Hi,
I am a new grad who took the NPTE in Texas. I want to work in CA - can I just apply for the CA one? would it have to be a temp one or is passing the NPTE all that matters? (since they require students to have graduated before taking it). any guidance helps. I already spent $200 on the TX license application. feeling so defeated and stressed.
something you learned the hard way, clinical pearls you have regarding certain dx you see often, or any piece of advice! (tips from travel PTs are welcomed as well!!)
thank you!!
i know it’s long, but these posts helped me a lot especially if you’re low on time. to preface, i am pretty bad at multiple choice tests, got high 70s-low 80s on my exams in PT school.
here’s what i did:
i used therapyed book, study guide/review book, and their 3 practice exams. They were harder but definitely prepared me.
looked up practice questions online like quizlet (although i realized one was a PTA one so make sure it’s PT lol). also PT365 until i ran out of free ones.
I looked at other people’s study guides and cross referenced them with my therapyed studying while writing. I also used my old ortho class notes to recall how i remembered key concepts.
i learn by writing and rewriting, condensing- i locked myself in my room for 13 days for 8-10 hrs/day, studying, writing- up to 80 pages worth. spent an hour reciting this info to a friend from active recall. Spent the day studying and at the end i’d do practice questions.
watched PT final exam practice questions/his brain dump video. tried to pick up as many mnemonics as i could from anywhere.
made a single flash card (or 2) of vital info i NEEDED to know (lab vals, cutoff values etc). reviewed these right before my test too. also highlighted info on the 80 pages i wrote but ran out of time.
took a PEAT the day before at the exact time i was scheduled. i analyzed how they ask questions, key info i skipped, key words they use, and where my knowledge gap was. i typed all of this out (got so tired of writing and this was a more mental practice). I was going to go over all the answers, but ran out of time so just did the incorrect ones.
i watched people’s reviews on tiktok too. just look up npte review/study guide etc. most of them had good mnemonics as well/ it helped to make stuff stick while i was scrolling. did quizlets before bed. i made this my life. my parents were kinda concerned but i could not pay another $600.
my timeline of scores:
april 5: 52% - no studying at all april 24: 67% april 26: 72% april 28: PEAT was above average april 29: NPTE
TEST DAY: reviewed my little flash card of vital info on the way there. highlighted info from my 80+ pages that i knew i was weak on. ate some trail mix on my break, drank water during it, and didn’t take the full break, just wanted to get it over with. 5 hrs felt like 30 mins.
TEST TAKING ADVICE:
keep your initial answer. i kept repeating this to myself. go with your gut.
i didn’t “brain dump” until i got to a question that needed the info
highlight! cross out answers! it helps you visually narrow them down + so you don’t click the wrong one on accident.
i felt somewhat confident leaving, but also read that if you’re confident in it you probs didn’t pass so i was in a limbo of feelings all week. although i took 13 days to prep, i told myself I’ve spent 3 years learning this info so i’ll be ok.
i also remember reading a post from here saying they did the same thing so that motivated me too lol. i was really scared bc i didn’t get FF like the rest of my class, but it is what it is.
also, just a personal aside: i did attempt to study in february, which is when i gathered materials, listened to a few episodes of kyle rice podcast, but genuinely nothing stuck. was all passive. but it helped bc i kinda had the materials already, just needed to buckle down.
hopefully this can help those who don’t know where to start and for those who did not get the score they wanted. thank you for reading!!!!!!!
it helped me so much during school when i felt unsure. it helped knowing other people experienced the same thing.
also passed the NPTE on my first try! feels so good to be done. it was definitely hell, wanted to drop out many times, the academic stress was insane BUT it is doable. good luck to all future students <3
I just got my doctorate in physical therapy, so getting a job isn't going to be too horrible (I hope). I really just want to take time to reflect on the person I want to be, hobbies I want to pursue, and the traits/mindset that will help me, particularly with reconnecting with myself pre-grad school in a way.
Some things I have in mind are art/collages, body building/physical activity, video games, philosophy/reading, journaling every day, photography, being mindful. just a few things that are important to name some, along with being adaptable with any changes that come with life.
I understand how fast life can change. I always told myself that I would put effort to learn something new every once in a while so life doesn't pass by too fast.
just looking for some advice here from people once in my shoes. it's gonna be a weird transition, and I tend to reflect on my life in fragments, so this is a pretty big change to contemplate. thanks for reading!!!