N.M. Admin. Code § 16.20.2.8 - REQUIREMENTS FOR THE NATIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY EXAMINATION
A. All applicants for licensure must take the
national physical therapy examination (NPTE), or show proof of having taken the
NPTE in another state. The examination must be taken in English, without the
use of an interpreter, and without the aid of an English/foreign language
dictionary.
B. Alternate Approval
Pathway: the alternate approval pathway is an alternate method of licensure
application for the physical therapist or the physical therapist assistant
applying for an initial license in the state of New Mexico. The applicant will
follow these steps, prior to completing the application process for New Mexico
licensure:
(1) Apply directly to the
federation of state boards of physical therapy (FSBPT) for permission to sit
for the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant national licensing
exam.
(2) Once the national
licensing exam has been completed, the FSBPT will send the score to the state
of New Mexico, as identified by the physical therapist or physical therapist
assistant applicant.
(3) The state
of New Mexico will receive the score from the FSBPT and then determine if the
licensing eligibility requirements have been met. The applicant MUST provide a
complete licensure application with all required fees to the board for
verification of eligibility for licensure in New Mexico, prior to the state of
New Mexico, issuing a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant
license, pursuant to Section
16.20.3.8 NMAC.
C. The federation of state boards
of physical therapy (FSBPT) will notify applicants, in writing, of the
procedure to follow in order to register for the exam with an approved computer
based testing (CBT) company.
(1) Applicants
MUST take the exam within 60 days from the date of notification to register
by.
(2) Applicants will register in
New Mexico, but may take the exam in any state.
(3) Applicants will be scheduled to sit for
the exam within 30 days from the time they call the computer based testing
(CBT) company.
(4) Applicants may
change their appointment up to two days prior to the test date.
D. Effective August 28, 1995, an
applicant for licensure as a physical therapist shall obtain a score on the
NPTE for physical therapists that equals or exceeds the criterion-referenced
passing point of 600, based on a scale ranging from 200 to 800. Per changes in
the eligibility requirements through the FSBPT, effective January 2016,
applicants scoring 400 or less on two exams will be unable to test again for
licensure. In addition, applicants will be able to take the exam a maximum of
six times (three attempts annually) with no additional attempts allowed.
Applicants may not complete more than three attempts on the NPTE, in a 12 month
period.
(1) For applicants who took the NPTE
during the period from June 10, 1971 to August 28, 1995, the passing score for
the national examination shall be 1.5 standard deviation below the national
mean on the date the exam was taken by the applicant.
(2) Exams taken prior to June 10, 1971 may be
reviewed on a case-by-case basis or the applicant may qualify under
16.20.3.10 NMAC (Licensure by
Endorsement).
E.
Effective August 28, 1995, an applicant for licensure as a physical therapist
assistant shall obtain a score on the NPTE for physical therapist assistants
that equals or exceeds the criterion-referenced passing point of 600, based on
a scale ranging from 200 to 800. Per changes in the eligibility requirements
through the FSBPT, effective January 2016, applicants scoring 400 or less on
two exams will be unable to test again for licensure. In addition, applicants
will be able to take the exam a maximum of six times (three attempts annually)
with no additional attempts allowed. Applicants may not complete more than
three attempts on the NPTE, in a twelve month period.
(1) For applicants who took the NPTE during
the period from June 10, 1971 to August 28, 1995, the passing score for the
national examination shall be 1.5 standard deviation below the national mean on
the date the exam was taken by the applicant.
(2) Exams taken prior to June 10, 1971 may be
reviewed on a case-by-case basis or the applicant may qualify under
16.20.3.10 NMAC (Licensure by
Endorsement).
F. Any
applicant who fails the NPTE may retake the exam at the next available
opportunity.
G. Any applicant who
has failed the NPTE will not be issued a temporary license, or if a temporary
license has been issued, it will automatically be revoked. The revocation is
effective upon recording of the test results by the registrar. The registrar
will promptly notify the applicant of results by certified mail.
H. An applicant who fails the NPTE two or
more times must complete and submit proof of completion of remedial work as
recommended by the board before being permitted to take subsequent NPTE's.
Refer to the remedial criteria for specific requirements for each subsequent
exam failed, up to six lifetime attempts.
|
CRITERIA FOR REMEDIAL WORK, DESCRIBED BY THE PHYSICAL THERAPY BOARD |
|||
|
Number of failures |
Number of points from passing |
Mentorship and tutorial |
Other |
|
2 |
Score is within 6 points of passing |
20 hours of mentorship or tutorial or any combination of both |
Proof of a national licensing exam review course |
|
2 |
Score is greater than 6 points of passing |
40 hours of either mentorship or tutorial or any combination of both |
Proof of a national licensing exam review course |
|
3 |
Score is within 6 points of passing |
20 hours of mentorship and 40 hours of tutorial |
NONE |
|
3 |
Score is greater than 6 points of passing |
60 hours of mentorship and 60 hours of tutorial |
NONE |
After the fourth failure of the NPTE for PT/PTA applicant, the applicant must complete the following remedial work, to sit for the exam
(1) Letter confirming completion
of remedial clinical mentorship with a licensed PT/PTA Supervisor for:
(a) 160 hours in an outpatient
clinic/facility
(b) 160 hours in an
inpatient/rehabilitation clinic/ facility
(c) 160 hours in a clinic/ facility of their
choice
(2) Letter
confirming (with both scores listed) completion of a National License Review
course and the FSBPT PEAT exam.
(a) Applicant
must retake a national licensing review course (providing proof of
completion)
(b) Applicant must
retake the FSBPT PEAT exam (providing both scores). Per FSBPT guidelines,
beginning January 2016, all applicants will be restricted to six lifetime
attempts at passing the national licensing exam. In addition, two scores at
400/800 will preclude the applicant from any additional attempts at
examination.
Notes
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