The NPTE-PTA is the National Physical Therapy Examination for physical therapist assistants. It's developed and run by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), and it's shorter than the PT exam: 180 questions in four hours. This guide covers the whole exam and links to a deeper page on each part.
TherapyExams and the NPTE-PTA
Our NPTE-PTA prep is launching soon; today the TherapyExams app covers the NPTE-PT. The free guides in this section are available now and are based on FSBPT's official documents.
What is the NPTE-PTA?
The NPTE-PTA is the national licensing exam for physical therapist assistants in the US, run by FSBPT. It has 180 multiple-choice questions (140 scored) in four sections, with four hours of testing time. You need a scaled score of 600 on a 200–800 scale to pass. Depending on the state, PTAs are licensed or certified, and every state requires the NPTE.
FSBPT's outline describes the exam as measuring "the knowledge required of entry-level physical therapist assistants working under the supervision of a physical therapist" (NPTE-PTA Test Content Outline, effective January 2024). Like the PT exam, the focus is on applying knowledge to patient care, not recalling isolated facts.
NPTE-PTA format
| Questions | 180 multiple choice: 140 scored + 40 unscored pretest |
|---|---|
| Sections | 4 sections of 45 questions |
| Testing time | 4 hours as one block |
| Total appointment | 4 hours 30 minutes, including the scheduled break, tutorial and survey |
| Breaks | Scheduled 15-minute break after section 2 (not deducted from exam time); optional breaks after other sections are deducted |
| Scenario questions | Up to 35, at the end of sections |
| Where | Prometric test centers, four fixed dates a year |
That's an average of 80 seconds per question, the same pace as the PT exam. You can move around and mark questions within a section, but once you end a section you can't go back to it. All from FSBPT's NPTE Candidate Handbook.
What's on the NPTE-PTA
The PTA content outline, in effect since January 2024, splits the 140 scored questions across body systems and non-system topics. Musculoskeletal (31–40 items), neuromuscular (27–35) and cardiovascular/pulmonary (20–27) are the largest areas. Equipment, devices and technologies (8–10 items) carries more weight on the PTA exam than on the PT exam.
| Content area | Scored items |
|---|---|
| Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Systems | 20–27 |
| Musculoskeletal System | 31–40 |
| Neuromuscular & Nervous Systems | 27–35 |
| Integumentary System | 3–8 |
| Metabolic & Endocrine Systems | 4–6 |
| Gastrointestinal System | 0–4 |
| Genitourinary System | 0–4 |
| Lymphatic System | 2–6 |
| System Interactions | 5–7 |
| Non-system areas (5 combined) | 22–32 |
Within each system, questions fall into three categories: physical therapy data collection, diseases and conditions that affect treatment, and interventions. The NPTE-PTA content outline breakdown has the full table and what FSBPT includes in each area.
NPTE-PTA passing score
The passing standard is a scaled score of 600 on a 200–800 scale, the same as the PT exam and the same in every jurisdiction. There's no penalty for wrong answers, and FSBPT doesn't publish a percentage that equals 600, because the raw score needed shifts slightly between exam forms. The NPTE passing score guide explains how scaled scoring works for both exams.
NPTE-PTA exam dates
The NPTE-PTA is offered four times a year, in January, April, July and October, usually a few weeks before the PT exam in the same month. The first 2027 date is January 5–6, 2027, with a registration and payment deadline of December 1, 2026.
Every PTA window through 2028, with approval deadlines and score release dates, is on the NPTE-PTA exam dates page.
NPTE-PTA fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| FSBPT exam registration | $485 |
| FSBPT processing fee | 1.6%, rounded up |
| Prometric sitting fee (PTA) | $92 |
| PEAT practice exam for PTA (optional) | $99 |
| State license or certification application | set by your state |
Fees are from FSBPT's registration and payment page and the Candidate Handbook.
Who can take the NPTE-PTA?
You need a PTA degree from a CAPTE-accredited program, or an education found substantially equivalent by a recognized credentialing agency. You also need approval from the licensing authority in the state where you want to practice, and must be at least 18. Graduates of CAPTE-accredited programs can sit up to 90 days before their graduation date once the school validates it, though some states are stricter. See can you take the NPTE before you graduate?
NPTE-PTA pass rates
| Exam year | First-time pass rate |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 79% |
| 2024 | 76% |
| 2023 | 81% |
| 2022 | 79% |
| 2021 | 80% |
Counting retakes, 93% of 2024 graduates of accredited PTA programs have passed (FSBPT graduation year report). Look up any PTA program on our NPTE-PTA pass rates by school table.
Retake limits
The same FSBPT limits apply to both exam levels: no more than three consecutive attempts in 12 months, six attempts in a lifetime at the PTA level (counted separately from any PT attempts), and no further attempts after two scores below 400. Kentucky is an exception: it counts PT and PTA attempts together. The NPTE retake rules include every state's limit.
How to prepare for the NPTE-PTA
- Study by the blueprint. Give musculoskeletal, neuro and cardiopulmonary the most time, but don't neglect equipment and devices, which is worth 8–10 items.
- Practice with questions, reviewing every explanation. Our practice-question method applies to both exams.
- Sit a full-length, four-hour practice exam. FSBPT's PEAT for PTA includes a retired NPTE-PTA form and gives an estimated score.
- Plan by weeks. The structure of our NPTE study plan works for the PTA exam; shorten each block to match the smaller exam.
NPTE-PTA: frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the NPTE-PTA?
180 multiple-choice questions in four sections of 45. 140 are scored and 40 are unscored pretest questions.
How long is the NPTE-PTA?
Four hours of testing time. The whole appointment is 4 hours 30 minutes, including a scheduled 15-minute break after section 2.
What is the passing score for the NPTE-PTA?
A scaled score of 600 on a 200–800 scale, the same standard as the PT exam.
What is the NPTE-PTA pass rate?
In 2025, 79% of first-time NPTE-PTA candidates passed, according to FSBPT.
Is the NPTE-PTA easier than the NPTE-PT?
It's shorter, with 180 questions instead of 225, and it tests the knowledge expected of an entry-level PTA rather than a PT. First-time pass rates have been a little lower than for US-educated PT candidates: 79% vs 85% in 2025.
NPTE-PTA prep is launching soon
TherapyExams covers the NPTE-PT today, and our NPTE-PTA prep is launching soon. The free PTA guides on this site are available now. Send us a message and we'll let you know when PTA prep is live.
Get notified when PTA prep launches →Sources
Every figure on this page comes from the primary sources below, checked on September 27, 2026. If an official source changes, it overrides this page.
- NPTE-PTA Test Content Outline, effective January 2024 — FSBPT
- NPTE Candidate Handbook, Version 2025.02 — Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)
- Exam Registration & Payment — FSBPT
- NPTE Graduation Year Reports — FSBPT