How the plan sets your priorities
Rate how each outline area went on your last attempt. If your score report shows results by outline area, use them; the planner doesn't need exact scores. So the planner asks you instead: the outline areas you mark as hard start your plan, mixed ones are strengthened, and confident ones get lighter review. Your answers are a self-assessment, not an official result.
Each outline area starts from its share of the exam in the official outline, multiplied by its priority: 3× to start, 2× to strengthen, 1.5× if you leave it blank, and 1× to maintain. A quarter of your time is mixed practice across all outline areas. This is Passy’s planning method; it doesn’t estimate a score or a chance of passing.
Retake rules for the NPTE-PT
No fixed waiting period: you can register again about 15 days after an unsuccessful attempt and test on the next fixed date; no more than three consecutive attempts in 12 months, six attempts per lifetime, and no further testing after two scores below 400.
- Registration for another exam opens approximately 15 days after an unsuccessful attempt; testing happens only on the four fixed dates a year.
- After three consecutive attempts within a 12-month period, the candidate must skip the next exam date.
- Lifetime limit of six attempts at each exam level (PT and PTA counted separately).
- Candidates with two scores below 400 cannot test again; a licensing authority may request a jurisdiction appeal, which allows one attempt within 12 months.
- All standard registration deadlines, fees and jurisdiction approval apply to each new registration.
- NPTE Candidate Handbook (Version 2025.02), Sections 3 and 9 (Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy)
Checked against official sources on October 24, 2026.
Next steps
Check your weakest outline area with the free NPTE-PT practice set, or use the NPTE-PT study planner for a first attempt.
Passy is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) or Prometric. National Physical Therapy Examination® and NPTE® are registered marks of FSBPT, used here only to identify the exam. Passy practice questions are original study material and contain no NPTE items, PEAT items, or FSBPT sample questions.