Pass the NPTE Calendar Guide A 4-month calendar guide for Reviewing for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE)
Introduction
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At a Lost on How to Start your NPTE Review?
ARE YOU AT A LOST ON HOW TO START? If you’re one of the many graduate of Physical Therapist of the 1990’s and trying to find their way back in the loop of the world of Physical Therapy after 12 years. Reviewing for the Physical Therapy Licensing exam can be a REALLY HARD.
WHAT’S WHA T’S YOUR EXCUSE?
I graduated in 199- forgotten… I didn’t practice Physical Therapy since graduation from 199-forgotten… I don’t know what books to read… I don’t know how to start reviewing…
All the above-mentioned applied to me. It’s been exactly 13 years since I got back on the bandwagon again. I graduated back in 1998, took the local board exam in August of that same year… AND I FAILED. ******************** Fast forward to 2009. I was pushed by a lot of relatives in the US to pursue Physical Therapy as a career. I decided to take the plunge and reviewed for 4 months before taking the local board exams here in The Philippines. And you know what? I PASSED. In June of 2010, I READ THROUGH every Physical Therapy textbook imaginable and took my first bite for the NPTE.
This time, I FAILED. So, when it came to the 2nd round for the NPTE last May 2011. I knew what I did wrong and had a plan even BEFORE REVIEWING. I was better prepared and was able to PASS IT. I was crying bucketloads when I saw the words PASSED in the FSBPT website!
Disclosure
Affiliate Links are present throughout the PASS THE NPTE CALENDAR GUIDE. If you purchase through these affiliate links, the author will receive a small commission that helps make the NPTE Calendar Guide FREE FOR ALL. Good luck and my Prayers are with ALL OF YOU.
In this free guide, you will find the study guide calendar with the topics and cases that you can tackle for each day. Including the reference of practice exams that I took 3 weeks prior to the exam. This is not a comprehensive reviewer, but a medium to PROVIDE STRUCTURE when tackling your review books and reference textbooks. I hope that this will help other aspiring Physical Therapists out there to pass the ever-elusive National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and be able to start that first step in working as a licensed Physical Therapist in the United States. The PASS THE NPTE CALENDAR does not warrant the accuracy or validity of the information and hereby disowns any liability to anyone who FAILS the NPTE with this calendar guide. This is merely a guide that MAY or MAY NOT HELP YOU PASS THE NPTE (National Physical Therapy Examination) in the United States.
Reviewers and Textbooks
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Recommended NPTE Reviewers and Reference Textbooks.
Review Books
Differential Diagnosis for Physical Therapist 4th Ed. by Goodman and Snyder (DiffDx)
National Physical Therapy Exam Review and Study Guide 2012 (StudyGuide2012) This one of the must haves for reviewing for the NPTE. It comes with a CD with 3 sets of practice exams, with an explanation of the reason for the answer for each question. I based my review with the chapters and topics of this book.
McGraw-Hill’s Mc Graw-Hill’s NPTE by Mark Dutton (NPTEDutton) I liked how this review book is easy to read on the eyes. It explained cases and subjects in a direct and easy to understand manner. It also comes with a 500 Q & A on CD that you can use as one of your practice exams.
This is not the usual reviewer, but it provides a great explanation on how to rule out systemic diseases versus musculoskeletal conditions basing from the signs, symptoms and examinations. Reviewing this book will help you RULE OUT the correct answer answ er for each question.
PT Exam The Complete Study Guide If you have extra budget to spare for an additional review guide and practical exams. The NPTE reviewer is another good investment. It comes with 3 sets of practical examinations as well.
Reference Textbooks Physical Rehabilitation 5th Ed. by Sullivan (PhysicalRehab) This is the most comprehensive textbook that you can reference on when you need a more thorough explanation of a case. This textbook is a good investment that will last you up until when you’re working as a Physical Therapist.
Orthopedic Physical Assessment 5th Ed. by David J. Magee This textbook is what I used to get a good grasp of Special Tests that are outlined in all the NPTE review books I read. So, when I can’t imagine a special test in my mind and need extra help with the visuals and how to execute it. I turn to Magee’s guiding words for it.
