A Review Guide for the NPTE

UPDATE: There is now a 2012 addition of the IER or NPTE Guide by Siegelman and O'Sullivan Available in Amazon and over at the www.therapyed.com website.

I previously wrote about some guidelines on how to really study for the NPTE. I have not passed it yet and I am slated to take it again this coming May 25, 2011 in one of the Prometric center in Las Vegas. I just want to share how I have been reviewing and my upcoming plans right before D-day.

In hopes that I might be able to help one or two aspiring Physical Therapists, who are in the same boat as I am. The strategies here are what I think might help me pass the exam this second time around.

And I hope and pray that the second time is a charm!

With all the books and online exam materials out there. You can buy all of them, but how DO YOU BEGIN IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Well, first thing's first and breathe in. And get your thoughts together.

1. Physical Medicine By Sullivan

2. IER Review and Study Guide 2011

3. Differential Diagnosis by Goodman

4. Therapeutic Exercise 5th Edition by Kisner

5. Orthopedic Physical Assessment by Magee

When I took the NPTE the first time. I studied by books. I finished the IER 2009 in a month, read Differential Diagnosis by Goodman the next, Therapeutic Exercises by Kisner and then Magee right after.

After taking the exam, I realized how wrong it was to read and study blindly by books. What is working better for me now. And makes it easier for me to understand is studying by CASES.

Here's a rundown of the list of cases. And I read the same cases or topics in different books. Just as long as it's the same topic.

• Musculoskeletal
• Neuromuscular
• Cardio and Pulmo
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Cardiovascular Accident
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Parkinson's Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Wound Management, Burn and Integumentary system
• Amputation
• Orthotics, Prosthetics and Wheelchair
• Other Systems
• Pedia (Cerebral Palsy)
• Therapeutic Exercise principles
• Physical Agents and Modalities
• Professional Roles, Management and Teaching
• Research

For example, when I studied Cardio and Pulmo. I read the chapter on Cardio and Pulmo in IER, the Physical Therapy Management / Intervention from Physical Medicine by Sullivan in Cardio and Pulmo chapter, and the Cardio and Pulmo chapters in Goodman.
That goes for the other subject areas or cases too. And I right now, I am not forcing myself to read and finish one to two chapters a day. But I read two to three hours a day, and make sure that I understand what I am reading.

It makes no point if you read 8 hours a day, but not understand or recall anything the following day.

I just use Therapeutic Exercise by Kisner and Orthopedic Assessment by Magee as reference for exercise guidelines and special tests. Not really from cover to cover. Since I know it is almost impossible to do that. And if I did, I am just wasting my time.

For the last 3 to 4 weeks leading up to the NPTE proper, I plan to just do a practice exam every single day.

It's a way for my mind and body get used to the rigors of a 5 hour long exam. Much like a marathon, test taking needs training.

WHAT PRACTICE EXAMS SHOULD YOU INVEST IN?

1. The 3 sets of exams from IER 2012.
2. Online Exam by Sullivan and Siegelman
3. Online Advantage by Scorebuilders
4. PEAT exam by Fsbpt (a MUST Practice Exam Test to take!)
5. Kaplan National Physical Therapy Exam
6. McGraw-Hill's NPTE (National Physical Therapy Examination) (Lange)
7. Physical Therapy Content Master App from Scorebuilders (If you have an iPhone or Ipad, has 750 questions you can use on the go)

Just some other none NPTE related stuff that you can do to boos your mental health.

• PRAY. PRAY and PRAY. It does not matter what religion you are, never forget to ask help from the BIG MAN above.
• Exercise at least ONCE A DAY for 30 minutes. 
• Read and Do something that YOU enjoy doing. Let your mind breathe.
• Spend time with your family. After all you're doing all this hard work for them.

And lastly, THINK POSITIVE. :) Hope these tidbits helps!