In this issue:
Please register soon for our in-person NPTE Workshop for Educators, held February 2-3, 2027, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This workshop will be held at the Philadelphia Convention Center immediately preceding the APTA-CSM conference. For those of you requiring hotel accommodations, we encourage you to book through the APTA-CSM room block.
The workshop is expected to run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the first day and from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the second day—however, attendees can stay as late as 6:00 p.m. for individualized instruction. FSBPT will provide lunch and refreshments.
The workshop fee is $900, and there is an additional fee of $80 if you want a printed version of the electronic materials.
We hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please contact npte@fsbpt.org.
Join us for the 2026 Annual Education Meeting in Greenville, South Carolina, held October 22–24, 2026! Meet with regulatory leaders, researchers, and regulatory partners from around the country!
We have excellent topics this year covering FSBPT updates, trauma-informed practices, workforce intelligence, organizational change, and the evolving role of regulation in protecting the public.
Featured Keynote Sessions
Unable to attend the 2026 FSBPT Annual Education Meeting in person? Registration for the 2026 Virtual Annual Education Meeting is free!
Choose the registration item that's right for you:
Register today through the FSBPT Community portal. (Please note, this is different than the Educators’ Portal. If you have any issues registering, please contact communications@fsbpt.org.)
We would like to thank all of the educators who have shared the Cell Phone Policy and stressed its importance at the Prometric Testing Centers! NPTE test-takers are prohibited from accessing their cell phones at any point while taking the exam. This includes any time there is a break.
Anyone accessing their cell phone will have their NPTE immediately terminated and will be asked to leave the testing center. It is important that students understand that an attempt terminated for accessing a cell phone will count toward their six-time lifetime limit. Students can learn more helpful tips for test day about cell phone policies by watching "NPTE in 60 Seconds: Cell Phone Policy".
Thank you for helping us communicate this to your students. By educating your students on this policy, you are taking steps to ensure that the NPTE remains fair and secure for all! Thanks to all your efforts and FSBPT's reminders, less than .03% of students have had their exams affected by this new policy.
FSBPT is exploring a new way for schools to administer PEAT in a more secure, in-person, proctored environment. Participating institutions would provide an on-site proctor and administer Secure PEAT in a computer lab or allow students to use their own devices. Time-based accommodations are available up to and including time-and-a-half during the pilot. Schools will receive students’ score reports within five business days of the administration.
We are currently gathering interest from schools that may want to participate in the pilot. Completing the interest form does not guarantee participation. FSBPT will review the responses and follow up with selected schools based on the needs and scope of the pilot.
If your school is interested in being considered, please let us know. Thank you for helping FSBPT explore new ways to support students and physical therapy education programs.
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.
Developing the NPTE is a volunteer-driven process. Each year, approximately 200 dedicated volunteers contribute to developing NPTE examination forms. Each volunteer is licensed and in good standing with their PT board. The process starts with the Practice Analysis survey, which volunteers use to create the NPTE Content Outlines.
The next step is writing items to those Content Outlines. FSBPT holds several item writing workshops over the course of a year (usually six to seven), which include training, resources, and mentorship for new item writers. The Examination Development Committee then reviews items that the volunteer workshop coordinators approved to ensure they are current, fair, and entry-level. Once the EDC approves these items, FSBPT staff assemble draft forms that meet the requirements of the Content Outlines and are equally difficult. The EDC reviews the draft forms and makes adjustments to ensure each form broadly represents the content required for entry-level work and that questions don’t overlap too much.
FSBPT staff facilitate this process: conducting training, assembling draft forms, facilitating review meetings, making editorial changes, and conducting quality assurance when the forms are published at the Prometric testing centers.
Want to get involved in this process? We would love to have you participate! Volunteer here.
The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) program has announced that it will move from year-round testing for Step exams to a designated-testing-dates model. Under the new approach, the three USMLE Step exams will be administered for only 45 testing days each year. The change is intended to strengthen exam security, protect score validity, and support fairness in the assessment process. Read more about the transition and planned implementation on the USMLE website. Please note that the original timeline of 2028 for the transition has been updated to January 2029.
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!
Workshops for 2027 will be announced within the next few months! Please visit NPTE Opportunities for any updates or announcements.
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.
On August 3, Arizona replaced its Prometric-based Arizona Jurisprudence Exam (AZ LAW) with the new Arizona Jurisprudence Assessment Module (AZ JAM). Unlike the AZ LAW, candidates can complete the AZ JAM online and on demand from the comfort of their own homes. The AZ JAM will continue to be required prior to obtaining an initial Arizona license and prior to purchasing an initial or renewing an existing Arizona compact privilege. Learn more about the Arizona JAM.
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
Tara Myers, Managing Director of Assessment, ext. 203
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