally educated physical therapists, but they differ in their areas of specialization and the range of professions they serve.
Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT)
FCCPT specializes exclusively in evaluating the educational credentials of internationally educated physical therapists and physical therapist assistants.
Its services focus specifically on physical therapy educational equivalency, state licensure requirements, immigration certification, and assistance with identified educational deficiencies.
FCCPT is a nonprofit organization, and its evaluations are widely accepted by U.S. physical therapy licensing jurisdictions. However, applicants must still select the specific evaluation service required by their intended state.
Because FCCPT focuses exclusively on physical therapy, it may be a particularly relevant starting point for applicants seeking a specialized physical therapy credential evaluation.
International Education Research Foundation (IERF)
IERF provides international credential evaluations for a broad range of academic and professional purposes, including education, employment, and professional licensure.
Its services include evaluations for internationally educated physical therapists using applicable FSBPT Coursework Tools.
Unlike FCCPT, IERF evaluates educational credentials across multiple academic disciplines and professions.
International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
ICD provides credential evaluation services for internationally educated physical therapists and other healthcare professionals.
Its physical therapy credential evaluations use the applicable FSBPT Coursework Tools.
ICD operates as a credential evaluation service within TruMerit.
TruMerit (Formerly CGFNS International)
TruMerit, formerly known as CGFNS International, provides international healthcare credentialing and certification services across multiple healthcare professions.
Its services include nursing credentials assessment, immigration-related certification, and other healthcare credentialing programs.
TruMerit operates ICD's physical therapy credential evaluation service and separately provides immigration-related certification services for physical therapists.
Which Credential Evaluation Organization Should I Choose?
The most important consideration is whether the organization and specific evaluation service are accepted by the state where you intend to become licensed.
If you are seeking a physical therapy-specific credential evaluation, FCCPT may be a logical starting point because of its exclusive focus on physical therapy and its recognition across U.S. licensing jurisdictions.
However, IERF and ICD also provide recognized physical therapy credential evaluations, and an alternative organization may be appropriate depending on your circumstances.
Before requesting an evaluation, confirm:
- Which credential evaluation organizations your state accepts.
- Which specific evaluation service is required.
- Which Coursework Tool version must be used.
- Whether additional documentation, language testing, or other requirements apply.
Choosing an accepted evaluation service from the beginning can help avoid unnecessary expenses or delays.
Do All Credential Evaluation Organizations Use the Same Coursework Tool?
FCCPT, IERF, and ICD are licensed to use the Coursework Tools developed by FSBPT.
The Coursework Tools provide a standardized framework for comparing international physical therapy education with applicable U.S. educational requirements.
Different Coursework Tool versions reflect changes in U.S. physical therapy education over time.
These include CWT4, CWT5, and CWT6, as well as earlier historical versions.
However, even when two organizations use the same CWT version, their evaluation findings may differ based on educational documentation, credit classification, or interpretation of course content.
The state licensing authority determines which evaluations are acceptable for licensure purposes.
If you are unsure which Coursework Tool applies to your situation, read ourGuide to Determining Which CWT Applies to You.
Does Every U.S. State Accept FCCPT, IERF, ICD, and TruMerit?
No. Each U.S. state licensing authority establishes its own credential evaluation requirements for internationally educated physical therapists.
Some states accept evaluations from multiple credentialing organizations, while others require particular organizations or evaluation services.
FCCPT evaluations are widely accepted across U.S. licensing jurisdictions, making FCCPT a common choice for physical therapy credential evaluations. New York uses its own process; see Which CWT Applies to Me?.
However, acceptance of FCCPT as an organization does not mean every FCCPT service satisfies every state's requirements.
Applicants should verify the specific evaluation service required by their intended licensing authority before applying.
Is a Physical Therapy Credential Evaluation the Same as an Academic Degree Equivalency Evaluation?
No. A physical therapy credential evaluation for licensure is not the same as an academic degree equivalency evaluation.
A physical therapy credential evaluation for licensure compares an internationally educated physical therapist's academic and clinical preparation against the educational requirements used for U.S. physical therapy licensure.
This often involves an evaluation using FSBPT's Coursework Tool.
An academic degree equivalency evaluation serves a different purpose. It determines how an individual's completed international academic degree compares with degrees awarded within the United States, such as a bachelor's or master's degree.
For example, an internationally educated physical therapist may satisfy the educational requirements for U.S. physical therapy licensure without holding an academic degree considered equivalent to a U.S. master's degree.
Similarly, an individual may hold an international degree academically equivalent to a U.S. master's degree without satisfying all the educational requirements for U.S. physical therapy licensure.
Professional educational equivalency and academic degree equivalency are two separate determinations. Neither automatically establishes the other.
This distinction is particularly important for applicants considering additional university education, including post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy programs, where admission requirements may depend on the academic equivalency of an applicant's completed degree.
Some credential evaluation organizations offer both types of services. However, receiving one type of evaluation does not mean you have automatically received the other.
Is a Physical Therapy Credential Evaluation the Same as Immigration Certification?
No. State physical therapy licensure and immigration certification are separate processes.
