National Physical Therapy Examination

1. Where do I take the National Physical Therapy Examination?

You will take the NPTE at any of the over 300 Prometric testing centers across the U.S. A quick Internet search will show you the closest Prometric locations in your area. You are not required to take the exam in the same state in which you are seeking to be licensed.

2. How much does it cost to take the NPTE?

The NPTE fee itself is $370 as of this writing. However, it is not the only fee associated with taking the exam. Prometric testing centers also charge a fee for their services, which is currently a little over $70. In addition, these fees do not cover official licensure fees, which vary from state to state, and are paid separately.

3. What do I need to bring to the National Physical Therapy Examination?

You will need two forms of ID. One must be a government issued ID with a photo, such as a driver's license or a passport. The other must be a current, printed form of ID, such as a credit card. The names and signatures on both forms of ID must exactly match the first and last names on your test authorization letter. A Social Security card is not a valid form of either ID. You will also be fingerprinted and photographed when you enter the testing area, and you will be photographed any time you leave the area, such as during breaks. In addition, you will be videotaped while taking the test.

4. Are there any items I am not allowed to bring?

Yes, there are several items that test takers are prohibited from bringing to the Prometric center. Pagers, cell phones, digital watches, and other electronic devices are forbidden. Earplugs are also forbidden. If noise is a problem, Prometric will provide you with a pair of noise dampening headphones.

5. Are there ways of practicing for the National Physical Therapy Examination?

Yes. There are some sample practice questions on the official NPTE website, which may be somewhat helpful. However, the number of these practice questions is extremely limited, and most test takers will find them of little use. Another option is to obtain a set of NPTE flashcards or a good NPTE study guide, as the number of practice questions these materials provide is far higher than the few found on the official website. Many candidates have successfully used these to prepare for the National Physical Therapy Examination.

NPTE Exam Tips for a High Score

The NPTE exam is an extremely challenging part of becoming a state licensed physical therapist. Many people fail this important exam every year because they did not give it the respect it deserves, thinking they already knew everything they needed to know and that the test would be a breeze. When they got their scores, however, they were devastated. This does not need to happen to you. There is really no reason anyone who made it through a physical therapy education program should fail the certification exam. Here are some tips that can help you achieve a high score on the NPTE exam.

First, take advantage of some of the weaknesses of standardized tests. Because the NPTE is a multiple-choice, computer-based test, there are ways of maximizing your advantage that would not apply to different formats. First, if you are stumped, do not spend too much time trying to figure out the answer to a question. Mark it for later review, and move on to the next question. Get all of the easy questions out of the way, and then go back to your harder ones that you skipped. Of course, the test is timed, so you must keep an eye on the clock. Try to solve each question as best as you can without taking too much time. If you are completely baffled, then you should take a guess. That is because you might get it right, and even if you do not, a wrong answer does not lower your score any more than a blank one does.

Another important tip: many people assume that when guessing, each possible answer (A, B, C, D) has a 25 percent chance of being correct. This may seem logical, but in fact, B and C each have a 30 percent chance of being right, while A and D only have a 20 percent chance each. So, unless you can eliminate both B and C as obviously wrong, it is usually best to go with one of those two choices. These two tips alone can make a significant difference on your NPTE exam score. Combined with using a good NPTE study guide or flash cards for systematic and brief review sessions on a regular basis in the weeks leading up to the test, these tips can help you pass the NPTE exam.

NPTE Study Guide: Your Best Bet for Passing the NPTE

Do you need an NPTE study guide? Well, if you are planning to take the NPTE exam, you should certainly give serious consideration to getting a study guide before sitting down for the test. If you are serious about becoming a licensed physical therapist, then the small cost of a good study guide may well be one of the best investments you make in your entire life. Passing the NPTE is not easy to do, and you will want to have every advantage possible when you take it. The price of an NPTE study guide pales when compared with having to pay another $440 in testing fees if you fail.

Do not assume that because you have just completed a rigorous physical therapy education program that you will be all set to ace the NPTE. Your education is the foundation on which you will build your physical therapy career, but by itself, it is not enough to ensure that you pass the licensing exam. Every year in America, many people take the NPTE exam, and many of them wind up failing. A number of the people who fail the test are also recent graduates of PT programs, and quite a few of them made excellent grades. It is likely that all of them thought they were ready for the test but found out differently.

Why do so many people fail the NPTE even though they have recently graduated from a prestigious PT program? It is because the test is so thorough and inclusive. You will be tested on practice as well as theory, along with many other areas. Some of this material will be over topics you have not encountered in years, as they were things covered early in your education. With a good NPTE study guide, you can review everything you need to know without worrying that you have overlooked some important material. It is not necessary to spend a week cramming with a study guide; on the contrary, it is best to just spend a brief period every night studying and reviewing in the weeks leading up to the test. This gradual, step-by-step approach also helps reduce test day jitters. So, yes, if you want to make sure you pass, you definitely need an NPTE study guide.

Physical Therapy Exam: What You Need to Know

Passing the Physical Therapy Exam is a requirement for every person who hopes to work as a Physical Therapist in the U.S. The exam is recognized by all 50 states and all U.S. territories, so it is possible for a person to take it in one state even though he or she is planning to be licensed in another. Currently, the test fee is $370, and there is an additional fee of around $70 that is paid to the Prometric testing site. There are over 300 of these sites around the country, which means taking the Physical Therapy exam is convenient for most everyone.

The test is taken on a computer and has a time limit of five hours. There are 250 questions on the test, all multiple-choice, which are distributed over several major sections. These include Clinical Application of Foundational Sciences; Examination/Foundations for Evaluation, Differential Diagnosis, and Prognosis; Interventions/Equipment and Devices; Therapeutic Modalities; Safety, Protection and Professional Roles; Teaching and Learning; and Research and Evidence Based Practice.

The Physical Therapy Exam is scored on a scale of 200 to 800. It generally takes a score of at least 600 to pass. Approximately one in eight candidates who take the test will fail and be unable to work as a licensed physical therapist. These figures are for first-time test takers; for those taking the exam for a second or third time, the failure rate is much, much higher. Obviously, many people do not take the test seriously enough. They rely on the few sample questions on the official test website, which can lead to a false sense of assurance. It is better to approach the test with a "better safe than sorry" attitude and spend some time reviewing with a good Physical Therapy Exam study guide before attempting to pass it.