Therapeutic Exercise 5th Ed. by Carolyn Kisner This is a gem of a textbook for a thorough explanation of evidence based practice topics. I needed this textbook for the PNF techniques and proper positioning and movement for exercises. This is another textbook that I like having on hand when I don’t get my imagination right!
Calendar Guide
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The Pass the NPTE Calendar Guide that you can follow. Note: Please take note of the Review Book LEGENDS in Chapter 2.
Week 1
• Chapter 1 - STUDYGUIDE2012, Chapter 8 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 6 • Screening of Hand, neck and body (Chapter 14) • Screening of Sacrum, SI & Pelvis (Chapter 15) • Screening Buttock, Hip, Groin and Thigh (Chapter 16) • Screening of Chest, breasts and ribs (Chapter 17) • Screening of Shoulder and UpperEx (Chapter 18)
Day 1
• All from DiffDx
• Musculoskeletal Anatomy Overview STUDYGUIDE2012 2012 • Chapter 1 - STUDYGUIDE
Chapter 8 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 2 • Special Tests, Lumbosacral and Brachial Plexus • Convex-Concave Rule STUDYGUIDE2012 2012 • Chapter 1 - STUDYGUIDE
Chapter 8 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 3 • Upper Limb and Lower Limb Tension Tests Variations STUDYGUIDE2012 2012 • Chapter 1 - STUDYGUIDE
Chapter 8 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 4 Musculoskeletal tal Conditions • Musculoskele • Chapter 1 - STUDYGUIDE2012 Chapter 8 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 5 Musculoskeletal tal Conditions • Musculoskele • Screening of Endocrine & Metabolic Disease (Chapter 11 - DiffDx)
Day 7 • Catch-Up Read and REST!
Week 2
Day 12 • Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) (PhysicalRehab) b) • SCI Patient Rehabilitation Section in (PhysicalReha • Chapter 2 - STUDYGUIDE2012, Chapter 9 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 13 Traumatic atic Brain I njury (TBI) • Traum • Chapter 2 - STUDYGUIDE2012, Chapter 9 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 8 • Neuroanatomy Overview
Day 14
• Focus on - Dermatomes, Myotomes, Reflexes
• Catch-Up Read and REST!
• Types of Nerve Injuries STUDYGUIDE2012 2012 • Chapter 2 - STUDYGUIDE
Chapter 9 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 9 • Neuroanatomy Overview • Focus on Brain functions, Cranial and Peripheral Nerves STUDYGUIDE2012 2012 • Chapter 2 - STUDYGUIDE
Chapter 9 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 10 • Different Neurologic Dysfunctions/ Conditions STUDYGUIDE2012 2012 • Chapter 2 - STUDYGUIDE
Chapter 9 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 11 • Cerebrovascular Accident/ Stroke (CVA) • CVA Rehabilitation Management section in Textbook (PhysicalRehab) • Chapter 2 - STUDYGUIDE2012 Chapter 9 - Dutton-NPTE
Week 3
STUDYGUIDE2012 012 • Chapter 4 - STUDYGUIDE2
Chapter 10 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 20 • Screening for Pulmonary Disease • Chapter 7 - DiffDx
Day 21 • Catch-Up Read and REST!
Day 15 • Cardiovascular System Overview • Chapter 3 - STUDYGUIDE2012
Chapter 11 - Dutton-NPT Dutton-NPTE E
Day 16 • Cardiovascular Conditions (PAD, PVD) • Chapter 3 - STUDYGUIDE2012
Chapter 11 - Dutton-NPT Dutton-NPTE E
Day 17 • Screening for Cardiovascular Disease • Adult and Child CPR STUDYGUIDE2012 2012 • Chapter 2 - STUDYGUIDE
Chapter 9 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 18 • Pulmonary Systems Overview • Focus on Lung volumes, capacities • Chapter 4 - STUDYGUIDE2012
Day 19 • Pulmonary Conditions
Chapter 10 - Dutton-NPTE
Week 4
Day 26 • Prosthetics • Gait Patterns and Problems in Prosthetics STUDYGUIDE2012 2 • Chapter 11 - STUDYGUIDE201
Chapter 15 - Dutton-NPT Dutton-NPTE E
Day 27 • Wheelchair measurements, ramp measurem measurements ents and mobility • Wheelchair measurements,
Day 22
STUDYGUIDE2012 2 • Chapter 11 - STUDYGUIDE201
• Integumentary System Overview
Day 28
• Common Skin conditions • Chapter 5 - STUDYGUIDE2012
Chapter 13 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 23 • Ulcers and Ulcer Management • Wounds and Wound Management • Types of Dressings • Chapter 5 - STUDYGUIDE2012
Chapter 13 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 24 • Burn and Burn Management • Amputation • Chapter 5 - STUDYGUIDE2012
Chapter 13 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 25 • Orthotics • Gait Patterns and Problems in Orthotics • Chapter 11 - STUDYGUIDE2012
Chapter 15 - Dutton-NPTE
• REST!
