NPTE Musculoskeletal Practice Questions
One area of FSBPT’s content outline · 44–54 of the 180 scored questions
225 questions across the whole content outline in 5 hours, with a score for Musculoskeletal so you know where you stand.
Free Musculoskeletal drillWhich program component best reduces the risk of noncontact ACL injury in female athletes?
Musculoskeletal System on the NPTE-PT
The musculoskeletal system is the largest area on the NPTE-PT, 44–54 of the 180 scored questions. FSBPT splits it into examination (14–18), foundations for evaluation, differential diagnosis and prognosis (15–18) and interventions (15–18). Expect clinical vignettes that ask which special test to use, what a finding means, when to refer, and how to progress a patient after injury or surgery.
- Share of the exam
- Musculoskeletal System 44–54 of the 180 scored questions (FSBPT outline, effective January 2024)
- On our mock exam
- 50 scored questions, inside FSBPT’s range
- Our drill
- 10 questions from 150 musculoskeletal questions, untimed, an explanation after every answer; one free attempt, unlimited with a pass
What Musculoskeletal System questions test
- Examination: special tests for the knee, shoulder, spine, hip, elbow, wrist and ankle, goniometry and end feel, capsular patterns, manual muscle testing, gait and posture, and outcome measures such as the Oswestry index
- Differential diagnosis and red flags: cancer, cauda equina, fracture, infection, vascular causes of neck and back pain, and visceral pain referred to the shoulder or back
- Conditions and prognosis: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, tendinopathy, rotator cuff and labral injuries, ligament sprains, pediatric hip and knee conditions, scoliosis, spondylolysis, stenosis and disc herniation
- Medical management: imaging rules (Ottawa ankle rules, Canadian C-spine rule), corticosteroids and NSAIDs, regenerative medicine such as platelet-rich plasma, and surgical protocols
- Interventions: joint mobilization grades and the convex-concave rule, manipulation prediction rules, exercise dosage, post-operative progressions after ACL reconstruction and joint replacement, and return-to-sport criteria
Sit the full exam under the real clock
225 questions across the whole content outline in 5 hours, with a score for Musculoskeletal so you know where you stand.
Free Musculoskeletal drillHow to study it
- Learn special tests in clusters by region, with what each tests and whether it is better for ruling in or ruling out.
- Know the clinical practice guidelines for low back pain, neck pain, knee osteoarthritis, patellofemoral pain and Achilles tendinopathy: most questions reward the guideline answer.
- Practice the convex-concave rule with real joints: the glide goes opposite the movement for a convex moving surface and the same way for a concave one.
- Take the musculoskeletal drill and the special tests drill several times; together they are the biggest pool of questions.
Common questions
How many musculoskeletal questions are on the NPTE?
FSBPT’s outline assigns 44–54 of the 180 scored questions to the musculoskeletal system: 14–18 on examination, 15–18 on foundations for evaluation, differential diagnosis and prognosis, and 15–18 on interventions.
Are special tests on the NPTE?
Yes. Musculoskeletal tests and measures and their applications according to current best evidence are listed under examination. Know how each test is done, what a positive result suggests and how accurate it is.
225 questions across the whole content outline in 5 hours, with a score for Musculoskeletal so you know where you stand.
Free Musculoskeletal drillThe other NPTE-PT content areas
- Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Systems
- Neuromuscular and Nervous Systems
- Integumentary System
- Other Systems and System Interactions
- Equipment, Devices and Technologies
- Therapeutic Modalities
- Safety and Protection
- Professional Responsibilities and Research
- Special tests drill
- Lab values and vital signs drill
- NPTE-PT practice exam (225 questions, 5 hours)
Sources
- FSBPT: NPTE Candidate Handbook (version 2025.02): format, timing, scoring, fees, testing limits, results
- FSBPT: NPTE-PT Test Content Outline, effective January 2024
- FSBPT: NPTE Content (outlines in effect since January 2024)
- FSBPT: Future test dates (2027 PT dates)
- FSBPT: Retake Exam
- FSBPT: Practice Exam and Assessment Tool (PEAT)
Original practice questions for exam preparation, written to the NPTE-PT Test Content Outline (effective January 2024). They are not NPTE questions or recalled questions. Independent practice, not affiliated with or endorsed by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) or Prometric. NPTE is a registered trademark of FSBPT.