How to Become a Physical Therapist in New Jersey
The New Jersey State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners governs all physical therapists and physical therapy assistants in the state. The board consists of eleven total members: six currently licensed physical therapists, two public members, one licensed physical therapy assistant, one state executive, and one licensed physician. Board members are appointed by the Governor and cannot serve more than two consecutive, three-year terms. The board is responsible for overseeing, regulating, and, if necessary, disciplining those practicing physical therapy.
The state of New Jersey has been experiencing growth in the field of physical therapy, with an 18% increase in the field of physical therapy assistants. New Jersey is home to around 4% of the physical therapists and physical therapy assistants in the United States. The average salaries for physical therapists and physical therapy assistants in New Jersey are in the highest percentile, coming in at $90,750 and $61,690 respectively. In order to become a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant in New Jersey, you must follow these steps:
Step 1 – Complete Your Degree
Physical Therapist:
- You must complete a physical therapy program from an accredited college or university. The degree conferred to you must be at least a master’s degree
- There are four colleges and universities in New Jersey that offer physical therapy programs:
- Rutgers University (Stratford)
- Rutgers University (Newark)
- Seton Hall University
- The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
- These programs all offer a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree
Physical Therapy Assistant:
- You must earn at least an associate in arts degree from an accredited institution
- You must also complete a physical therapist assistant program if your initial associates degree is not in the field of physical therapy
- There are three colleges in New Jersey that have physical therapy assistant programs:
- Essex County College
- Mercer County Community College
- Union County College
Step 2 – Finish Your Clinical Experience
In order to apply for your physical therapy or physical therapist assistant license, you must complete clinical experience. These clinical experiences are instrumental in helping you enter the world of physical therapy. The duration and intensity of your clinicals will depend on what school you attend and what degree that you are earning. For example, physical therapy assistants generally have much shorter clinical experience requirements than physical therapists.
Step 3 – Pass Your Exams
Before you can apply for licensure as a physical therapist or a physical therapy assistant, you must take and pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) administers both the physical therapist and the physical therapy assistant test. The lowest passing grade for both tests is a 600/800 and the fee for each test is $370. There are a set number of dates that the test is offered, which can be found on the FSBPT website.
Physical Therapist:
- The physical therapist test consists of 250 multiple choice questions
- 200 of these questions are graded and 50 are ungraded pretest questions
- The most recent pass rate for the physical therapist NPTE is 89%
Physical Therapy Assistant:
- The physical therapist assistant test consists of 200 multiple choice questions
- 150 of these questions are graded and 50 are ungraded pretest questions
- The most recent pass rate for the physical therapy assistant NPTE is 85%
You must also pass the New Jersey Jurisprudence exam before applying for licensure. This exam covers the specific laws and practices of physical therapy in New Jersey. The exam is open book and the minimum score is 80.
Step 4 – Apply for Licensure
Physical Therapist:
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You must submit the PT application packet
to the board- The application fee is $125
- You must include a passport sized photograph
- The jurisprudence exam is attached to the application packet
- You must submit to a criminal background check
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities you attended
- The application deadline is the same as the registration deadline for the NPTE test, posted on the FSBPT website
Physical Therapy Assistant:
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You must submit the PTA application packet to the board
- The application fee is $125
- You must include a passport sized photograph
- The jurisprudence exam is attached to the application packet
- You must submit to a criminal background check
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities you attended
- The application deadline is the same as the registration deadline for the NPTE test, posted on the FSBPT website
Step 5 – Maintain Licensure
Both physical therapist and physical therapy assistant licenses expire on January 31st of every even numbered year. You must submit a renewal application, along with a renewal fee. The renewal fee for physical therapists is $110 and the renewal fee for physical therapist assistant is $100. During the two years that your license is valid, you must complete at least 30 hours of continuing education. A minimum of four of those hours must be in jurisprudence and ethics. If you are initially licensed during the first year of the biannual renewal period, you must complete at least 15 hours of continuing education. If you are initially licensed during the second year of the biannual renewal period, you are not required to complete any continuing education requirements.