NPTE-PTA Practice Test

The exam contains 180 multiple-choice questions, but only 140 of them count toward your score. The remaining 40 are pretest questions used for statistical purposes.

You have 4 hours to complete the exam, with questions split evenly into four sections of 40 questions each. There's a 15-minute break after completing the first two sections.

You must be at least 18 years old, have a degree from an accredited PTA program or substantially equivalent education, have no open security investigations or sanctions, and be approved by your licensing authority.

The exam covers two main domains:

• Body Systems (including cardiovascular, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and integumentary systems)
• Non-systems (including equipment, therapeutic modalities, safety, and professional responsibilities)

Most experts recommend 8-16 weeks of dedicated study time, with 2-4 hours per day, 5-6 days per week. The exact timeline depends on your baseline knowledge and learning style.

Most successful candidates recommend creating a structured study schedule over 8-12 weeks, focusing heavily on the "big three" systems (musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and cardiopulmonary), which make up about 70% of the exam. Taking multiple practice exams is crucial. Resources like PrepHow offer practice tests that can help you identify weak areas and get comfortable with the exam format before test day.

Focus most of your study time on the three major systems:

• Musculoskeletal
• Neuromuscular/nervous system
• Cardiopulmonary/lymphatic systems

These areas make up approximately 75% of the exam questions and are critical to your success.