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Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible to apply for the NPTE®, candidates must meet the following requirements from both the FSBPT and the state in which they seek licensure.

FSBPT Requirements 

  1. Registration and Payment
    Submit an online registration and pay the registration fee.

  2. Education.
    Have a degree appropriate for the exam level from a CAPTE (Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education) accredited institution, or have an education that has been determined to be substantially equivalent by a recognized credentialing agency.

  3. Attempt Limits
    • Maximum consecutive attempts is three per exam level. After three consecutive exam attempts at any exam level, candidates will not be able to register for the next exam date.
    • Maximum attempts in a lifetime is six per exam level.
    • No more than two scores of 400 or less after January 1, 2016 at an exam level.

  4. Security
    • Have complied with any test security requests made by FSBPT staff.
    • Have completed any sanctions related to a disciplinary action taken by FSBPT.

  5. Approval
    Be approved by the licensing authority (board) in the state or jurisdiction where you intend to be licensed.
Jurisdiction Requirements

To approve a candidate to sit for the NPTE, at a minimum, jurisdictions will require that the candidate is a graduate of or graduating from a PT or PTA program that meets the accreditation standards of CAPTE or has an education that has been determined to be substantially equivalent by a recognized credentialing agency.

For a complete list of jurisdiction requirements visit the website for the state in which you are seeking licensure.

IMPORTANT LICENSURE INFORMATION
FSBPT’s eligibility requirements for the NPTE are independent from a state’s requirements. In addition to FSBPT requirements, individuals MUST meet their state requirements in order to be made eligible for the exam or be considered for licensure. FSBPT may update or revise these policies periodically, in response to external factors such as changes in federal or jurisdiction laws. It is advisable to check this page regularly while you are engaged in the licensing process.

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FSBPT Recommended Standards:

The information below is provided to non-CAPTE candidates for informational purposes only. FSBPT research has shown that candidates who meet the following criteria are more likely to pass the NPTE.

    • Meeting the minimum TOEFL standards (below)
    • Having education deemed substantially equivalent on the most recent Coursework Evaluation Tool (CWT)
FSBPT cannot guarantee that meeting these standards will ensure a passing score on the NPTE. Our goal is to provide you with information and research you may find useful. State licensing boards may have requirements that differ from FSBPT’s recommended standards. Individuals MUST meet their state requirements in order to be made eligible for the exam or be considered for licensure.


RECOMMENDED ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Obtain the following scores in each section of the TOEFL on one attempt.

TOEFL Section  Minimum Score 
Reading 
 22
Listening 21 
Writing 22 
Speaking 24

NOTE: TOEFL standards for states may differ from FSBPT’s recommended standard.

RECOMMENDED EDUCATIONAL EQUIVALENCE

An individual must have an education that is deemed substantially equivalent to a CAPTE-accredited education. The agency performing the credentials evaluations should be authorized to use FSBPT’s Coursework Evaluation Tool. The education should be substantially equivalent based on the most recent version of the CWT, currently CWT 6.

NOTE: Education equivalence requirements for states may differ from FSBPT’s recommended standard.