Chapter 15 - Dutton-NPT Dutton-NPTE E
Week 5
STUDYGUIDE2012 2 • Chapter 7 - STUDYGUIDE201
Chapter 16 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 33 • Pediatric Conditions • Cerebral Palsy and Autism STUDYGUIDE2012 2 • Chapter 7 - STUDYGUIDE201
Chapter 16 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 34 • Geriatric Conditions
Day 29 • GI, GU, Metabolic, Endocrine, Psychological Conditions & other systems • Chapter 6 - STUDYGUIDE2012
Chapter 12 - Dutton-NPT Dutton-NPTE E
Day 30 • GI, GU, Metabolic, Endocrine, Psychological Conditions & other systems • Chapter 6 - STUDYGUIDE2012 Chapter 12 - DuttonNPTE • Screening for Hematological Disease (Chapter 5 - DiffDx) • Screening for Gastrointestinal Disease (Chapter 8 - DiffDx)
Day 31 • Screening for Hepatic and Biliary Disease (Chapter 9) • Screening for Urogenital Disease (Chapter 10) • Screening for Immunologic Disease (chapter 12) • All from DiffDx
Day 32 • Pediatric Conditions • Focus on Developmental Development
• Alzheimer’s and Dementia STUDYGUIDE2012 012 • Chapter 8 - STUDYGUIDE2
Day 35 • REST!
Chapter 14 - Dutton-NPTE
Week 6
Day 41 • Pharmacology • Chapter 19 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 42 • REST!
Day 36 • Therapeutic Exercise • Chapter 9 - STUDYGUIDE2012
Chapter 17 - Dutton-NPT Dutton-NPTE E
Day 37 • Therapeutic Exercise • Chapter 9 - STUDYGUIDE2012
Chapter 17 - Dutton-NPT Dutton-NPTE E
Day 38 • Physical Agents and Modalities • Chapter 10 - STUDYGUIDE2012
Chapter 18 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 39 • Physical Agents and Modalities • Chapter 10 - STUDYGUIDE2012
Chapter 18 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 40 • Pharmacology • Focus on Side Effects and Interactions • Chapter 19 - Dutton-NPTE
Week 7
• Catch-Up Read!
Day 49 • REST!
Day 43 Management nt • Professional Roles and Manageme • Chapter 12 - STUDYGUIDE2012
Day 44 • Role of Physical Therapy and Administration • Chapter 1 and 2 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 45 • Education and Consultation • Chapter 13 - STUDYGUIDE2012
Day 46 • Research • Chapter 14 - STUDYGUIDE2012
Day 47 • Research • Chapter 4 - Dutton-NPTE
Day 48
Chapter 4 - Dutton-NPT Dutton-NPTE E
How I Studied
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Some helpful tips on how I studied for the NPTE.
Study Tips
And after that, I broke it down in blocks, because I find my brain and body feeling tired if I read on straight for 6-8 hours. 2. Exercise for 30 minutes minutes right after after studying in the morning. 3. Praying right before I study and review. review.
How To Use the Calendar Guide The Pass the NPTE Calendar Guide spans 7 weeks. But, I went through this calendar guide twice, making it a total of almost 4 months for me to go through it. On my second go through for the calendar guide, I focused on topics and cases that I know that I am weak. I highly recommend that you understand the cases, rather than just simply memorizing it. And feel free to adjust the days as you see fit depending on your schedule and your UNDERSTANDING. We all learn differently and at different styles as well. For me, going in to youtube and looking HOW a special test is done served best for me to fully graps what and how it is executed.
