Which Coursework Tool (CWT) Applies to Me for U.S. Physical Therapy Licensure?
If you earned your physical therapy degree outside the United States and are planning to become licensed as a physical therapist in the U.S., you may need an educational credential evaluation.
One of the most important questions is which Coursework Tool (CWT) will be used to evaluate your education?
The answer is not always determined by your graduation year. It may also depend on the state where you are seeking licensure, whether you are applying for your first U.S. license, and the purpose of your evaluation.
Understanding these differences can help you avoid unnecessary educational requirements and identify the appropriate pathway toward U.S. physical therapy licensure.
What Is a Coursework Tool (CWT)?
A Coursework Tool is a standardized framework developed by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).
Credentialing organizations use the CWT to compare education completed outside the United States with the educational standards expected of physical therapists educated in the U.S.
The evaluation examines general education, professional physical therapy coursework, academic credits, and clinical education.
If the evaluator cannot establish that certain requirements have been satisfied, the report may identify educational deficiencies.
What Are CWT4, CWT5, and CWT6?
FSBPT has developed multiple versions of the Coursework Tool to reflect changes in U.S. physical therapy education over time.
The historical versions commonly correspond to the following graduation periods:
| Coursework Tool | Graduation period |
|---|---|
| CWT4 | 1998 through June 30, 2009 |
| CWT5 | July 1, 2009 through December 31, 2016 |
| CWT6 | January 1, 2017 onward under the standards implemented in 2017 |
Earlier graduates may fall under CWT1, CWT2, or CWT3 when historical standards are accepted.
Your graduation year does not automatically determine which CWT your state requires.
For example, someone who graduated in 2005 may be evaluated under CWT4 in a state accepting historical standards, but may be required to use CWT6 when applying for initial licensure in a state requiring the current Coursework Tool.
Does Every State Require the Same CWT?
No. Each U.S. state licensing authority establishes its own educational evaluation requirements for internationally educated physical therapists.
Some states accept the Coursework Tool corresponding to the applicant's graduation year. Others require evaluation using the current educational standards.
Requirements can also differ based on how you apply for licensure.
Initial licensure: You are applying for your first physical therapy license in the United States.
Licensure by endorsement: You already hold a U.S. physical therapy license and are applying for licensure in another state.
For example:
- Texas: Requires the current CWT for initial licensure by examination but accepts the graduation-year CWT or a more recent version for licensure by endorsement.
These examples illustrate why two individuals with the same graduation year could face different evaluation requirements depending on their intended state of licensure.
Always verify current requirements directly with the state licensing board before requesting a credential evaluation.
Is New York Different?
Yes. New York does not follow the CWT process described above.
Applicants for New York licensure first complete a New York credentialing evaluation through FCCPT. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) then conducts its own full review.
NYSED's review focuses mainly on the level of education completed rather than on individual topics. Since October 2024, New York has also required additional years of postgraduate education, which has made licensure considerably harder for physical therapists educated outside the U.S., most of whom hold a bachelor's degree.
Under NYSED's approach, a 30-credit post-professional DPT counts as roughly one year of postgraduate education, so further advanced study may also be needed.
If you have flexibility about where you practice, licensure in a nearby state such as Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Delaware may be a more direct route. Always confirm New York's current requirements with NYSED.
Talk to an enrollment coach about New York
Does It Matter Which Credentialing Organization I Use?
Yes, but the Coursework Tool is not exclusive to any single credentialing organization.
FSBPT licenses multiple organizations to use its Coursework Tools, including:
- Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT)
- International Education Research Foundation (IERF)
- International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
TruMerit, formerly CGFNS International, also offers credentialing services and is associated with ICD in FSBPT's current listing.
Although multiple organizations work with physical therapy credentials, not every state accepts evaluations from every organization or every evaluation service.
Before selecting an evaluator, verify that your intended state licensing board accepts the organization and the specific evaluation service you plan to request.
