If you want to help people become the healthiest version of themselves despite challenges, then becoming a physical therapist may be the right path for you. But before you can practice as a licensed physical therapist (PT) or a physical therapy assistant (PTA) in the United States, you have to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE).
The NPTE is a test to ensure that you have the skills and knowledge required to become licensed as either a PT or PTA. It’s usually taken after a student has completed an accredited program, though many states allow you to sit for the exam up to 90 days before graduation.
No matter how confident you are in your skill set and knowledge base, it can be nerve racking to take a test that plays such a large role in your future (even though you can retake it). The good news is that more than three-fourths of people who take the exam pass it on the first attempt. In 2023, 80% of all first-time candidates passed the NPTE. Even so, that statistic still doesn’t take away the stress that you may be feeling about the test.
If you’re a student who has an NPTE test inching closer and closer, we’re here to help ease your nerves with some pieces of advice. We’ll also talk about what’s involved in the NPTE test process so you can avoid surprises.
5 pieces of advice to keep in mind as a student about to take the NPTE test
While your main focus before the NPTE should be on the information you’ve learned in your education, keeping the right advice in mind can also help you mentally and emotionally prepare for the exam.
Studying for the NPTE can feel stressful and overwhelming. When you don’t have the right insight along the way, those negative feelings can interfere with the effectiveness of your studying.
If you need a bit of guidance and reassurance as you approach the NPTE test, here are some pieces of advice that can help you obtain the best results you can:
- Take NPTE practice tests — Taking practice tests will not only give you an idea of what type of questions to expect, but they also help you gain a better grasp of what areas you’re the most knowledgeable in and which ones require more intensive review. You can take the PEAT, or the Practice Exam & Assessment Tool, designed by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), which creates the NPTE. There are also reputable NPTE practice exams from Scorebuilders and O’Sullivan. It’s important to note that most people take multiple practice exams.
- Focus on the main topics — While it’s natural to want to review every piece of information that you’ve ever learned about physical therapy, more than 50% of the questions focus on “The Big Three” topics: musculoskeletal, neuromuscular and cardiopulmonary. Even though you want to cover all your bases and not neglect other topics, such as the genitourinary and lymphatic systems, try to prioritize the main three subjects as you get closer to your exam. Plus, the FSBPT provides content outlines that can help you plan what information you need to review.
- Study in the way that works for you — If you’ve completed a college degree, then you’ve probably figured out the best study strategies that work for you. Even though the NPTE may be one of the most extensive exams you’ve ever taken, you should continue to study in the way that you know garners the best results. This could mean anything from flashcards to active recall. Resist trying to test out different approaches to studying unless you know that your current strategies won’t be effective for NPTE preparation.
- Take movement breaks — Getting burned out by studying is something that every student has probably experienced during their academic career. While it can be instinctual to just bury yourself in your study materials for hours on end, be sure to take regular breaks. Not only do they give your brain a chance to reset and refresh, but you can also move around your space. By taking movement breaks, you can increase the blood flow to your brain for increased attention and motivation that will benefit you while studying.
- Continue your regular routines — Branching off the previous point, it’s important that you don’t let preparing for the NPTE consume every waking moment of your day. By taking breaks to carry out your day-to-day tasks, such as running errands or doing your daily exercise, you’ll be able to prioritize your mental health by not letting your regular routines fall to the wayside in favor of studying. This can not only lead to burnout, but you may also get behind on your nonacademic responsibilities, such as chores around the house or self-care.
What you need to know about the NPTE test
The NPTE test isn’t the same run-of-the-mill exam that you’ve likely taken many times throughout your college career, because it’s comprehensive of the entire field. The goal is to make sure you understand the concepts and principles of physical therapy so that you can safely move patients along their health and wellness journey. The importance and scale of the NPTE test shouldn’t be underestimated.
Along with the right advice, you should also know exactly what you’re walking into and what to expect from the exam. Here are answers to a few common questions about the NPTE test:
- How long is the NPTE? — The NPTE has a time frame of five hours for physical therapists and four hours for physical therapy assistants. Each appointment will have an additional 30 minutes, which are used for a preexamination tutorial, postexamination survey and one 15-minute break. Besides the scheduled break, there are unscheduled breaks, meaning the timer will not stop if you choose to take one.
- How many questions are there? — For physical therapists, the NPTE test has 250 questions; for physical therapy assistants, 200 questions. It is split up into sections, or blocks, of 50 questions. The 15-minute break is scheduled between the second and third sections, while the unscheduled breaks appear on the screen after each section.
- How is the NPTE scored? — The NPTE test is a pass/fail exam that consists of multiple-choice questions, with one correct answer for each. You are scored based on your correct answers without a penalty for incorrect answers. The raw score is the number of correct answers, and they are converted into a scale score between 200 and 800. You need a score of 600 or higher to pass.
Alliance PTP is searching for caring, effective and committed team members for our PT partnership. Are you ready to be one of them?
After you pass the NPTE test, it’s time to start exploring job opportunities that will allow you to put your knowledge to use and help people become the healthiest version of themselves that they can be.
Caring. Effective. Committed. These may not be words that come to mind when you think about physical therapy partnerships, but Alliance Physical Therapy Partners is here to change that.
Our committed team has built a highly effective nationwide partner network. This network includes unique PT practices that are staffed by caring physical therapists who are ready to provide patients with effective, personalized care. We’re also committed to helping our partners’ team members get high-quality mentorship opportunities, improve their skills and create a true work-life balance.
Still not sure if becoming an Alliance PTP team member is the right move for you? Learn more about the professional development we offer or take a look at our current career openings.
