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Division of Professional Regulation

Examination

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  2. Examining Board of Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers
  3. Examination

Applying to Sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE)

  • Click on the titles below in each section to expand the information.

You must PASS the NPTE before submitting your application for licensure.

  • If you need to take the exam, the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) determines whether you are eligible to take the NPTE based on your education and other guidelines. For more information see FSBPT/Exam Candidate Information.
  • If you have already passed the exam, arrange for the FSBPT to send your your national examination scores to the Board office.

The Examining Board of Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers must approve you to sit for the Physical Therapy examination through the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) for licensure as a Physical Therapist (PT) or Physical Therapy Assistant(PTA).

To apply to take the required exam(s), you must first create a DELPROS user account.  Go to the DELPROS online portal, and then click on Apply/Manage a License and Service Requests. If you:

  • are already an existing user, log in with your email address and password under the existing user section.
  • have not yet created a DELPROS user account, click on Register.

After creating your user account or logging into the DELPROS online portal, you may begin your application for licensure to take the required exam(s).

You must register for the exam before your application expires to allow adequate time to schedule a testing appointment. Your application, once submitted and paid for, is valid for two years from the date of submission. You will be required to complete a new online application if your application expires.

Register online at NPTE Registration. For more information regarding the examination process, such as eligibility requirements or test preparation, refer to the NPTE Candidate Handbook at FSBPT.org/Exam-Candidates.

If you fail the exam, to request to re-take the NPTE you must register with FSBPT again.

FSBPT will only allow you to take the examination a maximum of three times in any 12-month period.

You can take the NPTE for PTs or PTAs for a total of up to six times each in a lifetime. Additionally, if you receive two (2) very low scores on the exam will not be allowed to test again. A very low score is defined as performing at or close to chance level (scale scores 400 and below).

After you take and pass the exam, allow up to two weeks for the Board office to receive your official examination score. If you are:

  • U.S. educated and do not have a temporary license, you must submit the application for full licensure.
    • Once the Board office receives your passing score and validates that you have met all requirements for licensure, your license will be issued.
  • foreign educated OR have a temporary license, once the Board office receives your passing score and validates that you have met all requirements for licensure, your license will be issued.

You will receive an email notification stating your license has been issued with additional details about license renewal and/or continuing education requirements.


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