Tips on How to Review and Pass the NPTE!

After a year long detour from not being able to pass the NPTE, I was able to bag the elusive exam last May 2011! I know there is no magic formula for passing the National Physical Therapy Exam or the NPTE, but maybe these steps I took will help a fellow future physical therapist realize his dream.

REVIEW DURATION: 3-4 months

BOOKS:

2011 NPTE (National Physical Therapy Examination) Review & Study Guide
McGraw-Hill’s NPTE (National Physical Therapy Examination) (Lange)
Differential Diagnosis for Physical Therapists: Screening for Referral (Differential Diagnosis In Physical Therapy)

I studied on a per case basis. I had a calendar marked with the cases that I am scheduled to study and UNDERSTAND on. So for example, I studied about SCI (Spinal Cord Injury) for three days, I read about SCI in the 2011 NPTE guide, McGraw-Hill’s NPTE and neurology related chapters in Differential Diagnosis.

Below are the list of cases that I worked on:

Neuromuscular
Cardiovascular system
Pulmonary
Spinal Cord Injury
CVA (Cerebrovascular Accident)
Pedia (Cerebral Palsy)
Geria (Alzheimer’s)
Diabetes
Parkinson’s Disease
Amputation
Burns
Wound Management
Ortho/ Prosthe/ Wheelchair
Therapeutic Modalities
Thera Exercises (PNF, Stretching)
Pharmacology
Research

I would also advise that you study the Brachial and Lumbosacral Plexus by heart, as well as the Upper Limb Tension Tests and their variations.

And three weeks before the exam, all I did was do practice exams. EVERY SINGLE DAY. I have to say that I looked at the correct answers right after I did the practice exam for a particular day. Helped me remember the question and the topic about it more.

If you also have an iPhone, iTouch or iPad; I highly recommend that you get the Physical Therapy Content Master App from Scorebuilders. It’s a nice way of studying and it also comes with 750 practice questions. It was a big help for me, to keep my mind in NPTE mode – so as to speak.