Examination is required to become a licensed physical therapist.
Every state requires a passing score on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) to become a licensed physical therapist. There also are several different examinations that are required to become licensed in specific states. In addition to examinations, some states also require continuing education to maintain your license. Continuing education requirements can be found on your state's licensing website.
National Physical Therapy Examination
The NPTE examination contains 250 questions that you are given five hours to complete. The questions are separated into five segments, with each segment containing 50 questions. In addition, 50 of the 250 questions on the exam are pretest items that are used to determine if the questions meet rigorous psychometric (testing) standards. These questions will not be scored; however, they are integrated into the test and it is impossible to know if a question is considered a pretest item.
Jurisprudence Exam
Arizona, Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah and Texas require the completion of a jurisprudence examination in addition to a passing score on the NPTE to become a licensed physical therapist. Jurisprudence exams cover state laws, ethics and other legal topics within the field of physical therapy. For additional information regarding the specific outline of your state's examination, you should visit your state licensing website.
Foreign Language Examination Requirements
The majority of states require that an English language examination be completed by applicants who have trained in other countries or who do not speak English as a first language. Licensing cannot be obtained in the states with this requirement unless a passing grade, as outlined by that state's license board, is made. Common examinations that meet this requirement include the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Test of Spoken English (TSE) and the Test of Written English (TWE) examinations.
California Law Exam
California applicants must take and pass the California Law Exam (CLE). According to the Physical Therapy Board of Califorina, the CLE is a one-hour multiple-choice examination that covers laws and regulations related to the practice of physical therapy in California. Examination results can be seen within one to two days of test completion online. Only applicants who have failed this examination will receive a letter through the mail regarding their test scores without incurring an additional fee.
Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Code
The Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Code examination is an untimed, open-book test that is taken online. This test can be taken within three months of a passing score on the NPTE. Wisconsin physical therapy licensing applicants must obtain a score of no less than 85 percent on this examination to receive a license. Answers to the questions on the exam can be found for free online at the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing website.
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