A Complete Study Guide for the NPTE®

You’ve made it through DPT school, and all your hard work and dedication have paid off big time! Now, it’s time to prepare for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE^®). This is a significant step on your path to achieving your dream career, and we’re here to help.

In our NPTE^® study guide, you’ll learn how to study for the NPTE-PT^®, get a sample study schedule, and receive some tips along the way. 

Exam Breakdown: Study the Big 3

The NPTE-PT^® exam is pass-fail and consists of 225 questions. According to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), 45 questions are pretest items sprinkled throughout the exam, and 180 are scored. 

Approximately 75% of the exam covers the three major systems, also known as the big 3:

1. The musculoskeletal system
2. The neuromuscular system
3. The cardiopulmonary systems

You’ll spend the majority of your exam prep studying these systems. Below is a further breakdown of the exam’s content and test items. 

To view the full content breakdown from the FSBPT, click here.

Study Resources for the NPTE^®

You need at least one high-yield resource for your NPTE^® study plan. Check out our top 3 picks and uncover why they’re must-haves to prep!

An Up-to-Date Question Bank

In 2024, the NPTE^® introduced scenario-based and video test items. In scenario questions, you will be presented with a patient case and asked questions about that patient. Practicing with an updated question bank will help you approach each question type with confidence, demonstrating your ability to manage cases and make informed clinical decisions.

TrueLearn NPTE^® SmartBank features over 1,800 NPTE^® practice questions, including scenario-based and video test items. Written by content experts, the question bank aligns with the 2024 exam changes and provides high-quality explanations for each question, along with the ability to customize quizzes and an informative performance dashboard that includes category performance metrics.

An NPTE^® Review Book

Reading a prep book end-to-end isn’t everyone’s preferred way to study, but when paired with active learning methods, it can be an effective approach. Some active reading strategies are:

• Writing your own exam question based on the text
• Asking yourself pre-reading questions
• Write a summary after each chapter

You can also create digital flashcards, take notes, and use practice questions to self-quiz. A well-loved NPTE^® review book is published by TherapyEd.

Practice Exams

Simulating the upcoming exam is essential to gauge how you’ll perform on exam day and track your progress. Each practice exam will help you build test-taking stamina, refine test-taking strategies, and aid in reevaluating your approach if you’re not performing well in a category. 

TrueLearn also offers an add-on 225-question predictive assessment for $40. And if you’re looking for additional resources, the FSBPT offers a practice exam and assessment tool (PEAT) for $99.

12-Week NPTE^® Study Schedule

No study guide is complete without a schedule. Follow our week-by-week NPTE^® study schedule for optimal results; feel free to adjust it as you see fit.

• Weeks 1 & 2 – Musculoskeletal
• Weeks 3 & 4 – Neuromuscular and Nervous  
• Weeks 5 & 6 – Cardiovascular and Pulmonary
• Week 7 – Integumentary, Metabolic, Endocrine
• Week 8 – Gastrointestinal, Genitourinary, Lymphatic, System Interactions
• Week 9 – Non-systems
• Week 10 – Review other systems and non-systems
• Week 11 – Review the big 3
• Week 12 – Focus on daily practice questions to build your testing endurance. You need to get yourself accustomed to focusing during a long test. For example, take 50 questions on Monday, 100 on Tuesday, 150 on Wednesday, 200 on Thursday, and the exam total on Friday. Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint.
• Week 13 – This is your exam week. Review anything you missed the previous week and prioritize self-care. Eat right, sleep well, and don’t let your nerves get in the way.

How to Approach Daily Studying

It wouldn’t be an NPTE^® exam study guide without a few tips to excel on your journey to exam day. 

Stick to the routine

Sticking to a good study routine really pays off, but it’s important to stay consistent! Your daily study ritual should consist of the following: 

1. 2 hours of content review (i.e., musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, etc.)
2. 10-20 practice questions covering the content you studied
3. Review topics you missed from the practice questions 

If you struggle studying for extended periods, try breaking down each task into smaller chunks throughout the day. Step 1 can be done in the morning, step 2 in the afternoon, and step 3 in the evening.

Focus on Progress

Some practice exam results may be discouraging, but success doesn’t happen overnight. Instead of ruminating on the results, think of each practice exam as a learning opportunity. You won’t be perfect every day, but putting in the work will yield progress over time and build your confidence come exam day.

Did you know? TrueLearn’s performance dashboard makes tracking your progress easy. Receive informative metrics in real-time, including category performance and benchmarking. Plus, learners can sign up to get mobile push notifications with Bottom Lines from missed questions to reinforce retention and stay on track!

Take Breaks

Your study schedule must be sustainable. Avoid cramming and overloading your week with studying. Your well-being is an important factor in ensuring you perform well on exam day—combat burnout with brain breaks, time for self-care, and adequate rest. 

Gear Up for the Big Day

In 2024, 86% of first-time candidates passed the NPTE-PT^®. Now, you’re up next. Try out this study guide to do your best! In need of a little more assurance? Purchase a 90+ day subscription from TrueLearn, and we guarantee you’ll pass your exam on your first attempt. Visit our FAQs for more details. 

Marissa Heilig, PT, DPT is a graduate of the University at Buffalo and proud to be from Buffalo, NY. She is a pediatric physical therapist who specializes in working with the preschool age group. Marissa is the founder of the “Pediatric Physical Therapy” Instagram page, offering clinical and educational resources. Since 2018, Marissa has also provided mentorship and insight into the Pediatric PT profession through her social media. She currently resides in New York City and practices in Queens.