In this issue:
The Physical Therapy Compact provides a faster, cheaper, and easier way for recent graduates to get the ability to practice in multiple states after they get their initial license. The ability to get compact privileges can greatly expand the career opportunities available to new PTs and PTAs.
There are many free resources available on the recently revamped PT Compact website. We encourage you to share these resources with your students as they prepare for their next steps:
We are excited to welcome back both staff and volunteers to our offices! While we have all made our way using virtual means, we are eager to bring back in-person collaborations and connections. Please note, we require proof of vaccination for all staff and volunteers who plan to work on-site in our office in Alexandria, Virginia. We plan to have in-person meetings in 2022, but we will require proof of vaccination before we issue travel authorizations.
We are accepting presentation ideas and proposals for 2022 webinars and in-person sessions at the 2022 Annual Meeting in Orange County, California.
If you have a specific idea, please submit a proposal. However, we are also interested in learning about your general ideas on what issues we should examine. We encourage educators to please share topics and ideas with us. You can watch recent webinars and register for upcoming sessions on the FSBPT events platform.
When a student does not pass the NPTE, we recommend they reach out to their school and be forthright about their score. School administrators may be able help by gathering information about students who passed and are licensed through the FSBPT Educators area. In addition to other reports, this portal has free reports on students’ licensure status. (Not every state sends in licensure information, but for ones that do, it is provided.)
We also recommend the student purchase a performance feedback report, which will provide more detailed information about where the student performed at or below standards. Additionally, using the Practice Exam & Assessment Tool (PEAT) is associated with improved scores after the first attempt. PEAT can help diagnose areas where knowledge is weak and provide direction for content to study. Faculty can sit down with the student to review practice tests in study mode to see which items the student is getting incorrect and investigate the reasons why. If knowledge deficits are apparent, then further study is likely warranted. If the student is misinterpreting questions, using test-taking strategies and mentorship in clinical reasoning may be useful. If test anxiety seems to influence the student’s performance, then referral to counseling or a student resource center should be considered.
Students and faculty may also want to read “Predicting Success for Student Physical Therapists on the NPTE,” a recent research article covering factors associated with NPTE success. Students should also review the important retake information and guidance on the FSBPT website.
Testing accommodations help ensure that the NPTE measures what it purports to measure, rather than the negative effects of a disabling condition. The purpose of testing accommodations is to provide candidates with full access to the test, not to guarantee improved performance, a passing score, test completion, or any other specific outcome.
One common misconception concerns accommodations received in a school setting versus testing accommodations for the NPTE. Students receiving accommodations from their school assume they will qualify to receive similar accommodations on the NPTE. It is important to note that this is not always the case. Students can learn more about the distinctions by reading the FSBPT Forum article “Test Accommodations.”
Students who would like to apply for testing accommodations should request such accommodations as early as possible. The process for requesting testing accommodations depends on the jurisdiction where the student is seeking licensure. Several states use FSBPT to administer the review process, other states still administer the process themselves. Students can learn more about the overall process on the FSBPT website.
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!
If you or someone you know would like to participate in an Item Writing Workshop, apply online or send an inquiry to volunteer@fsbpt.org.
Visit the FSBPT website for information on a range of topics.
Back to Top
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
Rhonda Collins
Administrative Assistant
School reports: schoolreports@fsbpt.org
Practice Exam and Assessment Tool (PEAT): peat@fsbpt.org