If you didn't pass the NPTE, you can take it again, but not indefinitely and not whenever you like. FSBPT sets three hard limits that apply everywhere, and several states add stricter ones of their own. Here's every rule, with the source for each.
How many times can you take the NPTE?
FSBPT allows up to six NPTE attempts in your lifetime at each exam level (PT and PTA are counted separately). You can't test more than three consecutive times in a 12-month period, and you can't test again after two scores below 400. Some states are stricter: Oklahoma allows 3 attempts, Louisiana 4, and Florida and Mississippi 5.
The three FSBPT limits are listed in the NPTE Candidate Handbook and apply to every candidate. The state limits come from FSBPT's Jurisdiction Licensure Reference Guide, which cites each state's own statute or rule.
FSBPT's three NPTE testing limits
- Six attempts in a lifetime, per exam level. "You cannot test more than six times in your lifetime at either exam level." If you're qualified for both, you can take the PT exam up to six times and the PTA exam up to six times.
- No more than three consecutive attempts in 12 months. "If you have tested three consecutive times, you must skip the next exam date." For example, if you test in January, April and July 2027, you can't test in October 2027. Your next possible date is January 2028.
- Two scores below 400 end your eligibility. "You cannot test if you previously took the exam twice and received two scores below 400." This is the rule most candidates don't know about until it's too late to matter.
What counts as an NPTE attempt?
- Counts: every exam you sit, pass or fail. An exam terminated because you accessed your phone, even on a break, also counts toward the six-attempt limit.
- Doesn't count: a no-show. The Handbook says "No-shows do not count against your annual or lifetime testing limits," although you lose the Prometric fee.
- Doesn't count: an exam where you accidentally skipped a section and didn't pass. The Handbook says that score "will not count towards the lifetime limit," but you'll need to register and pay again.
How soon can you retake the NPTE?
FSBPT lets you register again about 15 days after an unsuccessful attempt, for the next fixed test date, as long as you haven't used three consecutive attempts. In practice, results arrive about a week after a window closes and the next registration deadline is roughly seven weeks later, so you'll usually have about seven weeks to decide and register.
FSBPT also notes that "once issued, NPTE scores are final." There's no rescoring, so put your energy into the next attempt rather than an appeal of the score.
Here's what that looks like for the October 2026 window. The exam is October 27–28, and pass/fail status is released November 4. The next registration deadline is December 22, 2026, for the January 26–27, 2027 exam. Check every window on our NPTE exam dates page.
Your state may add steps before you can register again. Some require a new application or fee after a failure. Arizona and Oklahoma, for example, let you retake once without reapplying. And the 21 jurisdictions marked below require remediation.
NPTE retake limits by state
FSBPT's limit of six applies everywhere. These jurisdictions set a lower number:
| Jurisdiction | Limit | What the rule says |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 3 | After failing a third time, you can't reapply for the exam in Oklahoma, though you may retake it in another state (OK Admin Code 435:20-3-5). |
| Louisiana | 4 | LA Admin Code Title 46, Part LIV, §171.B. |
| Florida | 5 | Counts attempts in every state, not just Florida, and applies to endorsement applicants too (FL Admin Code 64B17-3.001). |
| Mississippi | 5 | An unlicensed applicant who has taken the exam more than five times in any jurisdiction can't sit for it in Mississippi. |
| Kentucky | 6 | Six attempts in total across PT and PTA combined, in any jurisdiction (for example, 3 PT + 3 PTA). That's stricter than FSBPT's six per level. |
The full table lists all 53 jurisdictions. "FSBPT limit" means FSBPT's guide lists no separate state number, so the six-attempt limit applies. "Remediation" means the state requires remediation after an NPTE failure; the details differ by state, so read the rule it cites.
