NPTE Quarterly Faculty Newsletter Volume 10; No. 3

November 2013

The mission of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy is to protect the public by providing service and leadership that promote safe and competent physical therapy practice.

The NPTE Quarterly Faculty Newsletter is published by the Federation (FSBPT) as one mechanism to communicate with educators in PT and PTA programs. This effort to provide ongoing communication includes current information and updates on the NPTE as well as information on other regulatory issues that might impact or be of interest to program educators.

Please share this newsletter with other PT or PTA educators.

Subscription to the newsletter is free. For subscription information or comments, please contact communications@fsbpt.org.

Table of Contents

• FSBPT & FCCPT present at APTA Education Leadership Conference in Portland, Oregon
• Interested in continuing competence? Apply to be a ProCert volunteer reviewer
• FSBPT engages with students at APTA National Student Conclave
• FSBPT wants to hear from you!
• FSBPT expands volunteer facilities
• Delegate Assembly motions regarding the NPTE
• Volunteer/Outreach Calendar for 2014
• NPTE Workshop for Educators 2014 Calendar
• This Quarter’s Question
• What Students Need to Know

FSBPT & FCCPT present at APTA Education Leadership Conference in Portland, Oregon

Nancy Kirsch, FSBPT Board of Directors and Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) staff presented “The Stranger in Your Classroom: The Globalization of PT Education, ” which covered the academic challenges for foreign educated physical therapists who were interested in practicing in the US. 

Program educators were provided with information on how their academic programs might integrate those academic needs into their own programs. 

They were also given information on FCCPT’s Planned Learning and Assistance Network (PLAN), which is designed to assist applicants in identifying appropriate educational coursework to meet the minimum requirements for US educational equivalency or jurisdiction requirements.

Interested in continuing competence? Apply to be a ProCert volunteer reviewer

FSBPT’s ProCert program evaluates continuing competence activities for purposes of awarding certification to those that meet the FSBPT Standards for Continuing Competence. 

ProCert certification is currently accepted by 19 jurisdictions and acceptance is projected to grow to several more states in 2014.

To fulfill the growing demand for this service, FSBPT is accepting applications to train volunteers to serve as ProCert reviewers. The training is scheduled for January 25-26, 2014 in the FSBPT office in Alexandria, Virginia and requires a two-year commitment of approximately 3-4 hours weekly to conduct 3-5 activity reviews. Training is “hands-on” during which participants are taught how to use the ProCert review system within aPTitude. Participants also conduct several practice evaluations of activities. FSBPT participants’ travel, hotel and meal expenses. 

To apply for this volunteer opportunity, click on this link to complete our short interest form, and follow the instructions for submitting a resume or curriculum vitae. The application due date is November 18, 2013. There are a limited number of seats for the workshop, which means not everyone who is interested will be able to attend. We’ll extend invitations to as many as possible and regrets to those we can’t accommodate. 

Read more about aPTitude, ProCert and the FSBPT Standards for Continuing Competence at www.continuingcompetence.org and send questions to competencestaff@fsbpt.org. 

FSBPT engages with students at APTA National Student Conclave 

FSBPT participated in the APTA National Student Conclave (NCS) in Louisville, KY October 25-26 as a Conclave exhibitor. Representatives of FSBPT discussed with student attendees their National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) related questions, and shared resources with them such as the NPTE Candidate Handbook, Practice Exam and Assessment Tool (PEAT) and confirmed exam administration dates. 

Students also learned from FSBPT how to make contact with the licensure board(s) and learn about application requirements in the jurisdiction(s) in which they will apply for licensure. Links to all information can be found on the FSBPT website.

FSBPT wants to hear from you!

We are actively seeking input on the Practice Examination and Assessment Tool (PEAT) and our NPTE School Reports. If you have any input on either of these two products and are interested in taking a survey or being part of a redesign task force, please contact volunteer@fsbpt.org and let us know that you’re interested. 

FSBPT expands volunteer facilities

In response to volunteer suggestions, we have expanded our secure work area to accommodate meetings. This allows volunteers to work more comfortably and collaboratively on secure materials. 

We have also expanded our classroom to seat up to 30 volunteers. This allows more educators to attend our faculty workshops, more item writers to help write NPTE items, and larger onsite task forces. 

Next year, we hope to refresh the technology used by our volunteers, including making the item development process more “green” and less paper-based. 

We’re also in the process of creating a “Hall of Fame” for item writers and volunteers that will occupy the wall outside of the classroom. If you’ve never volunteered with FSBPT, there’s no time like the present!

Delegate Assembly motions regarding the NPTE

At the 2013 FSBPT Annual Meeting, four motions were passed by the Delegate Assembly concerning candidate eligibility to sit for the NPTE. The FSBPT board of directors will be reviewing these motions and taking actions on them this month.

FSBPT staff has conducted extensive analysis of the possible repercussions of these motions, and they will not have an impact on the accreditation status of CAPTE institutions. 

The most relevant motions are a lifetime six-attempt limit and a limit of two attempts for anyone with a very low score (near the expected score of someone who is guessing). The other two motions involve establishing proficiency in English and coursework comparability, which would not apply to candidates from CAPTE-accredited institutions. 

All four motions are intended to restrict exam access to those candidates who have a reasonable likelihood of passing the NPTE and becoming licensed. 

FSBPT plans to enhance communications with unsuccessful candidates to give them information regarding the likelihood of passing in the future.

Volunteer/Outreach Calendar for 2014

FSBPT has a number of opportunities for 2014. Please contact volunteer@fsbpt.org if you would like to be considered for one of these opportunities. 

Jan. 17-19: Regional Item Writing Workshop (Dallas, TX)
Feb. 3-6: Visit our booth at APTA Combined Sections Meeting!
Mar. 14-16: Regional Item Writing Workshop (Denver, CO)
Mar. 28-30: Item Writing Workshop (Alexandria, VA)
Apr. 4-6: Regional Item Writing Workshop (Springfield, MO)
May 16-18: Regional Item Writing Workshop (Tacoma, WA)
June 6-8: Regional Item Writing Workshop (Detroit, MI)
June 11-14: Visit our booth at the APTA Annual Meeting!
Aug. 15-17: Regional Item Writing Workshop (Indianapolis, IN)
Aug. 22-24: Item Writing Workshop (Alexandria, VA)
Oct. 18-20: Regional Item Writing Workshop (Montgomery, AL)

NPTE Workshop for Educators 2014 calendar

Formerly called the NPTE Workshop for Faculty, this workshop will be held twice in 2014 at the FSBPT offices in Alexandria, Virginia. The 2014 registration fee will be approximately $600. Although registration is not yet open, please mark your calendars. For more information, contact facultyworkshop@fsbpt.org.

May 2-4, 2014
Oct. 24-26, 2014

This Quarter’s Question: Did the process to purchase school reports get easier?

• Reports can be purchased individually, on an as-needed basis.
• Schools can also purchase multiple reports at one time if desired.  These reports can be run at any time.
• There is greater flexibility in mixing and matching school reports.
• Prior to running a report, schools will now have the ability to review the list of students that are to be included in the requested report.  This will ensure that the information included in the report is accurate.  
• Schools will still have the opportunity to sign up for the free Basic Reports that are sent in February and August.  These reports will now be emailed to schools.  If you’re already signed up to receive this report, you do not need to take any action.  You will continue to receive these reports as scheduled.