Official outline effective January 2024

NPTE content areas — complete breakdown

FSBPT publishes scored-item ranges across 14 content categories and 29 task cells—not one fixed percentage for each area. Use the ranges below to build a balanced study plan.

180

Scored items

14

Content categories

29

Task cells

45

Unscored pretest items

The current PT examination contains 225 questions: 180 scored items and 45 unscored pretest items. FSBPT does not identify which questions are pretest items or publish a fixed category percentage for every form.

Major body systems

These four systems are broken into examination, foundations, and intervention task cells.

Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Systems

2227scored items

Cardiovascular and pulmonary examination, foundational knowledge, and interventions.

Examination 78Foundations 79Interventions 810

Musculoskeletal System

4454scored items

Musculoskeletal examination, diagnosis and prognosis, foundational knowledge, and interventions.

Examination 1418Foundations 1518Interventions 1518

Neuromuscular & Nervous Systems

3948scored items

Neuromuscular and nervous-system examination, foundational knowledge, and interventions.

Examination 1316Foundations 1316Interventions 1316

Integumentary System

811scored items

Integumentary examination, foundational knowledge, and interventions.

Examination 23Foundations 34Interventions 34

Additional systems and interactions

Lower-frequency categories still contribute scored items and should remain in a complete study plan.

Metabolic & Endocrine Systems

46scored items

Metabolic and endocrine foundations and their implications for physical therapy interventions.

Foundations 23Interventions 23

Gastrointestinal System

36scored items

Gastrointestinal examination, foundational knowledge, and interventions.

Examination 12Foundations 12Interventions 12

Genitourinary System

25scored items

Genitourinary examination, foundational knowledge, and interventions.

Examination 01Foundations 12Interventions 12

Lymphatic System

47scored items

Lymphatic examination, foundational knowledge, and interventions.

Examination 12Foundations 12Interventions 23

System Interactions

810scored items

How diseases, comorbidities, medications, and multiple body systems interact.

Foundations 810

Non-system domains

These categories assess practice knowledge that applies across diagnoses and settings.

Equipment, Devices, & Technologies

56scored items

Equipment, assistive devices, mobility technologies, and safe selection or use.

Category total 56

Therapeutic Modalities

46scored items

Selection, application, precautions, and expected effects of therapeutic modalities.

Category total 46

Safety & Protection

57scored items

Patient safety, precautions, emergency awareness, infection control, and protection.

Category total 57

Professional Responsibilities

45scored items

Professional, ethical, legal, administrative, and communication responsibilities.

Category total 45

Research & Evidence-Based Practice

35scored items

Research interpretation, measurement concepts, and evidence-based practice.

Category total 35

Each category can vary within its published range while the scored portion still totals 180 items. The minimums and maximums are not meant to be added as if they describe one exam form.

Practice with a blueprint-informed bank

PTverse organizes practice across the current content categories and builds fixed mock allocations informed by FSBPT's published ranges.

Try free NPTE questions

Free to start

Ready to study smarter?

PTverse tracks your accuracy by content area and helps you focus practice where you need it most. Free to start.

No credit card required · Free forever on core features