National Physical Therapy Examination Program Practice Analysis
The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) develops and administers the licensure testing program for Physical Therapists (PT) and Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA). FSBPT administers the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) to candidates for licensure or registration in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
Since 2000, HumRRO has supported the FSBPT licensure test program in a variety of ways. Earlier work included auditing the technical aspects of the licensure testing program, reviewing the equating procedures adopted after FSBPT shifted to IRT-based testing, conducting ancillary psychometric analyses, test item quality control checking, and developing a procedure for monitoring item parameter drift.
In 2006, HumRRO conducted a practice analysis that informed a revision of the exam blueprints for both licensure examinations. During this effort, HumRRO worked with subject matter experts (SMEs) to generate lists of work activities (tasks) and associated knowledge requirements, and administered web-based surveys. The results were analyzed and workshops with PT and PTA subject matter experts were conducted to review the survey results, integrate the results into knowledge-based test blueprints using an iterative judgment-based exercise, and collect work activity/KSR linkage data for each occupation. The resulting NPTE blueprints, which are founded on knowledge-based categories of test content, are both more durable over time and easier for stakeholders (e.g., item writers, test candidates, educators) to use compared to their predecessors.
In July 2010, HumRRO began work to conduct an updated analysis of practice that will again serve to update the NPTE exam blueprints. In addition to updating the exam blueprints to reflect changes and trends in the profession, the current analysis of practice will also incorporate a number of enhancements, particularly in areas that reflect knowledge and skills that are important for safe and effective patient care, but might not be amenable to testing on the NPTE. For example, in addition to identifying and quantifying the knowledge required for entry-level practice, we are also identifying a number of skills that are important for safe patient care. In addition, for important knowledge and skills that are not well-suited to testing on the NPTE, we are identifying developmental experiences and other outlets wherein entry-level practitioners acquire and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skill.
FSBPT is in the process of developing a suite of online tools that will help licensees demonstrate continuing professional competence. HumRRO assisted FSBPT in the development of the first of these tools, the Practice Review Tool (PRT) for the General Practice area. The goals of each PRT are to (a) assist PTs in determining their ongoing competence, (b) allow PTs to compare their knowledge, skills and abilities to current entry-level practice, (c) encourage a review of physical therapist fundamentals, and (d) guide PTs in selecting future continuing competence or continuing education opportunities based on feedback from the tool. HumRRO recently worked with FSBPT to design, develop, pilot, and administer a second PRT for the Orthopedics practice area. During this effort, HumRRO worked with subject matter experts to clearly articulate a vision for the new assessment and develop the assessment and associated administrative procedures. The PRTs comprise 100 scenario-based multiple-choice items, with each scenario describing various clinical situations and the PT answering a series of three to five related questions. Licensees receive a Completion Certificate and Candidate Feedback Report, which are given only to the licensee who took the PRT.
