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NPTE (National Physical Therapy Examination)

The NPTE is the national licensing exam for physical therapists and PT assistants, given on fixed dates four times a year. The PT exam is 225 questions in 5 hours; a scaled score of 600 (on 200–800) passes. You pay FSBPT $485 plus a Prometric fee of $100.30.

PT exam225 Qs5 sections, 5 hours
Pass600Scale 200–800
Fees$485+ $100.30 Prometric (PT)
Next PT dateOct 27–28, 2026
Test datesFees and fee helpOfficial practicePhysical Therapy license steps

Made by Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). Who: Graduates of physical therapist (DPT) and physical therapist assistant programs. Checked on the owner's own pages, 21 Oct 2026.

Who takes it

  • Register online with FSBPT and pay; your state licensing authority then approves you, and you get an Authorization to Test to book with Prometric.
    FSBPT
    NPTE Candidate Handbook (PDF)Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)
    Checked
    21 Oct 2026
    View source
  • Limits: three consecutive attempts per exam level, six in a lifetime, and no more than two scores of 400 or less since January 1, 2016.
    FSBPT
    NPTE Eligibility Requirements (attempt limits)Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)
    Checked
    21 Oct 2026
    View source

Format and sections

ExamSectionsQuestionsTesting timeAppointment
Physical Therapist (PT)52255 hours5 h 30 min
Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)41804 hours4 h 30 min

Source:

FSBPT
NPTE Candidate Handbook (PDF)Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)
Checked
21 Oct 2026
View source

Scoring

  • Scores are on a 200–800 scale but the exam is pass/fail: 600 or higher passes.
    FSBPT
    NPTE Candidate Handbook (PDF)Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)
    Checked
    21 Oct 2026
    View source
  • FSBPT sends your score to the licensing authority about five business days after your eligibility period ends. A free score report sits on your dashboard about 10 business days after each date, for 30 days.
    FSBPT
    NPTE: After the Exam (600 to pass, score reporting)Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)
    Checked
    21 Oct 2026
    View source

Fees and fee waivers

ItemFee
NPTE exam fee (paid to FSBPT)$485
FSBPT
NPTE Candidate Handbook (PDF)Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)
Checked
21 Oct 2026
View source
Prometric fee, PT exam$100.30
FSBPT
NPTE Registration Process (Prometric fees)Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)
Checked
21 Oct 2026
View source
Prometric fee, PTA exam$82.60
FSBPT
NPTE Registration Process (Prometric fees)Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)
Checked
21 Oct 2026
View source
  • If your registration is closed before you test, the exam fee is refunded minus a $50 processing fee.
    FSBPT
    NPTE Candidate Handbook (PDF)Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)
    Checked
    21 Oct 2026
    View source

Test dates

2026 PT test dates (deadlines 11:59 p.m. ET; some states set earlier deadlines). FSBPT has not posted 2027 dates on this page.

FSBPT
NPTE 2026 Dates & Deadlines (PT and PTA)Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)
Checked
21 Oct 2026
View source

Test datesRegister and pay byBoard approval byScores to boards
Jan 27–28Dec 23Jan 5Feb 4
Apr 28–29Mar 24Mar 31May 6
July 28–29June 23June 30Aug 5
Oct 27–28Sept 22Sept 29Nov 4

Official practice

  • PEAT, FSBPT's Practice Exam and Assessment Tool ($99): two timed exams in the NPTE format, a practice test and a retired NPTE form.
    FSBPT
    Practice Exam & Assessment Tool (PEAT)Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)
    Checked
    21 Oct 2026
    View source

Used by these careers and colleges

Careers on this site whose step-by-step roadmap includes this exam, and the license it leads to.

The license at the end of this route

Careers that need it

Sources

Where these facts come from

Official and primary sources only, each checked on the date shown. Rules on testing, aid, licensing and immigration change, so confirm a detail with its source before you rely on it.