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Through your review of the Candidate Guide, you should already be aware that there are 200 questions on the exam. For these questions, the exam is administered during a seven hour testing session, which consists of an online tutorial (up to 10 minutes), four 1 1/2-hour test periods, an optional break after any section (up to 50 minutes of break time), and a post-test survey if any of the seven-hour allotted testing time is still available.
Here's some information on breaks, double-testing, and other accommodations.
Some of these accommodations require pre-approval, others do not.
Give Yourself a Little Break
Your 50 minutes of break time can be broken up and used partially during any of the three scheduled break periods following the completion of one of the four 1 1/2-hour testing.
For example, following the completion of testing block one, you may opt to use 15 minutes of your allotted break time; following the completion of testing block 2 you may opt to then use 20 minutes more of your allotted break time; and following the completion of block 3 you would still have up to 15 minutes more break time to use at your discretion. So there is quite a bit of flexibility with allotted provided breaktime.
Here is another item you can take advantage of to give yourself additional break time. If you go through the examination tutorial prior to your examination date, instead of waiting to do so on site at the testing center, this additional 10 minutes can be added to your available break time. The tutorial is available to all candidates through the ABPTS website and can be accessed whenever and as many times as candidates would like prior to their examination date. Access the tutorial.
Finally, please also note that if you finish a testing block early, while any unused testing time cannot be allocated to another testing block, this unused testing time will be added to your available break.
Particularly relevant for those individuals looking to secure an optimal level of break time (eg, nursing mothers, individuals with health conditions requiring periodic breaks, etc.)
You may take unscheduled breaks, but please be advised that this does not stop the test timer on your examination. Unscheduled breaks while permitted, will be noted by the proctor.
Accommodations
Preapproval is not required for the following items:
- Hearing aid/cochlear implant without Bluetooth/wireless capability
- Vocal cord magnifiers
Pre-approval for double-time testing is needed.
Individuals who may require more time for testing, may request an additional test day. You will need to have a physician complete the Documentation for Disability Related Needs form in order to have this accommodation approved.
For double testing time, examinations are administered to candidates on two consecutive days.
Part One of the exam will be administered on Day One. Part Two will be administered the next consecutive day. You will be given six hours to complete Part One of the examination on Day One.
On Day Two, you will be given six hours to complete Part Two of the exam. Part Two and Part Two of the examination each contain 100 questions (broken into two blocks of 50 questions each) for a total of about 200 questions in the examination.
There are only two blocks each day for double testing time. You will have a 50 minute break each day after the first block of your examination.
Preapproval is not required for the following items:
- Catheter
- Colostomy bag
- Heart rate monitor
- Insulin pump
- Oxygen tank
- Spinal cord stimulator
- TENS units
- Urine drainage bag
Preapproval is not required for the following items:
- Arm/shoulder sling
- Bandages
- Braces – neck, back, wrist, leg or ankle
- Casts/cervical collar
- Earplugs (foam with no strings)
- Epi-Pen
- Eye patches
- Eyeglasses (without the case)
- Glucose monitor
- Handheld magnifying glass (non-electric, no case)
- Ice packs/heating pads
- Medical alert bracelet
- Pillow/lumbar support
- Stool for elevating a limb
- Surgical face
Preapproval is not required for the following items:
- Cough drops (must be unwrapped and not in a bottle/container)
- Epi-Pen
- Eye drops
- Glucose tablets
- Inhaler
- Nitroglycerin tablets
- Pills (must be unwrapped and not in a bottle/container)
Preapproval is not required for the following items:
- Cane
- Crutches
- Walker
- Wheelchair
Preapproval is needed for a nursing room to be made available.
If a nursing room is needed during testing, you should indicate this on your application in the accommodations section.
APTA program staff on your behalf, will coordinate with the testing agency to assure this is organized ahead of schedule.
Prometric centers normally have several "booths" or cubicles in a single room. Any candidate who needs a separate room for testing can request so, once scheduling permits are issued.
Anyone in need of a separate testing room will need to request this during their application process. Preapproval from ABPTS is required to receive a separate testing room.
Upon receiving your scheduling permit, contact a Prometric testing center from the list. Their staff will provide candidates with a list of centers in their geographic area that offer separate testing room accommodations, which may be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
Preapproval is not required for the following items:
- Service Animal