WVU Physical Therapy students earn perfect first-time pass rate on national board exam

All 38 members of the West Virginia University Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2016 passed the National Physical Therapy Examination on the first attempt. Two earned perfect scores on the examination.

"The expertise of the WVU staff, the rigor of the didactic course work, and the constant correlation of course work to clinical scenarios are what I feel prepared me for the both the exam and the work place,” Emily Hargreaves, DPT, said. “The comprehensive review and comprehensive exam during the fall semester of your third year give a great idea of what your strengths and weaknesses are as a student so that you can optimally prepare."

Passing the National Physical Therapy Exam is a requirement for licensure to practice physical therapy in all 50 states. The 250-item, computer-based examination tests graduates on their knowledge of patient/client management, including examination, evaluation, diagnosis and prognosis, and physical therapy interventions, across all body systems.

“As Emily said, this is a team effort between faculty and students,” MaryBeth Mandich, Ph.D., D.P.T., vice dean, Professional Programs and chair, Division of Physical Therapy. “We are proud of the students we get and their performance. I am also proud of the dedication of the faculty who go above and beyond every day to assure excellence in physical therapy education.”

The national first-time pass rate this year was 94 percent. The mean scaled score of WVU physical pherapy graduates was 18 points higher the national average. WVU graduates exceeded the national average in the following content areas: patient examination, evaluation/differential diagnosis/prognosis, non-system domains, cardiovascular/pulmonary system, and other body systems.

For more information about the program, visit the School of Medicine’s Division of Physical Therapy website: medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/students/professional-programs/.  For news and information on the WVU School of Medicine, follow us on twitter @WVUMedSchool, like us on Facebook or visit medicine.hsc.wvu.edu.