49 Pa. Code § 40.164 – Physical therapist assistant certification examination.

(a) Application procedure. An applicant applying for certification by examination shall comply with the following:
1. (1) {Reserved}.
2. (2) {Reserved}.
3. (3) An applicant shall successfully pass the NPTE.
4. (4) An applicant may take the NPTE up to 90 days prior to graduation from a CAPTE accredited program.
(b) Failure and re-examination. In the case of failure of examination, an applicant may retest, but may not take the NPTE more than three times in a consecutive 12-month period.
1. (1) After failing the first examination, the applicant has, after the expiration of 60 days and within 1 year of the date of the first failure, the privilege of a second examination upon the filing of a new application under subsection (a) and payment of the appropriate fee to FSBPT.
2. (2) {Reserved}.
3. (3) {Reserved}.

Authority

The provisions of this § 40.164 amended under sections 3(a), 4(a), 5, 6, 7.2, 9.1 and 11(a) of the Physical Therapy Practice Act (63 P.S. § § 1303(a), 1304(a), 1305, 1306, 1307.2, 1309.1 and 1311(a)); section 812.1 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. § 279.3a); and section 16 of the act of July 4, 2008 (P.L. 293, No. 38).

Source

The provisions of this § 40.164 adopted July 24, 1992, effective July 25, 1992, 22 Pa.B. 3872; amended August 27, 2004, effective August 28, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 4697; amended December 21, 2012, effective December 22, 2012, 42 Pa.B. 7652; amended May 18, 2018, effective May 19, 2018, 48 Pa.B. 2947; amended July 3, 2025, effective July 5, 2025, 55 Pa.B. 4542. Immediately preceeding text appears at serial pages (391965) to (391966).

Cross References

This section cited in 49 Pa. Code § 40.165 (relating to authorization to provide services as a physical therapist assistant under indirect supervision); 49 Pa. Code § 40.166 (relating to temporary certificate to provide services as a physical therapist assistant); and 49 Pa. Code § 40.191 (relating to renewal of certification).