What’s My Status

TOEFL Requirements

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Examination

Federal regulations require the following minimum passing scores for the Internet-based TOEFL (TOEFL iBT®) and do not permit the substitution of other examinations for TOEFL.

Internet-based TOEFL Section (Total Score)

Minimum Score

Composite of reading comprehension, listening comprehension and writing 63
Speaking 26

Individual jurisdictions may have different additional requirements. You should review the jurisdiction requirements as well. You can find more information by viewing the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) Licensure Reference Guide.

Submitting TOEFL Score Reports to FCCPT

For instructions on sending your official TOEFL scores to FCCPT, please visit the ETS website.

  • FCCPT's Institution Code is 8164, and the department is Undergraduate.

Important: Educational Testing Service (ETS) will not report TOEFL scores that are more than two (2) years old.

  • Once FCCPT receives the official score report from TOEFL, it is valid for five (5) years after the original test date except for the Type 1 Renewal service which requires new passing TOEFL scores within two (2) years of the original test date. Scores that are more than five years old are no longer valid, and the test must be retaken and passed.

TOEFL Exemptions

Important: Effective January 1, 2018 California has new exemptions for TOEFL. Applicants who have been awarded a bachelor’s degree or higher in a physical therapist educational program from a college, university, or professional training school in Australia, any part of Canada other than Quebec, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States. All graduates whose first degree in PT was not completed in the United States and who do not meet the above exemption must take the TOEFL exam if seeking licensure in California.

The federal regulation lists the following exemptions to the requirement to take the TOEFL exam:

  • If you have been awarded a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from any of the following countries:
    • United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada (except Quebec), OR
  • If you are a graduate of a CAPTE accredited physical therapist education program.

If this exemption applies, your school must submit an official transcript showing that the degree was awarded and the date of conferral.

Important: Waiver requirement - FCCPT cannot waive the TOEFL requirement on your file until the official transcript has been received as listed above.