Evaluating International Professional Degrees Session ID 1950 Monday, April 1, 10:30-11:45 a.m.

Welcome! • Please silence your electronic devices. • Please complete the session evaluation using the AACRAO mobile app. • If you must leave the session early, please do so as discreetly as possible • Please avoid side conversation during the session.

Monday, April 1, 2019 Presenters: Margaret (Meg) Wenger – Senior Director of Evaluation, ECE – [email protected] – https://www.ece.org/ECE

Ann M. Koenig – Associate Director, AACRAO International – [email protected] – https://www.aacrao.org/

Session ID # 1950 Our Topics • International professional degrees: Law - Physical Therapy - Medicine - Pharmacy • Applying principles of best practice in credential evaluation • How “professional” and “academic” degrees differ • Case studies with sample documents • Challenges for degree holders and credential evaluators • Summary: Possible outcomes or solutions for: – Admission (graduate, undergraduate, transfer credit) – U.S. comparability or equivalence Best Practice in Credential Evaluation See: TAICEP Standards for the Profession https://www.taicep.org/taiceporgwp/about/standards-for-the-profession/ • Develop a methodology and apply it consistently in every case. • Identify the purpose of the evaluation. • Obtain a full set of authentic documents. • Analyze the documents and compare to US .  Based on research using official, reliable resources.  Confirm key information: Status of institution, level of education, content, purpose/function of the credential in its country.  Apply institutional or organizational policies for comparison. • Provide a transparent communications process for evaluation results and follow-up. • Provide training and continuing education in skill and knowledge development for evaluators. Evaluation Methodology: Confirm and Compare General Characteristics This Credential US Grad Admission & UG transfer considerations Country, Oversight authority

Institution (name, status)

Program (name, status)

Credential (name, type)

Function of credential in the country

Level of program (admission, access in the country) Structure (length, components)

Content

Grading/assessment “Professional” vs. “Academic” Degrees Professional Degrees: Academic Degrees:

• Prepare for and • Degree content not tied to the work in a regulated practice of a specific profession profession • May have different • Admission requirements and admission requirements program content are than “academic” degrees determined by the teaching • Program content is specified institution or Ministry of by external licensing bodies Ed/Higher Ed rather than • Program includes practical external licensing bodies training periods and • Flexibility of mobility in the preparation for licensing academic sphere and the exam employment market Professional Degrees: Common Program Content • Introduction to the profession • History, philosophy, ethics of the profession • Professional content component: – Fundamentals or foundation courses – Intermediate or pre-professional courses – Professional or practice-related courses • Practical training periods • Licensure requirements • Preparation for licensure examination Professional Degrees: Tips for Evaluation

General Characteristics Tips for Evaluation

Country, Oversight authority Institution might be under an authority other than “ministry of education” (health, justice, agriculture, military, etc.). Regulation of professional licensing often done by a national or regional authority. Institution (name, status) Might be taught in a separate specialized institution. Program (name, status) Check program description. Credential (name, type) Nomenclature might be different from that used for “academic” degrees. Function of credential in the Often regulated separately from “academic” degrees. country Completion credential might include a professional or qualification.

Check program description. Professional Degrees: Tips for Evaluation

General Characteristics Tips for Evaluation Level of program (admission, In many countries, admission is directly after access in the country) secondary school. Pre-professional coursework is done within the degree program.

US-based systems might require a “pre-professional” degree or undergraduate coursework prior to admission. Structure (length, components) Length might be different from/longer than “academic” degrees.

Components of programs are similar throughout the world. Content Contents of professional programs are similar throughout the world.

Grading/assessment Might be evaluated on a pass/fail basis, especially practice components. Resources for Information on Professional Degrees: Professional Education in the United States

• Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ and other career guidance resources • Accrediting bodies and professional associations for the professions • U.S. state licensing boards and national licensing organizations • Institutions that teach professional programs Resources for Information on Professional Degrees: Professional Education in Other Countries