For state licensure, an educational credential evaluation helps determine whether the applicant's education meets applicable professional educational requirements.
For certain U.S. immigration purposes, foreign-educated physical therapists may also need a Health Care Worker Certificate.
FCCPT and TruMerit are recognized by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to issue Health Care Worker Certificates for qualifying physical therapists.
Immigration certification may involve additional educational, English-language, and professional credential requirements.
An educational evaluation completed for state licensure does not automatically satisfy immigration certification requirements, and immigration certification does not automatically establish state licensure eligibility.
Applicants seeking both immigration certification and state licensure should verify the requirements for each process before selecting services.
What Happens if My Credential Evaluation Identifies Deficiencies?
Regardless of whether your evaluation was completed by FCCPT, IERF, or ICD, the report may identify educational requirements that have not been satisfied.
Common deficiencies may include:
- Missing general education topics
- Missing professional physical therapy topics
- Professional education credit deficiencies
- Overall academic credit deficiencies
- Clinical education deficiencies
Some academic deficiencies may be addressed through additional university coursework.
Importantly, one university course may address multiple required educational topics while also contributing eligible credits toward an academic credit shortage.
This means an applicant with several identified deficiencies does not necessarily need a separate course for each deficiency.
For more information, read ourGuide to Understanding CWT Deficiencies.
Can the Strelis PT License Deficiency Navigator Help if My Evaluation Is From IERF or ICD Instead of FCCPT?
The Navigator provides educational planning assistance to internationally educated physical therapists who have identified academic deficiencies.
Our free planning service focuses on matching educational deficiencies with potentially relevant University of Montana coursework.
Depending on the evaluation report and the information available, our process may help students:
- Understand identified professional education deficiencies
- Identify University of Montana courses covering missing professional topics
- Recognize opportunities for coursework to address multiple deficiencies
- Explore coursework that may contribute toward academic credit shortages
- Consider whether individual courses or a post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy program may be appropriate
The Navigator does not perform official credential evaluations or guarantee course acceptance.
The Navigator reads evaluation reports from FCCPT, IERF, ICD, and TruMerit, including scanned copies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FCCPT a good choice for my physical therapy credential evaluation?
FCCPT is a specialized credential evaluation organization focused exclusively on physical therapy and physical therapist assistant credentials.
Unlike organizations that evaluate credentials across multiple professions, FCCPT's services are specifically designed around physical therapy educational standards, licensure requirements, and immigration-related credentialing.
FCCPT evaluations are widely accepted across U.S. physical therapy licensing jurisdictions, making FCCPT a strong option for internationally educated physical therapists to consider.
Before applying, verify that the specific FCCPT service you select satisfies your intended state's requirements.
Are FCCPT and IERF the same organization?
No. FCCPT and IERF are separate credential evaluation organizations. Both are licensed to use FSBPT Coursework Tools, but their services and procedures differ.
Are ICD and TruMerit the same organization?
ICD operates as a physical therapy credential evaluation service within TruMerit, formerly CGFNS International. TruMerit also offers other healthcare credentialing and immigration-related services.
Does every state accept FCCPT evaluations?
FCCPT evaluations are widely accepted across U.S. licensing jurisdictions, and New York has its own process. However, applicants must still select the evaluation service and educational standard required by the individual state.
Can I use an IERF or ICD evaluation to apply for physical therapy licensure?
Possibly. It depends on whether your intended state's licensing authority accepts the organization and its specific evaluation service.
Can I use a credential evaluation completed for one state when applying to another?
Possibly, but the new state may require a different Coursework Tool, additional documentation, or an updated evaluation. Verify the requirements before assuming an existing report will be accepted.
Can I use my credential evaluation for both state licensure and immigration?
Not automatically. State licensure and immigration certification have separate requirements. Confirm whether you need an educational credential evaluation, a Health Care Worker Certificate, or both.
Will different credential evaluation organizations identify the same deficiencies?
Not necessarily. Even when applying the same Coursework Tool, differences in documentation, credit classification, or interpretation can produce different findings.
Do I need a new evaluation after completing additional coursework?
You may need to request a re-evaluation or updated report from your credentialing organization. The process depends on the organization, the evaluation service, and the requirements of your licensing authority.
Can the Navigator perform my official credential evaluation?
No. the Navigator provides educational planning assistance based on existing evaluation findings. It does not issue official credential evaluations, grant course pre-approvals, or determine eligibility for physical therapy licensure.
Get Your Free Physical Therapy Educational Deficiency Plan
Already received a credential evaluation identifying missing physical therapy coursework or academic credits?
The Navigator can help you explore potentially relevant University of Montana courses.
Our free educational planning service focuses on understanding your deficiencies, identifying appropriate academic coursework, and recognizing where a single course may help address multiple requirements.
There is no charge for the Navigator plan. University tuition, credential evaluation fees, and any optional third-party planning services are separate.
Get My Free Educational Deficiency Plan
the Navigator provides educational planning assistance. It does not perform official credential evaluations, issue course pre-approvals, or guarantee U.S. physical therapy licensure.