Tips of Studying and Reviewing for the NPTE 1. Study from 4:00AM 4:00AM to 8:00AM and 12:00NN 12:00NN to 2:00PM and 8:00PM to 10:00PM. Studying first thing in the morning without any distractions and with a mind that is still fresh worked for me.
4. A mug of brewed brewed coffee helped me get into the the focus of reviewing at 4:00AM 5. When doing chores or or running errands, think think of a case or or topic and have conversations and discussions with yourself. There are times that I talked out especially when driving. 6. Sacrifice night outs and and alcohol for the days that you are reviewreviewing. But have a glass or wine or two on the night BEFORE a REST day to help you relax. 7. Have more protein on your plate especially during lunchtime to to help you stay awake. I get all sleepy and drowsy after having a lunch of rice or pasta, and it was hard for me to stay focus for afternoon review.
Helpf He lpful ul Apps
iPhone and iPad Apps Here are some Apps that I found useful to help me out while I review for the NPTE. I have broken it down to free and paid app for your your convenience. conven ience. These are the same apps that I wrote about in my Hub: The Best iPhone Apps for Aspiring Physical Therapists.. Therapists
Free iPhone Apps 1. Nerve Whiz - one of my favorite free apps. It has an easy to understand diagram of the Brachial Plexus AND the LumboSacral Plexus. It also has a Muscle Localizer, and all you need to do is choose a muscle that's weak, and it will show you the possible nerve or trucks affected. It also has a sensory localizer, where you just you just tap the part of the muscle. muscle. And voila! it tells you nerve nerve sensory sens ory distribution for it. 2. 3D Brain - With just a flick of your finger, you can rotate and pinpoint the brain structures, functions and the associated disor-
der for each structure. Because I am a visual learner myself, it makes it easier for me to understand where the symptoms are coming from from a client who suffered a traumatic brain injury or a stroke patient. 3. Brain & Nerves - Another great app for people in the medical field. It discusses the most important topics on brain and nerve diseases. Although the information is not as substantial, since this is made to cater non-medical professionals as well. The basic information is enough for an iPhone app.
Paid iPhone Apps 1. iOrtho - I first downloaded the free trial version, and liked what it had to offer. So I paid, $9.99 for both the complete versions of their Special S pecial Tests and Mobilization techniques. Nice as a quick reference a pp for NPTE reviewers. Unfortunately, this app is only available for sale in iTunes Apple US stores. 2.** PT Content Master App - This iPhone/ iPad app is created 2.**PT by Scorebuilders and can be purchased from the iTunes store for $29.99. The best iPhone app NPTE reviewer. It has a content review, assessment assessment section with 750 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS! There is already available for ANDROID phones as well! If you can buy this app, I highly recommend that you do. This was the app that I always read and answered the exams while on the go.
The Key: Practice Exams!
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Practice really does makes perfect!
Practice Exams
exam, and another one two weeks before the exam. PEAT is priced at US$90.00. 2. National Physical Therapy Exam Review and Study Guide 2012.. This Review book comes with 3 sets of exams in CD 2012 that can be used for Mac and PC.
How Practice Exams Helped Three to Four weeks before my scheduled NPTE exam, all I did was DO ONE PRACTICE EXAM first thing in the morning EXCEPT SUNDAYS. And then, I actually checked the explanation of each item that I answered wrong. Knowing the “WHY” behind the wrong wrong questions, helped me REMEMBER the su bject and topic associated with it. Think of 3 weeks of Daily Practice exams as a way of CONDITIONING YOUR BRAIN and YOUR BODY to get used to the rigors of SEATING THROUGH 4 hours of ANALYZING and RULING OUT EACH QUESTION.