• The institution offering the program • The ministry or authority in the country that regulates the profession • Legislation regulating the profession and education in the profession • Professional association(s) for the profession in the country • International associations or organizations for the profession – Example: Law • American Bar Association, Rule of Law Initiative and country initiatives: https://www.americanbar.org/advocacy/rule_of_law/ • International Bar Association, key words “Home Country Licensing Questions”: https://www.ibanet.org/PPID/Constituent/Bar_Issues_Commission/ITILS_XXX.aspx (XXX = name of country) – Sudan: IBA, International Legal Services, Home Country Licensing Questions: https://www.ibanet.org/PPID/Constituent/Bar_Issues_Commission/ITILS_Sudan. aspx TIP: Use terminology from the documents to search for information in the original language and other languages as well. AND…don’t forget about the Internet Archive “Wayback Machine” for older programs: https://web.archive.org/ Case Studies • Law  of Khartoum, Sudan, (LL.B.) awarded 2009  City , UK, Graduate in Law, awarded 2018 • Physical Therapy  Misr University for Science and Technology (MUST), Egypt, Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy awarded 2009  Cairo University, Egypt, Professional Degree of Doctor of Physical Therapy awarded 2017 • Medicine  Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, MB.BCh.BAO awarded 2004  Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, BSc (Hons) awarded 2016 • Pharmacy  University of Huddersfield, UK, awarded 2014 Law Degrees in the U.S.

General Characteristics (J.D.) (LL.M.) Oversight Authority • The institution, its governors, • The institution , its governors, and its accreditor(s) and its accreditor(s) • The American Bar Association • The ABA does not approve (ABA) is the program LL.M. programs or any accreditor for J.D. programs. programs other than J.D. • The state bar of the U.S. state programs. for whose bar exam the program prepares (4 states do not require a JD to be admitted to the state bar exam: CA, VA, VT, WA) Function of • First professional degree in law • Academic master’s degree for credential in the • Meets the academic holders of a J.D. degree U.S. preparation requirement for • There is a variety of master’s admission to most state bar programs available in fields exams related to law. Law Degrees in the U.S.

General Juris Doctor Master of Laws Characteristics (J.D.) (LL.M.) Level of program • Generally admission requires a • Admission requires a J.D. (admission, access bachelor’s degree. • Admission to other types of in the country) • Gives access to a state bar master’s programs in fields exam (if approved program) related to law may require a and professional licensure and bachelor’s degree, but not a practice. J.D. degree. • Gives access to graduate-level • Gives access to doctoral-level programs in law. programs in law. Structure & Content • 3 years full-time; part-time • As determined by the (length, programs available institution. components) • Generally required law courses, elective law courses, legal writing, state-specific law, experiential courses, simulations. First Professional Degree in Law: World Models

Admission Country examples: Degree Structure examples (# of years): requires: Secondary school Most countries Europe, Bologna countries, some examples: completion around the world! • 3 (UK; Ireland [Civil Law)] • 3+1 (Netherlands, France) • 3+2 Bachelor + Master (many countries) • 4 (Greece, Turkey, Scotland) • 4.5 (Germany, Sweden) • 5 unified long cycle (Poland, Italy, Finland) Central & South America: • 4, 5 or 6, depending on country Arab Middle East: 4 Francophone Middle East & Africa: • 4 or 3+1 (transitioning to French LMD) CIS Region: 4 or 5, depending on country Southeast Asia: 4 for many countries China: 4 Japan, Korea: 4 for “old system”; (transitioned to Bachelor + JD system) Australia: 4 for Bachelor of Laws First Professional Degree in Law: World Models

Admission Country examples: Degree Structure examples (# of years): requires:

Secondary school Australia: 5-year integrated program (Bachelor of Laws + completion Combined program Bachelor of X) in which courses are “cross- credited” to each degree Prior degree Australia Juris Doctor Non-law bachelor + 3-year Juris Doctor India 3-year Bachelor of X + 3-year Bachelor of Laws (OR 5-year integrated Bachelor of X + Bachelor of Laws program) Japan 4-year bachelor’s degree + 2- or 3-year Juris Doctor degree (since 2004) South Korea 4-year bachelor’s degree + 3-year Juris Doctor degree (since 2009) United Kingdom 1-year Post- in Law (PGDL) (not Scotland) or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) after a bachelor’s degree in a non-law subject University of Khartoum, Sudan, LL.B. awarded 2009 Faculty of Law: https://law.uofk.edu/en/

