Delta College Faculty regularly participate in their professions at the national level, as in Physical Therapist Assistant Associate Professor Christopher Hausbeck’s invitation to serve as an Item Writer for the National Physical Therapy Examinations (NPTE), administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). According to the FSBT, “Development of the NPTE is an important component of FSBPT’s mission to protect the public by providing service and leadership that promote safe and competent physical therapy practice. The contributions of Item Writers for the NPTE is critical in supporting this mission.”
Chris is ready to commit to the four-month term that includes a three-day training workshop to start. “The expectation,” he says, “is to create forty exam questions during the four-month term. The questions are reviewed and analyzed on multiple levels before eventually (hopefully) being accepted for use.”
This work is essential, Chris explains, since “passing the NPTE is required to become licensed in the field, which is necessary to work. There is a Physical Therapist version of the exam and a Physical Therapist Assistant version of the exam. Once an individual passes the exam, that person can work anywhere in the USA.”
The initial commitment for Item Writers is one-time, but, often, Chris says, “they are asked to serve for additional terms. There are multiple workshops held throughout the year with an ongoing staff of writers. The expectation is that each participant creates and submits their own questions with oversight from the Item Writer Coordinator.”
The benefit of this work goes both ways, Chris adds, “I am excited to get an insider’s perspective as to how the questions on this important national exam are constructed, so I can bring that knowledge back to my students and Physical Therapy Assistant Program at Delta College. It is also a neat way to give back to the profession.”
Delta College Faculty Association 