In this issue:
In June, the governors of Vermont, Connecticut, and Maine signed their state’s respective compact legislation. This brings the total membership of the Physical Therapy Compact to thirty-seven members. The Connecticut bill had an effective date of July 1, 2023. The Vermont bill goes into effect on July 1, 2024, and the Maine bill has an effective date of January 1, 2026. The Compact Commission will begin working with these three jurisdictions to implement the provisions of the PT Compact to allow them to accept and issue compact privileges.
Check out the PT Compact map to find your state!
Over the past year, FSBPT has been working diligently to continue to update and improve many aspects of the National Physical Therapy Examinations, from candidate registration to examination development and delivery. Some of these efforts have already been implemented, while others will take effect in 2023 and 2024. Learn more by reading this article, "2022 NPTE Updates: Research, Innovation, and Practice Analysis Updates," and watching our recent webinar, "The When, How, and Why of the 2024 NPTE Redesign." You can also find the new content outlines on the FSBPT website, as well as Frequently Asked Questions on all the upcoming changes to the NPTE.
You may also want to register for the second iteration of "The When, How, and Why of the 2024 NPTE Redesign," scheduled for November 14 at 4:00 p.m. ET. The speakers will discuss the background behind the upcoming redesign of the National Physical Therapy Examinations—the new content outlines and item types—and the timeline for these changes. We will also discuss the implications of these changes for licensing jurisdictions, educators, and candidates. There will be plenty of time for questions. Please note, most of the content will be the same as the March 2023 webinar on the same topic. If you attended that webinar or viewed the recording, you may want to join this webinar for the Q&A and updates portion, starting at around 4:40 p.m. Visit the FSBPT website for instructions on registering for webinars.
While registration for our virtual Workshop for Educators in October is now full, you can plan to join us in Boston in 2024! The workshop will take place February 13-14, 2024, immediately preceding the APTA-CSM meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. The workshop will include presentations from FSBPT staff and trainers on item writing, test construction, preparing students for the NPTE, registering for and taking the NPTE, and other relevant topics. There will also be time for one-on-one assistance from trainers and staff.
Secure your spot on the waitlist now by completing this form. Don't miss out on this invaluable chance to connect with colleagues and expand your educational toolkit.
The licensure requirements for PT and PTA educators are inconsistent across jurisdictions, and this lack of clarity can create confusion for faculty and educational institutions. FSBPT recently formed the Regulatory Requirements for Educators Task Force with individuals representing a number of different stakeholders (CAPTE, ACAPT, licensing boards, etc.) to review this issue.
The task force unanimously agreed—consistent with the FSBPT Model Practice Act—that the practice of physical therapy includes education and research. This means that physical therapy faculty who teach or conduct research are practicing physical therapy and, therefore, must be legally authorized to practice. Depending on the jurisdiction, legal authorization may include a license, certification, or compact privilege.
Balancing the need for public protection and risk associated with education without creating unnecessary barriers to practice/work, the task force came to the following recommendations:
Here are some examples of how the task force's recommendations would apply:
The task force's recommendations are a step forward in clarifying the licensure requirements for physical therapy program faculty. These recommendations do not alter current state law, and faculty should verify that they are complying with the jurisdiction requirements. FSBPT has encouraged jurisdictions to adopt these recommendations.
We have created quick videos to help candidates get up to speed on what they need to know to register for the NPTE. All the videos are available on this YouTube playlist. Look out for more soon!
Item writing for the NPTE is a great way to gain expertise in crafting multiple-choice questions, share your knowledge of the profession, work with and learn from colleagues, and have fun! We will share more information about the 2024 workshops in late 2023.
If you or someone you know would like to participate in an Item Writing Workshop, learn more and apply or send an inquiry to volunteer@fsbpt.org.
Visit the FSBPT website for information on a range of topics.
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If you have questions, challenges or ideas, we want to hear from you! FSBPT (703) 299-3100 | FCCPT (703) 684-8406 (Call FSBPT unless otherwise noted after name)
Contact Person
Title
Topics
William A. Hatherill
Chief Executive Officer
FSBPT Issues
Susan Layton Rich Woolf
Chief Operating Officer Chief Professional Officer
General questions and feedback; research questions
Lorin Mueller, PhD
Managing Director of Assessment
Psychometrics, test development and construction
Christine Sousa
Managing Director of Exam Services
Exam administration issues, ADA
Jamie Nolan, FCCPT
Managing Director of the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT)
Foreign educated graduates
School reports: schoolreports@fsbpt.org
Practice Exam and Assessment Tool (PEAT): peat@fsbpt.org