LL.B., University of Khartoum

General LL.B., US Admission & UG transfer Characteristics University of Khartoum considerations Country, Oversight authority Sudan, Ministry of Education; Sudan Bar Association (“advocate” licensure) Institution (name, status) University of Khartoum Credential (name, type) LL.B., Bachelor’s degree Function of the credential First professional degree in law; access to bar exam for practice as “advocate” Level of program Admission requires secondary school graduation; gives access to graduate study Structure (length, 4 years, exam after each year (Preliminary, components) Intermediate, Final Part I, Final Part II) Content Civil and Sharia law; university requirements Grading/assessment Noted on transcript (verbal and %) Credential Evaluation: U.S. Graduate Admission General LL.B., US Grad Admission Characteristics University of Khartoum Considerations Country, Oversight Sudan, Ministry of Education; Sudan Bar Recognized? authority Association (“advocate” licensure) Institution University of Khartoum Recognized? Credential LL.B., Bachelor’s degree Acceptable? Comparable to US bachelor? Function of the First professional degree in law; access to Appropriate field of study? credential bar exam for practice as “advocate” Level of program Admission requires secondary school Appropriate level? graduation; gives access to graduate study Structure (length) 4 years, exam after each year Appropriate length? Content Civil and Sharia law; university Appropriate content? Pre- requirements req’s completed? Grading/ Noted on transcript (verbal and %) Grade average? Rank? assessment Credential Evaluation: U.S. UG Admission / Transfer

General LL.B., US UG/Transfer Admission Characteristics University of Khartoum Considerations Country, Oversight Sudan, Ministry of Education; Sudan Recognized? authority Bar Association (“advocate” licensure) Institution University of Khartoum Recognized? Credential LL.B., Bachelor’s degree Acceptable? 2nd degree? Function of the First professional degree in law; access Acceptable? 2nd degree? credential to bar exam for practice as “advocate” Level of program Admission requires secondary school Acceptable? 2nd degree? grad.; gives access to graduate study Structure (length) 4 years, exam after each year How to convert credits? Content Civil and Sharia law; university Any transferrable content? requirements As what type of credit? Grading/ Noted on transcript (verbal and %) How to convert subject assessment grades? City University of London, Graduate Diploma in Law https://www.city.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/graduate-diploma-law-gdl

“Entry Requirements: A degree (in any subject), of at least an upper second-class honours standard, conferred by an institution in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland or by the Council for National Academic Awards. Or, an approved degree conferred by an institution outside the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, and a very good knowledge of the English language.” Graduate Diploma, City University of London General Graduate Diploma in Law, US Grad / UG Characteristics City University of London, UK admission considerations Country, Oversight UK Government (https://www.gov.uk/check-a- Recognized? authority university-is-officially-recognised); Solicitors Regulation Authority (http://www.sra.org.uk) for licensing Institution City University of London Recognized? Credential (name, Graduate Diploma in Law Is it a degree? type) Function of credential Academic qualification for admission to legal practice Is it a degree? training for solicitors or barristers Level of program Admission requires a degree in a non-law subject or a US Grad credit? US degree in law from another country UG credit?

Structure 1 year full-time Convert to US Credits? Content The “seven foundation subjects” in English law, plus Transferrable? English Legal System, Legal Ethics, research module Grading/assessment See program specifications on Web page Convert to US grades? Physical Therapy Education in the US • Associate degrees (Physical Therapy Assisting) • Bachelor degrees (BPT) in Physical Therapy (4 years, discontinued; there are still examples in combined programs) • Master of Physical Therapy degrees (MPT), replaced by DPT in 2000 (last awarded in 2008) [professional degree] – 4+2 – 5 • Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees (DPT) [professional degree] – Minimum 6 years of study (4+2 or 3+3; or 6 after hs) – 4+3 is most common (bachelor’s and specific coursework required for admission to DPT) – Require approximately 230 credits total PT resources

• American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) http://www.apta.org/ • Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) http://www.capteonline.org/home.aspx • Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physica Therapy (FCCPT) Country Profiles http://www.fccpt.org/Connections/Country- Profiles First page of bachelor’s transcript

PT case study: Egypt • First credential – Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy – 4 or 5 years; at the time it was four years – Admission requirement GSEC (12 yrs primary- secondary education) – Post-degree internship

• Second credential – Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy – 2 years after a 4-year BPT PT Case Study: Egypt

• What is the U.S. comparability of each of these credentials?

