1. (1) The licensure examination for physical therapists shall be the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for Physical Therapists developed by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). The licensure examination for physical therapist assistants shall be the National Physical Therapy Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants developed by the FSBPT. An applicant for licensure by examination who has previously taken and passed the NPTE examination, or predecessor exam recognized by the Board as preceding the NPTE examination, is not required to take the NPTE examination again.

2. (2) Florida Laws and Rules Examination.

   1. (a) Applicants for licensure by examination, and foreign applicants by endorsement, are required to take and pass the Florida Laws and Rules Examination developed by the FSBPT. Passing scores on the Laws and Rules Examination are set by the FSBPT and will not be accepted if more than two years have passed since the Applicant has taken and passed the examination.

   2. (b) The Florida Laws and Rules Examination has 40 scored questions and the content and approximate weights are:

      1. Legislative Intent and Definitions 25%,

      2. Board Powers and Duties 5%,

      3. Licensure and Examination 7.5%,

      4. Patient Care 35%,

      5. Disciplinary Action and Unlawful Practice 15%; and,

      6. Consumer Advocacy 12.5%.

3. (3) Passing Scores.

   1. (a) Passing scores on the NPTE and Florida Laws and Rules Examination are determined by the FSBPT. In determining whether an applicant has received a passing score, the Board will use the information contained in the applicant’s FSBPT Score Report.
   2. (b) In cases where an applicant’s Score Report does not state “pass” or “fail,” the Board will deem an applicant to have passed the examination if the applicant’s raw scaled score is not less than one point five (1.5) standard deviations below the national average for that examination offering.

4. (4) Examination retakes.

   1. (a) In order to retake either the NPTE or the Florida Laws and Rules Examination, an applicant must reapply, using DOH Form #DH-MQA 1143, Re-Examination Application for Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant, Revised 05/2025, incorporated by reference, which is available through HYPERLINK "http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18416"http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18416, or www.floridasphysicaltherapy.gov/resources.
   2. (b) If an applicant has failed to obtain a passing score on the NPTE and wishes to take the NPTE examination for the fourth time, the applicant must complete a remedial course of study or internship designed to prepare the applicant for the physical therapy examination after the last failed examination and submit evidence of completion to the Board for approval. An applicant who has completed the additional requirements may take the examination on two more occasions.

Rulemaking Authority 456.017, 486.025, 486.051, 486.081, 486.104 FS. Law Implemented 456.017, 456.0635, 486.031, 486.051, 486.102, 486.104 FS. History–New 8-6-84, Formerly 21M-7.22, Amended 3-16-88, 6-20-89, Formerly 21M-7.022, Amended 6-6-90, 6-3-92, 3-24-93, Formerly 21MM-3.002, 61F11-3.002, Amended 12-22-94, Formerly 59Y-3.002, Amended 2-14-02, 4-23-02, 12-5-04, 4-9-06, 1-7-07, 6-27-07, 5-21-09, 8-10-09, 6-29-10, 2-14-17, 2-24-21, 8-14-25, Technical Change 2-25-26.