In this issue:
Physical therapy licensing boards rely on public members to bring an essential perspective to regulatory decision-making. These individuals help ensure that patient and public interests are represented, supporting boards in their mission to protect the public and promote safe, competent practice.PT educators are uniquely positioned to identify individuals who may be strong candidates for these roles. Consider professionals, community leaders, or engaged stakeholders who demonstrate sound judgment, integrity, and an interest in public protection—but who are not licensed PTs or PTAs. Recommending qualified individuals can help strengthen board decision-making and broaden perspectives at the state level.Learn more about the qualities of effective public members by exploring the HRRI Public Member Success Profile. If you know someone who may be a good fit, consider sharing this resource and encouraging them to explore opportunities to serve.
FSBPT’s Workshop for Educators continues to generate strong interest! The current virtual workshop is already at capacity, and we appreciate the enthusiasm from faculty looking to participate. Additional opportunities are on the way. FSBPT is planning another workshop to be held in conjunction with the APTA Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) in February. More details—including dates, location, and registration information—will be shared this fall. Faculty who are interested in future workshops are encouraged to join the interest list to be notified as soon as new workshops open.
Preparing physical therapy students to recognize and manage professional boundaries is essential to safe, ethical practice—yet many faculty report limited time and confidence in teaching these complex topics. FSBPT has developed a growing set of resources aimed specifically at supporting educators, with an emphasis on building students’ ability to recognize risk, communicate effectively, and navigate real-world situations before they enter clinical environments. Faculty can access a range of ready-to-use tools, including articles and webinars, and a new Educator Module on sexual misconduct, professional boundaries, and informed consent. FSBPT’s Sexual Misconduct and Boundaries Committee developed the module to help faculty address critical gaps in boundary education across PT and PTA programs. The module responds to identified challenges in the field, including limited curricular coverage, variation in legal requirements across jurisdictions, and the need for more proactive, skills-based training that builds student competence—not just awareness. Designed to be modular and flexible, the module allows educators to adapt content based on available time and instructional needs. It combines teaching materials with assessment tools and emphasizes interactive, case-based learning to help students engage with real-world scenarios. The content focuses on evidence-based prevention strategies, including recognizing risk factors, understanding power dynamics in patient-provider relationships, and practicing clear communication and boundary-setting skills. The module includes a comprehensive set of ready-to-use resources for faculty, such as a user guide with learning objectives, template presentations covering key topics (e.g., professional boundaries, sexual misconduct, informed consent, communication, and duty to report), interactive learning activities, and pre/post assessments. Case scenarios are a central feature, guiding students through realistic situations with structured opportunities for decision-making, reflection, and discussion—helping them develop the judgment and skills needed to prevent boundary violations in practice. Access to the module within the FSBPT Educators Portal is managed at the program level, so faculty should connect with their Program Director or reach out to FSBPT directly to request the module and explore how it can be incorporated into their curriculum.
After the transition from continuous testing to fixed-date testing, some stakeholders raised concerns that the selection of NPTE testing dates might disadvantage candidates: rather than testing as soon as they want after graduation, some candidates had to wait weeks to take the NPTE by virtue of when they graduated. FSBPT investigated whether fixed-date testing had a negative impact and determined that in the early years of fixed-date testing, (a) candidates actually tested closer to graduation than under continuous testing, and (b) pass rates were high for candidates who tested either before graduation or on the first administration after graduation. Read the details of FSBPT's analysis on fixed-date testing.
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!
The following workshops are tentative for 2026:
Workshops
Regional Workshops
Continuing education credit may be available (depending on your jurisdiction). Additionally, volunteers receive textbook support and monetary stipends for items approved for use. Many leaders across FSBPT began their engagement as NPTE item writers! If you or someone you know would like to participate in an Item Writing Workshop, learn more and apply or send an inquiry to volunteer@fsbpt.org.
Visit the FSBPT website for information on a range of topics.
If you have questions, challenges, or ideas, we want to hear from you!
(703) 299-3100
Topics
FSBPT issues
Susan Newman, Chief Executive Officer, ext. 224
General questions and feedback; research questions
Richard Woolf, Chief Professional Officer, ext. 232
Psychometrics, test development, and test construction
Lorin Mueller, Chief Research Officer, ext. 206
Exam administration issues, ADA
Christine Sousa, Vice President of Customer Service, ext. 201
Foreign-educated graduates
Jaime Nolan, Managing Director of FCCPT, ext. 403
School Reports: schoolreports@fsbpt.org
schoolreports@fsbpt.org
Practice Exam and Assessment Tool (PEAT): peat@fsbpt.org
peat@fsbpt.org