Does the ability to take the Board Exam/NPTE early affect your decision on which school to attend?

[okramango]

Since the NPTE (Board exam to be licensed as a physical therapist) is only offered four times per year, students who graduate in May often can't take the exam until July, and therefore sometimes can't get their license until August (depending on the licensing process in their state and how long it takes after the exam).

Some states allow PT students to take the exam early (in April) so that they can be licensed earlier, but this requires permission from their PT program, and some PT schools don't allow it, even in states that do allow it. Unfortunately, many PT students aren't even aware of this issue until they are already attending a program.

Is this issue important to you when choosing a PT program? Some of my classmates are advocating to allow more students to take the Board exam early in states that allow it, and are researching if this is important to PT school applicants and PT students when choosing a PT program. Please take this very short survey (1-2 minutes) and let us know if this is important to you. Thanks!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NP68CMB

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[starrsgirl]

Why does it require school permission if it's state regulated? Our school discourages it and our state doesn't allow it but neighboring states do. So students just drive across the border and take it early. How can a school deny that?

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Also the survey isn't opening for me.

 

[okramango]

When you apply to take the Board Exam through the state, you need to provide a letter from your PT program stating that you have completed the didactic curriculum and they are allowing you to take it early. Even though the exam/licensing is through the state, the state itself requires the letter from your program. It seems strange that students in your state can take it early in the state next to you without providing a letter from your program when they apply, but maybe that particular state doesn't require the letter? Even after graduation, when you apply to take the Boards, your PT program needs to provide a letter stating that you completed the program.

Sorry, try this link: (I changed it above as well)
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NP68CMB