DPT Practice Test

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students and graduates preparing for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for physical therapists can use this page to check the exam basics and practise by topic. The NPTE is run by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Here you get free question sets across the main areas of PT practice, worked explanations of sample questions, a study plan, and answers to common questions about format, scoring and eligibility. Practice with the free Board Certified Doctor of Physical Therapy practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (9 questions with answer explanations).

Free Board Certified Doctor of Physical Therapy Study Tools

Interactive Board Certified Doctor of Physical Therapy resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:

• Board Certified Doctor of Physical Therapy flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
• Board Certified Doctor of Physical Therapy study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
• Board Certified Doctor of Physical Therapy cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review

DPT Exam at a Glance

What changed for DPT in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Eligibility changed to CAPTE graduate (or on track); non-CAPTE graduates need jurisdiction approval (previously CAPTE graduate (or on track) or jurisdiction-approved non-CAPTE graduate).^[4]

What the DPT is and how it works

According to Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, “The PT exam has 5 sections and 225 questions.”^[1]

A Doctor of Physical Therapy degree does not by itself let you practise. To get a license, PT graduates take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), which the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) runs for the licensing jurisdictions. This page uses the DPT name because many candidates search for it, but the exam you sit is the NPTE for physical therapists.

Format and delivery. The PT exam has 225 questions in 5 sections. You take it at a Prometric test center, where FSBPT says testing rooms are carefully controlled.

Scoring. Results are reported on a scale from 200 to 800, and the passing standard is a scale score of 600. A scale score is not a raw count of correct answers, so do not try to turn it into a percentage.

Eligibility. You can apply if you graduated from a CAPTE-accredited program or are on track to graduate from one. If you did not attend a CAPTE-accredited program, the jurisdiction must approve you before you can take the exam, so start that process early with the board where you plan to practise.

Dates and rules that vary. FSBPT lists October 27-28, 2026 as the October 2026 PT test window. Registration deadlines, fees, retake limits and the timing of score reports are set by FSBPT and your jurisdiction, and they can change. Check them in the NPTE Candidate Handbook and on the Dates and Deadlines page at fsbpt.org before you book.

Worked examples: how to reason through DPT questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: A patient refuses a recommended intervention after receiving full information about risks and benefits. The PT should:

1. Proceed anyway because the intervention is clinically indicated
2. Document the refusal and respect the patient's autonomous decision
3. Contact the patient's family to persuade them
4. Discharge the patient for non-compliance

Answer: B. Document the refusal and respect the patient's autonomous decision

Explanation:

B is correct. The patient was given full information about risks and benefits and still declined, so this is an informed refusal. Respecting autonomy means accepting that decision and documenting it clearly: what you offered, what you explained, and that the patient declined.

A is wrong because a clinical indication never overrides a competent patient's refusal, and treating anyway violates informed consent. C is wrong because asking family to apply pressure undermines the patient's own choice and can breach confidentiality. D is wrong because declining a particular intervention is not grounds for discharge. The PT can still offer other appropriate options.

Rule to remember: an informed, competent patient may refuse any intervention. Respect the refusal, document it, and keep offering the care the patient does accept.

Example 2

Question: Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) like duloxetine are used for chronic musculoskeletal pain primarily because they:

1. Modulate descending pain inhibitory pathways
2. Reduce peripheral inflammation
3. Block spinal NMDA receptors
4. Inhibit prostaglandin synthesis

Answer: A. Modulate descending pain inhibitory pathways

Explanation:

A is correct. Duloxetine and other SNRIs raise serotonin and norepinephrine levels. That strengthens the descending inhibitory pathways that run from the brainstem to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, which dampens pain signals before they travel upward. This is why SNRIs suit chronic musculoskeletal pain where central sensitization plays a part.

B is wrong because SNRIs are not anti-inflammatory drugs. C describes NMDA receptor antagonists such as ketamine. D is how NSAIDs work: they block cyclooxygenase and so reduce prostaglandin synthesis.

Rule to remember: link each pain drug to where it acts. NSAIDs act peripherally on inflammation, while SNRIs act centrally on descending pain modulation. Knowing this helps you predict what a patient's medication will and will not change during therapy.

Example 3

Question: A 70-year-old presents with sudden onset of severe unilateral facial droop, arm weakness, and slurred speech. The PT's FIRST action should be:

1. Perform a full neurological screen
2. Call 911 immediately
3. Document findings and notify the referring physician
4. Conduct the Cincinnati Stroke Scale

Answer: B. Call 911 immediately

Explanation:

B is correct. Sudden unilateral facial droop, arm weakness and slurred speech are classic warning signs of stroke. Stroke treatment depends on time, so the PT's FIRST action is to call 911 and get the patient to emergency care.

A and D are wrong because any further screening, including the Cincinnati Stroke Scale, delays care. The signs already present are enough to act on. C is wrong because documenting and notifying the referring physician is too slow in an emergency. Do it after emergency services have been called.

Rule to remember: when the signs point to a medical emergency, call emergency services before you assess further. Questions that ask for the FIRST action often test whether you can tell when evaluation must stop and referral must start.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the NPTE Candidate Handbook on the FSBPT website so you know the rules for registration, test day and scoring. Then use our sets in this order:

1. Take a baseline. Begin with Clinical Reasoning and Decision Making and Patient Evaluation and Diagnosis to find your weak spots.
2. Work through the major systems. Practise Orthopedic and Musculoskeletal, Neurological Rehabilitation and Cardiovascular and Pulmonary. Read every explanation, including for the questions you got right.
3. Cover the smaller areas. Add Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Prosthetics and Orthotics, Modalities, Pharmacology and Ethics and Management.
4. Keep an error log. For each question you miss, write down the rule behind the right answer, not just the letter.
5. Build stamina. The real exam has 225 questions in 5 sections, so near the end of your preparation, do long mixed sessions without breaks between sets.
6. Before test day, confirm your appointment and reread the Prometric test-day rules in the handbook.

Sources & last verified

1. Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy — number of questions (official source). “The PT exam has 5 sections and 225 questions.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 24, 2026.
2. Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy — passing score (official source). “The passing standard is a scale score of 600.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
3. Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy — delivery (official source). “Testing rooms at Prometric testing centers are carefully controlled” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
4. Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy — eligibility (official source). “Every jurisdiction must approve candidates who did not attend a CAPTE-accredited program to take the exam.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 24, 2026.
5. Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy — testing window (official source). “October 27-28” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 24, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.