Survey Background

In the summer of 2020, FSBPT compiled and analyzed data on textbook use by physical therapist (PT) and physical therapist assistant (PTA) students in education programs in the United States.

Purpose of Survey

The purpose of the textbook survey is to ensure that the reference library maintained by FSBPT and used in the development of the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) reflects textbooks currently in use in PT and PTA education programs across the nation. The textbooks included in the report are not an exhaustive list of the books used in all programs; additionally, the list is not exhaustive of FSBPT’s library.

Textbook Information

A list of textbooks for the 2019–2020 academic year was gathered from the sixty PT and seventy PTA programs that responded to the survey. The survey report includes data for programs, listed by institution type and educational requirements. The results also include a list of all titles reported by the PT and PTA programs that participated in the survey.

All of the textbooks reported in the top ten lists in report are defaulted to the most current edition of the book. This approach was used because some PT and PTA programs reported using older editions or textbooks rereleased with an electronic version of a printed book. Additionally, some programs report using more than one edition of the same book. Collapsing frequencies across different versions of the same textbook succinctly identifies which titles are being used most frequently by the programs.

Confidentiality

Information pertaining to each individual program is confidential. No individual school or state names are reported in the survey results, as some states only have a few programs and their schools would be easily identified.

How We Use the Textbook Survey Data

FSBPT and the Examination Development Committee (EDC) use this information to help select appropriate references for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). However, this list is not exhaustive. In general, we try to use the most current sources possible. Consistent with the description above, when a new version of a textbook becomes available, we will use that. When a new textbook becomes available that is expected to be adopted by PT or PTA programs, we will make it available to volunteers. We also work with the EDC to identify references that are older, but still considered the most current resource for a particular topic.