Physical Therapy Board of California
US-Educated PT/PTA Applicant — New Graduate
Examination Information
The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (Federation) is the PTBC’s examination vendor. You will register, pay, receive your Authorization to Test (ATT) letter, schedule your exam date and location, and receive your examination scores from the Federation (not the PTBC) through email and/or your Federation account.
To be made eligible for the NPTE and CAL-Law, you must:
- Be within 90 days of graduation.
- Have registered and paid for the NPTE and CAL-Law through the Federation.
The Federation’s Examination Deadline Calendar
National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE)
Physical Therapist
The PT NPTE is 225 questions, and you have five hours to complete it. You may take the NPTE three times in a 12-month period.
Cost: $485.00 to the Federation; $100.30 to the Prometric testing center. No examination fees are paid to PTBC.
Physical Therapist Assistant
The PTA NPTE is 180 questions, and you have four hours to complete it. You may take the NPTE three times in a 12-month period.
Cost: $485.00 to the Federation; $82.60 to the Prometric testing center. No examination fees are paid to PTBC.
California Law Examination (CAL-Law)
The CAL-Law tests applicants’ knowledge of the laws and regulations related to the practice of physical therapy in California. It is the same for both physical therapist and physical therapist assistant applicants. The CAL-Law consists of 50 questions, and you have one hour to complete it. You may take the CAL-Law at any Prometric testing center nationwide; you do not need to be in California to sit for the CAL-Law.
Cost: $29.50 to the Federation; $29.50 to the Prometric testing center. No examination fees are paid to PTBC.
The CAL-Law study materials are compiled by PTBC in the California Laws and Regulations Related to the Practice of Physical Therapy publication. In addition, a CAL-Law content outline is available on the Federation’s website.
If you are unsuccessful at a CAL-Law exam attempt, you may register with the Federation again 15 days after the last exam date. You do not need to submit a new application to PTBC if your application is still active and has not reached its expiration date.
Additional Information
For information regarding examination preparation, day-of expectations, and more, please visit the Federation’s website.