• What are the considerations for admission? – Graduate – Undergraduate / transfer credit? Evaluation Methodology: Confirm and Compare General Characteristics This Credential US Grad Admission & UG transfer considerations Country, Oversight authority

Institution (name, status)

Program (name, status)

Credential (name, type)

Function of credential in the country

Level of program (admission, access in the country) Structure (length, components)

Content

Grading/assessment in the U.S. • (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) • Generally a 4-year program after a bachelor’s degree • Gives access to training in medical specialties and graduate-level programs in medical sciences • Curriculum may be modular or have integrated components, may be combined with a master’s or PhD program • Curriculum: Pre-med (biosciences), pre-clinical (medical sciences), and clinical (practice-oriented) • May be assessed on a pass/fail or competency basis. • Program accreditation: – Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LEME) for M.D. programs: http://lcme.org/. Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation for D.O. programs: https://osteopathic.org/. • Information resource: The Federation of State Medical Boards: https://www.fsmb.org/ Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland MB.BCh.BAO, awarded 2004 Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland MB.BCh.BAO

• RCSI has had degree-awarding power under Ministry of Education and Skills since 2003. Previously under National University of Ireland. • Medical Council sets standards for medical programs. • Admission - 3 options: – School Leaver (after Leaving Certificate or equivalent) – Mature (age 23+) (after Leaving Certificate or equivalent) – Graduate (after an ) • Gives access to training in medical specialties and graduate programs in medicine. • 6 years full-time (5 for Graduate entry) – Foundation Year (for School Leaver and Mature admits) – pre-med biomedical sciences – Junior Cycle (18 months) – biosciences – Intermediate Cycle (18 months) – clinical preparation – Senior Cycle (2 years) – clinical rotations Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland MB.BCh.BAO, awarded 2004 Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Bachelor of Medical Sciences BSc (Hons), awarded 2016 based on enrollment 2012-14 Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Bachelor of Medical Sciences BSc (Hons)

MB.BCh.BAO Case Studies: Ireland

• What is the U.S. comparability of each of these credentials?

• What are the considerations for admission? – Graduate – Undergraduate / transfer credit? Evaluation Methodology: Confirm and Compare General Characteristics This Credential US Grad Admission & UG transfer considerations Country, Oversight authority

Institution (name, status)

Program (name, status)

Credential (name, type)

Function of credential in the country

Level of program (admission, access in the country) Structure (length, components)

Content

Grading/assessment Pharmacy Education in the US • Associate degrees (Pharmacy Technology) • Bachelor degrees – Four-year: Pharmaceutical Sciences (non- professional) – Five-year: Pharmacy • Master degrees – Pharmacy Administration, – Health-System Pharmacy – Clinical Pharmacy • Doctor of Pharmacy (six years) Pharmacy resources

• American Pharmacists Association https://www.pharmacist.com/ • National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) https://nabp.pharmacy/ Name of qualification: Master of Pharmacy

Level: Masters Official length: 4 years Access requirement: https://www.hud.ac.uk/registry/ regulations-and-policies/awards/ (Section D) MPharm program details Pharmacy case study: UK • Master of Pharmacy – Admission requirement: A-levels (Chem and add’l science subject) – Four years, including practical component – Accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

• What is the U.S. comparability of each of these credentials? • What are the considerations for admission? – Graduate – Undergraduate / transfer credit? Evaluation Methodology: Confirm and Compare General Characteristics This Credential US Grad Admission & UG transfer considerations Country, Oversight authority

Institution (name, status)

Program (name, status)

Credential (name, type)

Function of credential in the country

Level of program (admission, access in the country) Structure (length, components)

Content

Grading/assessment Summary: Challenges for Professional Degree Holders

• Licensing regulations often differ from one jurisdiction to the next. • An evaluation is often required to determine licensing eligibility in the new jurisdiction. • Requirements in the new jurisdiction may create a barrier to continuing to practice the profession. • The degree holder may be faced with having to “start over” in a new occupation. • How will the professional degree be evaluated for further education / training in a new area? Summary: Challenges for Credential Evaluators

• Recognition status of institution and program • Level of credential compared to U.S. system • Content of degree: Professional vs. “academic” • Level and content compared to U.S. system • Institutional admission and transfer credit policies • Credential comparability/equivalency policies

Solutions? Let’s discuss! What We Covered Today… Questions? • International professional degrees: Law - Physical Therapy - Medicine - Pharmacy • How “professional” and “academic” degrees differ • Applying principles of best practice in credential evaluation • Case studies with sample documents • Challenges for degree holders and credential evaluators • Summary: Possible outcomes or solutions for: – Admission (graduate, undergraduate, transfer credit) – U.S. comparability or equivalence Thank You! Please complete the session evaluation using the AACRAO mobile app. Session ID 1950 Monday, April 1, 10:30-11:45 a.m. Margaret (Meg) Wenger – Senior Director of Evaluation, ECE – [email protected] Ann M. Koenig – Associate Director, AACRAO International – [email protected]