Graduates

Below is information for graduates regarding exam/licensing test dates, preparation courses and other helpful links.

 

• National Physical Therapist Assistant Examination Test Dates
• Physical Therapist Assistant Exam Preparation Course
• Links
• PTA Certification Process in New York State
• Limited Permit Rules Regarding Graduating PTAs
• Information from Office of the Professions
• PTA Legislative Issues: MANDATORY EDUCATION

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National Physical Therapist Assistant Examination Test Dates

The schedule for fixed-testing dates can be found in the tables below.

Year of 2023:

Test Date	Registration Deadline (includes registration and payment)	Jurisdiction Approval Deadline
January 4-5	November 30, 2022	December 7, 2022
April 4-5	February 28	March 7
July 5-6	May 31	June 7
October 4-5	August 30	September 6

 

Year of 2024:

Test Date	Registration Deadline (includes registration and payment)	Jurisdiction Approval Deadline
January 3-4	November 29, 2023	December 6, 2023
April 3-4	February 28	March 6
July 2-3	May 28	June 4
October 8-9	September 3	September 10

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Links

• New York State Physical Therapy Association†
• American Physical Therapy Association†
• New York State Education Department Office of the Professions-Physical Therapy†
• Continuing Education: Questions & Answers for PTs and PTAs †
• Frequently Asked Practice Questions†
• Test Your Knowledge of Law and Practice†
• Article 136, NYS Practice Act†
• Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy† -NPTE information
• Prometric (NPTE locations and scheduling process)†

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PTA Certification Process in New York State (518) 474-3817 Ext. 270

• Read all pertinent information on NYS Education Dept. website: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/pt/ptlic.htm†
• Submit Form 2 to Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education (ACCE) which will be processed through Registrar's Office upon completion of all academic/clinical coursework
• Submit Online Form 1 with $103
• *If you have a documented disability, you may request special accommodations to take the National Physical Therapy Examination. You would need to contact Albany for details. Be aware that you must request special accommodations at the time you submit your initial application (online Form 1) to Albany.
• Submit online Form 5 with $50 fee only if you wish to work under a limited permit before taking the National Physical Therapy Examination for PTAs and receiving your certification. Refer to Limited Permit Rules below in next section.

Typically the State Licensing Agency (only after it has received both online Form 1 and Form 2) takes approximately 4-8 weeks to inform the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) that you are cleared to apply to FSBPT to take the required National Physical Therapy Exam for Physical Therapist Assistants.

The state does not officially notify you that you have been cleared to be able to take the exam. You may register on-line any time on the FSBPT web site:
https://pt.fsbpt.net/examregistration/† to take the exam, but must wait for the State jurisdiction to confirm your eligibility to take the exam at the following web site:
https://pt.fsbpt.net/requeststatus†

AUTHORIZATION TO TAKE NPTE ISSUED BY FSBPT: 800/881-1430

If documentation requires it, Orange County Community College School Code is 0117

• Read pertinent information about NPTE on FSBPT web site http://www.fsbpt.org† including Candidate's Handbook
• Complete registration on-line https://pt.fsbpt.net/examregistration† and include $485 payment by credit card or indicate that you will send a money order. You will be asked if you wish to authorize release of your NPTE scores to Orange County Community College PTA Program Director. We encourage you to indicate "yes" to authorize the release. Schools use this valuable information to help evaluate their programs.
• It is critical that your first and last name on your registration and ATT letter (see last bullet in this section) exactly match your two forms of ID, such as driver's license or a passport and second ID - which is pre-printed with your name and includes your signature (such as a credit card). On both forms of ID, your signature must match your pre-printed name. A social security card is NOT an acceptable form of identification
• Receive "Authorization to Test" letter (ATT) which now allows you to contact Prometric Exam Site to schedule your exam within 60 days of the date on your ATT letter. You are now able to download your ATT letter from the Federation's web site one day after you are determined to be eligible for the exam by the State jurisdiction. You no longer have to wait for the ATT letter to arrive by mail. Go on-line to https://pt.fsbpt.net/requeststatus/† to view your status which could be any of the following:
  • awaiting jurisdiction approval
  • eligible for exam (probably 3 weeks after Clinical Education III completion)
  • ineligible for exam

PROMETRIC EXAM SCHEDULING:

