Exploration of Relationships Among the Health Sciences Reasoning Test, the National Physical Therapy Licensing Examination, and Cognitive Admission Variables

Abstract

Background and Purpose. Identifying variables that can predict success on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and help determine who should be admitted to physical therapist education programs has been an area of interest for many years. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and the grade point average (GPA) have been found to correlate with the NPTE, but they explain less than 50% of the variance in performance. The purposes of this study were to determine whether there is a relationship between performance on the Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT) and NPTE scores and to explore HSRT, GRE, and undergraduate GPA data for relationships that might enhance the admissions process. Methods. This study was a retrospective analysis of academic records of 4 cohorts. Results. A moderate bivariate correlation between the HSRT and the NPTE was identified, and a multivariable model in which the undergraduate GPA, the GPA at the end of the first year in a Doctor of Physical Therapy program, and GRE and HSRT scores were used to predict NPTE scores was demonstrated to improve model fit over that of a similar model without the HSRT. The models were used as the basis for creating an admissions decision tool. Discussion and Conclusion. Additional studies are required, but the HSRT may prove to be a valuable tool for predicting success in Doctor of Physical Therapy programs, especially for applicants whose GRE and undergraduate GPA scores are marginal.