| Jurisdiction | Attempt limit | Remediation after failure? |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 6 | Not required |
| Alaska | 6 | Required |
| Arizona | FSBPT limit (6) | Not required |
| Arkansas | FSBPT limit (6) | Required |
| California | FSBPT limit (6) | Not required |
| Colorado | 6 | Not required |
| Connecticut | FSBPT limit (6) | Not required |
| Delaware | 6 | Not required |
| District of Columbia | FSBPT limit (6) | Required |
| Florida | 5 | Required |
| Georgia | 6 | Required |
| Hawaii | 6 | Not required |
| Idaho | FSBPT limit (6) | Not required |
| Illinois | FSBPT limit (6) | Required |
| Indiana | 6 | Not required |
| Iowa | 6 | Not required |
| Kansas | 6 | Required |
| Kentucky | 6 (PT+PTA) | Not required |
| Louisiana | 4 | Required |
| Maine | 6 | Not required |
| Maryland | 6 | Not required |
| Massachusetts | FSBPT limit (6) | Not required |
| Michigan | 6 | Not required |
| Minnesota | FSBPT limit (6) | Not required |
| Mississippi | 5 | Not required |
| Missouri | 6 | Not required |
| Montana | FSBPT limit (6) | Not required |
| Nebraska | 6 | Not required |
| Nevada | FSBPT limit (6) | Not required |
| New Hampshire | 6 | Required |
| New Jersey | 6 | Not required |
| New Mexico | 6 | Required |
| New York | FSBPT limit (6) | Not required |
| North Carolina | 6 | Not required |
| North Dakota | 6 | Required |
| Ohio | 6 | Not required |
| Oklahoma | 3 | Required |
| Oregon | 6 | Not required |
| Pennsylvania | FSBPT limit (6) | Required |
| Puerto Rico | FSBPT limit (6) | Required |
| Rhode Island | 6 | Required |
| South Carolina | 6 | Required |
| South Dakota | 6 | Not required |
| Tennessee | FSBPT limit (6) | Required |
| Texas | 6 | Not required |
| Utah | 6 | Not required |
| Vermont | FSBPT limit (6) | Required |
| Virgin Islands | 6 | Required |
| Virginia | 6 | Not required |
| Washington | 6 | Required |
| West Virginia | FSBPT limit (6) | Not required |
| Wisconsin | 6 | Not required |
| Wyoming | 6 | Required |
Source: FSBPT Jurisdiction Licensure Reference Guide, "Retaking NPTE," retrieved September 27, 2026. State rules change, so confirm with your licensing board before you register.
What FSBPT says about failing more than once
FSBPT is unusually direct about this in its retake guidance: "Based on evidence we have from test scores since 2008, candidates who have failed the NPTE twice or more are unlikely to pass on any subsequent attempt." It adds that those who do pass "have participated in substantial remediation and physical therapy education."
It's worth reading that as a warning about method, not ability. Doing the same preparation again tends to produce the same result. If you're preparing for a third attempt, change what you're doing, not just how many hours you spend on it.
What to do before your next attempt
FSBPT lists these resources for candidates planning a retake:
- Buy your Performance Feedback Report ($100 plus a processing fee). It breaks your result down by content area, body system and exam section. Build your plan from it, not from memory of how the exam felt. Our guide to reading your NPTE score report explains every number in it.
- Re-read the content outline and compare your weakest areas with how many items each is worth. Our NPTE content outline breakdown puts all 14 areas side by side.
- Take FSBPT's PEAT (Practice Exam and Assessment Tool, $99 for 90 days), which includes a retired NPTE form, and the free NPTE Demonstration Examination to practice navigation.
- If you were educated outside the US, FSBPT points to programs that assess and remediate against a CAPTE-equivalent education, and to meeting FSBPT's recommended minimum TOEFL scores if English isn't your first language.
- Try FSBPT's free FifthTheory Test Mastery tool, which looks at test-taking skills rather than content.
FSBPT also mentions working with a licensed PT or PT educator, or "attending a credible NPTE preparation course." It's careful to add that none of these activities can guarantee a passing score.
If this isn't your first retake, read failed the NPTE twice or three times. For a week-by-week structure, our NPTE study plan has a version for retakers, and what happens if you fail the NPTE covers the first few days after a failing result.
NPTE retake: frequently asked questions
How many times can you fail the NPTE?
FSBPT allows six attempts per exam level in your lifetime, so up to five failures before a final attempt. But two scores below 400 end your eligibility sooner, and some states allow fewer attempts: Oklahoma 3, Louisiana 4, Florida and Mississippi 5.
Is there a waiting period to retake the NPTE?
FSBPT's Handbook says you can register for another exam about 15 days after an unsuccessful attempt. You then test at the next fixed date whose deadlines you can meet, unless you've just tested three consecutive times, in which case you must skip one date. Your state may require a new application first.
Do I have to pay again to retake the NPTE?
Yes. Each attempt is a new registration with FSBPT's $485 exam fee plus the processing fee, and a new Prometric sitting fee ($112 for PT). Your state board may charge its own fees too.
Do PT and PTA attempts count together?
Not for FSBPT. You get six attempts at each level. Kentucky is the exception among states: it limits you to six attempts in total across both exams.
Does a no-show count as an NPTE attempt?
No. FSBPT says no-shows don't count against your annual or lifetime limits, although you forfeit the Prometric scheduling fee.
Can I retake the NPTE in a different state?
You can take the exam at any Prometric center that offers it, and you can apply for licensure in a different jurisdiction. But FSBPT's lifetime limits follow you, and Florida and Mississippi count attempts made in any state.
Retaking? Start from your weakest content area.
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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 Candidate Handbook, Version 2025.02 — Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)
- Jurisdiction Licensure Reference Guide — FSBPT
- Important Retake Information for the NPTE — FSBPT