The requirements of the state licensing board, not simply your choice of credentialing organization, determine the appropriate evaluation pathway.
Does the CWT Used for Immigration Differ From State Licensure?
It can.
International physical therapists may need credential evaluations for different purposes, including state licensure and U.S. immigration.
These processes are related but are not interchangeable.
For immigration purposes, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recognizes FCCPT and TruMerit to issue Health Care Worker Certifications for physical therapists.
A credential evaluation completed for immigration purposes does not automatically satisfy every state's licensure evaluation requirements.
Before ordering an evaluation, identify whether you need it for state licensure, immigration, or both.
What Happens if My Credential Evaluation Identifies Deficiencies?
If your educational evaluation identifies missing requirements, you may need additional academic coursework or supervised clinical education.
Common findings include:
- Missing professional physical therapy topics
- Insufficient professional education credits
- Missing general education requirements
- Insufficient overall academic credits
- Clinical education deficiencies
Your report should identify the requirements that were not satisfied.
Some deficiencies may be addressed through individual university-level courses. Others may require a more comprehensive educational pathway.
A single university course may also address multiple identified topic deficiencies while contributing eligible credits toward an academic credit shortfall.
This makes careful course selection important.
How Can the Strelis PT License Deficiency Navigator Help?
The Navigator helps internationally educated physical therapists understand identified educational deficiencies and explore University of Montana coursework that may help address them.
Depending on your evaluation, potential educational pathways may include:
- Individual online courses taken as a nondegree-seeking student
- Multiple courses selected to address overlapping educational deficiencies
- The University of Montana's post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy program for eligible applicants
Our goal is to help identify an efficient educational pathway that addresses applicable academic deficiencies without unnecessary duplication of coursework.
The Navigator does not determine which CWT a licensing board will require, perform official credential evaluations, or guarantee that coursework will satisfy licensure requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
I graduated in 2005. Do I need CWT4 or CWT6?
If your state accepts historical Coursework Tools based on graduation year, CWT4 would generally correspond to a 2005 graduation. However, a state requiring the current Coursework Tool for initial licensure may require CWT6 instead. Check the requirements of the state where you intend to become licensed.
I graduated in 2015. Does CWT5 apply to me?
CWT5 corresponds to the educational standards generally applicable to graduates from July 1, 2009, through December 31, 2016. Whether your evaluation uses CWT5 depends on your state's requirements and the purpose of the evaluation.
Can FCCPT, IERF, and ICD all use the CWT?
Yes. These organizations are licensed to use FSBPT Coursework Tools. However, states may restrict which organizations and evaluation services they accept.
Can I use an evaluation completed for one state when applying to another?
Possibly. However, the new state may require a different Coursework Tool, additional documentation, or an updated evaluation. Confirm the requirements before assuming an existing report will be accepted.
Does passing a CWT evaluation mean I can obtain my U.S. PT license?
Not automatically. Educational equivalency is one component of licensure eligibility. States may also require the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), English-language proficiency, background checks, and other requirements.
I want to be licensed in New York. Does the CWT apply?
No. New York uses its own process: an FCCPT New York credentialing evaluation followed by a review by the New York State Education Department, with additional postgraduate education requirements. Confirm current requirements with NYSED.
Can I complete my educational deficiencies online?
Many professional academic topic deficiencies may be addressed through appropriate online university courses. Clinical education deficiencies generally require supervised clinical experiences.
Get Your Free Educational Deficiency Plan
Already have a credential evaluation from FCCPT, IERF, ICD, or another accepted evaluation provider?
The Navigator can help you understand your identified educational deficiencies and explore available University of Montana coursework.
Upload your evaluation to receive guidance on potentially relevant courses, overlapping deficiencies, and educational pathways that may help you move toward your goals.
Get My Free Educational Deficiency Plan
Educational recommendations are advisory. Credentialing organizations and state licensing boards determine whether coursework meets applicable requirements.