(for Health Sciences Programs)
(Effective November 1, 2009)
International applicants, any visa holders, permanent residents, and exchange students whose native language* is not English must provide proof of English proficiency. Health Science applicants must possess proficiency in oral English communication skills that allow for interaction in the classroom, skills laboratory, and clinical practice settings to successfully complete required course work and to provide a safe client care environment. The above applicants must demonstrate the use of acceptable grammar and pronunciation in formal verbal classroom presentations and verbal interactions with a variety of healthcare professionals, faculty, peers, and clients/patients in diverse clinical settings. Note: Proof of English proficiency must be provided by the end of the application period for the desired Health Science program.
Applicants from the following list of countries with majority English speaking populations are excluded from this procedure: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Ascension, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Canada (except Quebec), Channel Islands, Dominica, Falklands, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland (Erie), Jamaica, Liberia, Montserrat, New Zealand, St Christopher (St Kitts) & Nevis, St Lucia, St Helena, St Vincent & the Grenadines, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, United Kingdom (England, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales), Virgin Islands.
Transfer applicants who cannot demonstrate exemption as outlined below are also required to demonstrate oral English proficiency as outlined in this procedure. One of the following constitutes proof:
- TOEFL IBT – A score of 20 or greater is required on the speaking skills component. A composite score of 83 or greater is required. Four scaled section scores in Reading, Listening, Speaking, & Writing are required. An official copy of test scores must be received from Educational Testing Services (ETS) before the last day of the specific application period for the appropriate Health Science program.
- Web site: http://www.ets.org/toefl/index.html.
- An associate degree or baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.
- 4 years of study at and a diploma from a U.S. high school.
Applicants whose native language* (as defined below) is not English must provide proof of English proficiency prior to application deadline in any Health Science program that includes clinical/practicum-type course work. Proof will constitute the college receiving official TOEFL IBT or official transcripts as listed above.
Applicants should access the ETS (TOEFL IBT) website to locate testing dates, current fee schedules, and testing sites. Weatherford College DOES NOT offer this test. Website address is: http://www.ets.org/toefl/index.html. (Test of Spoken English) Click on “Test Locations.”
English as an official language (language that is used on official documents, spoken on radio & television, included in a nation’s constitution) does not exempt the applicant from the language proficiency requirement.
Copies of GED scores and/or TOEFL scores without the speaking skills score will not be accepted as proof of spoken English proficiency.
National Council on the Evaluation of Foreign Educational Credentials U.S. equivalence awards will not be accepted as proof of spoken English proficiency.
U.S. citizenship by naturalization process will not be accepted as proof of spoken English proficiency.
*A native language is a language that is acquired naturally during childhood and is usually spoken at home, as opposed to a language that is learned later in life, for example, as part of a person’s formal education.
Sources:
- Oakland University, Rochester Hills, MI University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
- The English-Speaking Union (http://www.esu.org/faqs.html)
- The Origin & History of the English Language (http://www.krysstal.com/english.html)
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) NCSBN Fact Sheet (www.ncsbn.org) Information & Registration Bulletin for Internet-based Testing (IBT) TOEFL IBT 2008-2009