What Practice Exams Should You You do? 1. Practice Exam and Assessment Tool (PEAT) from FSBPT. Purchase PEAT a month before your scheduled exam, and do the practice exam first a month or three weeks before the
3. McGraw-Hill’s NPTE by Mark Dutton. Dutton . This review book comes with two set of 250 item exam in CD that can be used again in both PC and Mac. 4. Online Exam by Susan O’Sullivan and Raymond Siegelman is a 200 item exam that you can take online using INTERNET EXPLORER browser for three times within 30-days of purchasing. Priced at US$40.00. 5. Kaplan National Physical Therapy Exam This NPTE review book is priced at US$25.++ on Amazon.com. It has two fulllength NPTE practice exams that you can include in your slew of practice exams leading on the day of examination too.
Practice Exam Week 1 Day 1 •
STUDYGUIDE2012
SET A
Day 2 • Dutton-NPTE SET A
Day 3 • PEAT
Day 4 • STUDYGUIDE2012
Day 5 • Dutton-NPTE SET B
Day 6 • KAPLAN SET A
Day 7 • REST!
SET B
Practice Exam Week 2 Day 1 •
STUDYGUIDE2012
SET C
Day 2 • Online Exam by Sullivan and Siegelman
Day 3 • KAPLAN SET B
Day 4 • STUDYGUIDE2012
SET A
Day 5 • Dutton-NPTE SET A
Day 6 • STUDYGUIDE2012 SET B
Day 7 • REST!
Practice Exam Week 3 Day 1 •
PEAT
Day 2 • KAPLAN SET A
Day 3 • Online Exam by Sullivan and Siegelman
Day 4 • Dutton-NPTE SET B
Day 5 • STUDYGUIDE2012 SET A
Day 6 • KAPLAN SET B
Day 7 • REST!
Taking the Exam
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What to Expect on the Day of the Exam.
Taking the Exam
4. Bring your PASSPORT PASSPORT and ANOTHER GOVERNMENT ID at the Testing center of your choice.
5. Print out and bring your Confirmation Confirmation letter from PROMETRIC.
What to Expect Before the Exam Try not to study anymore a couple of days before your examination. It might just confuse your brain. Give yourself a pat in the back for making it this far for reviewing for the National Physical Therapy Examination.
For this two days, do everything that you can to relax. Just watch TV, sleep and clean the whole house! Cleaning actually helps me relax my mind, as make my body tired with scrubbing and vacuuming around the house. :)
On the Day of the Examination:
6. Bring water, water, juice and some snacks snacks that you MUST TAKE A BITE OF SNACK and a SWIG of BEVERAGE after finishing every section of your exam. Some sugar in your system will help keep you awake. For me, I had water, orange juice, a banana, some rice krispy treats and an almond sneakers bar. 7. Do some jumping jacks in the bathroom bathroom during your bathroom break. 8. Always bring your your PASSPORT PASSPORT WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO. 9. Don’t Stuff your pockets with anything anything but your passport.
1. Arrive an hour before before your exam schedule. schedule.
10.USE THE PAPER/ WHITEBOARD to RULE OUT EVERY OPTION IN THE EXAM.
2. Have a PROTEIN RICH BREAKFAST in the morning. Take Take it easy with the coffee too.
11. Always listen attentively to the instructions given by the Testing Center employees.
3. There are some testing centers centers that do not allow test-takers test-takers to wear bulky sweaters. Try layering instead, to keep you warm and to help keep you mobile.
12. Don’t forget to PRAY for yourself and for your co-test taker’s as well.
Acknowledgement
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Visit the Pass the NPTE website website,, Facebook page and Twitter @PasstheNPTE to keep yourself updated with NPTE related news and information. Please send an email at
[email protected] for any questions,, comments and anything that will make tions ma ke the PASS THE NPTE CALENDAR GUIDE BETTER. :) This Guide is dedicated to everyone who dreams of a better future for themselves and their families. For God, Jesus and Mama Mary; for guiding me all throughout my Physical Therapy journey. For my parents and an d my siblings, who suppor ted me through my bouts of tears and craziness. For my son Sky, who continually INSPIRES ME TO BECOME A BETTER MOM.
*This guide is written and created by Gigi Lampa-Alcantara. At the moment, she is just waiting for her immigrant visa interview as filed by her employer. She is a writer and blogs on Embracing Everyday and The Fit Mommy Now. Now. She also contributes to hubpages with topics on reviewing for the NPTE, working from home topics and anything else that fancies her interest. You can also find her tweeting as @HuggingFitMum on twitter.
