How to Pass the NPTE the First Time Around

The National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) is a key milestone for physical therapy students and is the last step in their journey to becoming a practicing physical therapist. Given by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), the NPTE is designed to assess a candidate’s basic entry-level competence after graduation. In this blog, we’ll give you insights and tips to increase your chances of passing the first time.

1. Understand the NPTE Content Outline

Questions cover an array of topics. Questions are divided into body system ornon system. You will answer questions on examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, and interventions. This is a lot of content to master, so familiarize yourself with the NPTE content outline to gain insights into the exam structure. This outline will serve as your roadmap, helping you allocate study time based on the content areas.

2. Create a Study Plan

The first step in creating a solid study plan is taking a few practice exams. Consider taking an NPTE practice exam or assessment to discover any weak areas you may have. Devote more time to those areas. But don’t solely focus on your weaknesses. It is important that you cover all content areas tested on the NPTE. Break down your study sessions into manageable chunks of time based on your available time.

3. Explore Useful Resources

1. Practice Questions – These are vital to successful exam preparation. It is imperative that you spend time going through physical therapy practice questions during every study session. Try to gradually increase the number of questions you are answering each day to increase your testing endurance. Always go over the question rationales and take notes on information you missed. Avoid copying the rationales verbatim – putting the information into your own words is much more beneficial. Make sure your practice questions include the new items types that will be tested on the NPTE in 2024. TrueLearn offers both video questions and scenario based questions to help you prepare.
2. Review Books and Review Courses – Consider investing in NPTE review books or courses. Equip yourself with high-quality resources. Get advice from your program, mentors, and peers on the best ones.
3. Content Maps, Flashcards, Notes, etc. – There is a lot of material you need to remember, and reading alone is not always the best way to go about it. At this point in your educational journey, you surely have acquired a ton of notes, concept maps, outlines, and flashcards. Use them in your studies!
4. Videos – If you are a visual/audio learner, remember to include videos on topics you are struggling with. You may want to check out Picmonic, which has a physical therapy library full of mnemonic videos covering hundreds of topics.
5. Study Groups – Don’t go at it alone! Your peers are also preparing for this monumental exam. Take time to meet with each other to discuss challenging topics and reinforce your understanding of key topics. Take turns teaching concepts to the group. Teaching others is one of the best forms of studying.

4. Manage Your Time

When preparing for your NPTE exam, remember that quality is more important than quantity of your study time. Invest a short amount of time every day and start early. It is not only stressful to procrastinate, but it also causes burnout and makes it difficult to recall complicated topics long-term. Establish your week-by-week goals months in advance, and practice NPTE questions for 30 minutes a day to identify areas of weakness and reinforce key concepts. Time is another factor to consider when scheduling the exam. Plan your exam schedule in accordance with all of your personal obligations to ensure you have enough study time necessary for you to succeed.

5. Stay Accountable

Research shows that it can take up to 23 minutes to focus on a task again once you become distracted. Every one of us is guilty of finding distractions and losing track of time. The NPTE should be treated like a job, putting in the hours required to pass. You can stay focused when needed by blocking distracting notifications from your phone with Flora, an app Dani recommends in this webinar. Time is limited and crucial, so staying on task is essential to performing your best. 

Can You Find Out Early if You Passed the NPTE?

The only way to find out if you’ve passed the NPTE is to log into your FSBPT dashboard approximately five business days after the exam. It’s a nerve-wracking wait, so make plans to occupy your mind during these days. Visit family you haven’t seen in awhile, catch-up with friends, or go to the movies. Do something for yourself that will help time pass.

How Many Questions Do You Need to Get Right to Pass?

The exam uses a scaled scoring system, meaning that points are awarded based on the difficulty of the question. Since each exam is different, there is no definitive answer to the number of questions you must get right to pass.

What Is the NPTE Pass Rate?

In 2022, the first-time pass rate for the NPTE was 85% for graduates of US Accredited PT Programs..

What Is a Passing Score?

The NPTE is scored on a scale of 200-800, with 600 or above passing.

TrueLearn is here for you! Our Physical Therapy SmartBank has over 1,700 practice questions that are written by content experts in the field. Engage in spaced repetition and active recall with our questions that each come with high quality answer rationales. Our performance dashboard shows you your strengths and weaknesses in real time, so you can tailor your study plan accordingly. Trusted by thousands of DPT students nationwide, we even offer a first-time pass guarantee!