Quick answers: NBCE Physiotherapy
What is on the NBCE Physiotherapy exam?
The exam follows ten topic areas weighted by the NBCE's test plan: Disorder-specific Rehabilitation 14%; Functional Assessment, Muscle Rehabilitation, and Neuromuscular Rehabilitation 11% each; Thermotherapy, Electrotherapy, and Mechanotherapy 10% each; Exercise Physiology and Endurance Training 8% each; and Phototherapy 7%.
How long is the NBCE Physiotherapy exam, and what is the format?
It is an elective, computer-based exam of 90 standard multiple-choice questions. The NBCE allots 75 minutes of testing time inside a 90-minute appointment, which works out to under a minute per question. It is given at chiropractic colleges and Prometric testing centers, and the NBCE's computer-based exams are forward-only.
When is the NBCE Physiotherapy exam offered?
Physiotherapy uses the same computer-based calendar as Parts I, II, and III. The 2026 schedule has ten windows between January and November (none in May), each roughly two weeks long with an on-campus weekend inside it. You can change your appointment until 17 days out; after that the booking is locked.
Who can take the NBCE Physiotherapy exam?
You must have completed 120 hours of physiotherapy instruction before the NBCE application deadline, and the instruction must come from, or be recognized by, a chiropractic college whose students are currently eligible for NBCE exams. You may take Physiotherapy alone or alongside other NBCE exams.
How is the NBCE Physiotherapy exam scored, and what is a passing score?
Scores are on the NBCE's 125 to 800 scale. The NBCE recommends a passing score of 375, but individual states may require a higher one, so check the board in each state where you plan to practice. Scores are generally available online about four weeks after the exam.
How do I study for the NBCE Physiotherapy exam?
Study by weight and by the clock. Spread your time across all ten topic areas in proportion to their weights, take a timed 50-question practice test early, review every miss, and rehearse full 90-question pacing at about 50 seconds per item. The full plan is below.
Where can I find NBCE Physiotherapy practice test questions?
The NBCE sells one official 50-question Physiotherapy sample test for $15. It reports an overall score but does not show which questions you missed. ChiroEDU's PT practice exams are a separate product: 50-question tests, four attempts, and detailed item analysis that explains each answer, so you can see why a response was right or wrong.
These answers draw on NBCE pages: Physiotherapy · PT Test Plan · Dates · Fees. Checked September 30, 2026.
The exam at a glance
- Questions: 90 standard multiple-choice.
- Time: 75 minutes of testing (90-minute appointment). That's under a minute per question.
- Where: computer-based, at chiropractic college campuses and Prometric centers, on the same 2026 calendar as Parts I to III.
- Fee: $450.
- Scoring: 125 to 800 scale; the NBCE recommends 375 to pass, and some states require more.
Who needs it
Physiotherapy is an elective NBCE exam. You're eligible once you've completed 120 hours of physiotherapy instruction from an eligible chiropractic college before the application deadline. Whether you need it depends on the state where you plan to practice, so check that state board's requirements before you skip it. If you book Part III and Physiotherapy on the same day at a Prometric center, the NBCE says you are responsible for leaving enough time between the two appointments.
What it covers
The exam follows the NBCE's Physiotherapy test plan, which gives ten topic areas a weight. The last column is simple arithmetic on those weights (weight times 90 questions), so treat it as a planning guide, not an NBCE number.
| Topic area | What the test plan lists | Share of exam | About how many of 90 questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disorder-specific Rehabilitation | Spine and pelvis; upper extremities; lower extremities | 14% | 13 |
| Functional Assessment | Gait; movement patterns; muscle imbalances | 11% | 10 |
| Muscle Rehabilitation | Stretching; strengthening | 11% | 10 |
| Neuromuscular Rehabilitation | Balance and alignment; coordinated movement patterns; core/spine stabilization | 11% | 10 |
| Thermotherapy | Hot moist packs; ultrasound; cryotherapy | 10% | 9 |
| Electrotherapy | Interferential current; high voltage therapy; electrical muscle stimulation; TENS; microcurrent | 10% | 9 |
| Mechanotherapy | Cervical/lumbar traction; massage, vibration and trigger point therapy; bracing/orthotics; taping | 10% | 9 |
| Exercise Physiology | Neurobiology and biochemistry of training and conditioning | 8% | 7 |
| Endurance Training | Aerobic capacity and adaptation; cardiovascular rehabilitation | 8% | 7 |
| Phototherapy | Low level laser; ultraviolet | 7% | 6 |
The weights are flat: no topic is above 14% and none is below 7%. That means you can't skip a topic area and expect to make it up elsewhere. The four modality areas (Thermotherapy, Electrotherapy, Mechanotherapy, Phototherapy) together are 37% of the exam, and the rehabilitation and assessment areas are most of the rest. The NBCE also publishes a reference text list on its Physiotherapy page.
How to study for the NBCE Physiotherapy exam
With 90 questions in 75 minutes, pace matters as much as content. This plan uses only what the NBCE publishes (weights, format, timing) plus ordinary practice habits.
- Print the test plan. Turn the ten topic areas into a checklist, using the reference text list to find where your program covers each one.
- Take a timed baseline. One 50-question test on the clock shows both what you know and how fast you read. The NBCE's $15 sample test or a ChiroEDU PT exam both work.
- Split time by weight, then adjust. Give Disorder-specific Rehabilitation a bit more than the others and Phototherapy a bit less, then move hours toward the areas your baseline shows are weak.
- Group the modalities. Thermotherapy, Electrotherapy, Mechanotherapy, and Phototherapy are 37% of the exam and share a common pattern: what the modality is, its indications and contraindications, and its parameters. Study them as a set.
- Review every miss. An overall score alone doesn't tell you why an answer was wrong. Write down the reason for each miss.
- Practice the clock. 75 minutes for 90 questions is about 50 seconds each. Do at least one full-length timed set before test day, and remember you can't go back to earlier answers.
- Plan the calendar. Scheduling closes 17 days before your test date, and the NBCE's computer-based calendar is shared with Parts I, II, and III.
Before you buy outside prep, know that the NBCE says it neither endorses nor is affiliated with third-party courses or guides.
How ChiroEDU's PT course fits the plan
The NBCE's own $15 sample test gives you a score but no answer key. ChiroEDU's PT course gives you 50-question exams with detailed item analysis and four attempts, so every miss comes with an explanation. Use the first attempt as your timed baseline (step 2), the item analysis for step 5, and the later attempts for pacing practice (step 6). ChiroEDU is independent of the NBCE.
Taking PT alongside your other boards? See the full NBCE exam sequence, or the Part III guide.
Sources: NBCE Physiotherapy · PT Test Plan · Fee Schedule · CBT changes FAQ (forward-only testing) · Deadlines. Checked September 30, 2026. Verify current details on the NBCE site. ChiroEDU has no affiliation with the NBCE.