How to Pass the NPTE the First Time

In 2021, 87% of students passed the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE)® on their very first attempt. 

As Physical Therapists themselves, Marissa Heilig, PT, DPT, founder of Pediatric Physical Therapy, and Danielle Rosenzweig PT, DPT, CSRS, CBIS, founder of PTutor, created their platforms to help guide others on the resources that lead to their exam success the first time.

In this webinar, our speakers share tips that have helped hundreds of Physical Therapy students succeed in their first attempt. The following are some of the top four tips they outlined in their presentation. 

1. Establish Good Study Habits

Preparing for the NPTE begins with designing an approachable, framework-based study plan. By starting early, you will have ample time to test your study plan and change it if it does not work for you. In addition, you’ll have more time to learn the basics and all the big content areas. A few examples of these big content areas include MSK, neurology, cardiopulmonary, other systems, and non-systems. 

2. Manage Your Time

The early bird gets the worm. 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.

3. 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 in order to pass. You can stay focused when you need to by blocking distracting notifications from your phone with Flora, an app Dani recommends. Time is limited and crucial, so staying on task is essential to performing your best. 

4. Adjust Your Plan through Trial and Error

If you find that your study plan is not working for you, it is important to make adjustments to help you retain the information necessary long-term. In this session, Dani and Marissa share both of their study plans that helped them pass on the first try. You will find that both of their resources and regimens vary, as not every study schedule will look the same. In fact, you want to focus on the techniques and practices that help you learn most effectively. 

Follow the link below to access more information on the tips above as well as topics such as…

• The best textbooks and practice exams to incorporate into your study routine
• Two study road maps to help you modify your own plan
• A breakdown of two NPTE-style practice questions from TrueLearn’s SmartBank to demonstrate how to tackle even the most complex topics

…and much more. Whether you are looking to retake the exam or pass on the first attempt, this webinar will equip you with the best tools to help you succeed.

About TrueLearn’s NPTE SmartBank 

With TrueLearn’s NPTE SmartBank, physical therapy students have access to thousands of high-yield practice questions mapped to the NPTE-PT content outline, SmartText messages to reinforce missed topics, personalized testing analytics to gauge weak areas ahead of the exam, and so much more.