NPTE pass rates are down to a mean of 89% nationally. The lower pass rates may be a result of COVID distance learning and student mental health.
The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) is looking at fairness and determinants of passing the NPTE. They are also investigating open educational resources or clinical practice guidelines versus textbooks.
As part of the standard setting five-year exam cycle, NPTE changes in 2024 include:
- Decrease to 225 questions
- 180 scored/ 45 pre-testing
- 185 will have text, graphics & video
- Inclusion of clinical scenarios & continuing video with enhanced scenario descriptions to facilitate more medically complex cases and allow assessment of the candidates ability to extract relevant information. The scenario will be on the left, with questions on the right.
- Each question stands alone and does not require a correct answer to a previous question.
- Each scenario has 4-5 strong questions.
FSBPT expects the following set of headings will appear in the scenario box for most questions; however, additional headings will be included where appropriate, and some headings may be excluded to reduce reader burden.
- Setting
- Sex
- Age
- Presenting problem/current condition
- Medical history
View a NPTE demonstration exam here.