• Read all pertinent information on Prometric web site - http://www.prometric.com† and Candidate's Handbook on FSBPT web site as described above
• View listing of Prometric Testing sites and select one that is the most convenient for you
• Contact Prometric to schedule exam for your chosen site. It is suggested that you schedule early in the allowable 60 days. Read details about rescheduling with required advance notice, if applicable
• $70 prepayment to Prometric
• It is suggested that you reconfirm appointment date, time and location before test date 800/796-9857

PROMETRIC TEST PROCEDURE:

• Read details on Prometric web site and Candidate's Handbook (see above)
• Arrive at least 30 minutes early for being processed prior to exam appointment (officials need to check your two forms of ID, fingerprint, take photo, have you sign Security Agreement, etc.). If your two forms of ID do not match your first name and last name on you registration form, you will NOT be allowed to sit for the exam and will have to reapply for the exam and forfeit any fees already paid.
• Be aware that NPTE questions are "owned" by the FSBPT and are protected by Federal Copyright Law. It is illegal and unethical to recall (memorize) and share questions that are on the NPTE or to solicit questions that are on the NPTE from candidates who have taken the exam.

Please note that the information listed above is meant to assist you but is not all-inclusive. You are ultimately responsible for obtaining information directly from new york state education department, federation of state boards of physical therapy as well as prometric.

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Limited Permit Rules Regarding Graduating PTAs

Effective February 9, 2003, limited permits may be issued to physical therapist assistants; the fee is $50. Limited permits for physical therapist assistants are valid for 6 months. An application for a limited permit (online Form 5) must be filed with or after submitting an Application for Licensure (online Form 1 and $103 fee). A limited permit cannot be issued until all required documents are received, including Form 2 from the college acknowledging that the student has completed all academic and clinical components of the program and is a student in good standing. Only upon documented approval of the limited permit (issuance of limited permit number by New York State), is the graduating PTA able to begin employment as a PTA. You may view your limited permit number when your number has been issued by going to the New York State Education Department web site at http://www.op.nysed.gov/opsearches.htm† and scroll to and click on the profession of Physical Therapist Assistant; be sure to enter your name in the permit section, not the license section.

The limited permit issued is good for 6 months only. A PTA graduate may apply for and receive confirmation of a second limited permit which is also for 6 months only, but this second limited permit is only approved if the graduate has already taken and failed the National Physical Therapy Examination or has already applied to take the NPTE. Therefore a graduating PTA student may only work for up to a total of one year on limited permits. The issuance of a second 6 month term limited permit is NOT automatic. Do not let the first permit expire if planning to request a second limited permit.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Only Physical Therapist graduates have a 90 day exemption immediately following graduation, assuming they have abided by several rules. This exemption does NOT apply to physical therapist assistant graduates.

The Department may issue limited permits to an applicant for licensure which authorize the practice of physical therapy under the on-site supervision of a New York State licensed and currently registered physical therapist. On-site supervision means that the supervising physical therapist is in the same facility and readily available to the permitee.

An applicant receiving a limited permit is restricted to employment in a public hospital, an incorporated hospital or clinic, a licensed proprietary hospital, a licensed nursing home, a public health agency, a recognized public or non-public school setting, the office of a licensed physical therapist, or in the civil service of New York State or a political subdivision in New York State.

If PTA graduates change supervisors and/or settings, or have to add or remove a supervisor or setting, after a permit is issued, one must obtain an amended permit using the Limited Permit Change Form  A new fee is not required for a permit issued as a result of a change in setting or change of supervisor.

It is important for all PTA graduates working under a limited permit to remember that until they obtain their official certification, they must sign documents/charts with their signature followed by ", PTA-limited permitee".

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Information from Office of the Professions

Identification Badges

Currently, Regents Rules define as unprofessional conduct the failure to wear a badge when a licensee is “an employee or operator of a hospital, clinic, group practice or multi-professional facility, registered pharmacy or at a commercial establishment offering health care services to the public.”

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PTA Legislative Issues

Mandatory education for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants licensed/certified in New York State consists of a few key elements:

• 36 hours of continuing education are required over each registration period (3 years).
• New graduate physical therapists and physical therapist assistants will NOT have to meet this requirement during their first 3 year license/certification time-frame.

The law is described in detail on the New York State Department of Education web site†.

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