Neurologic Physical Therapy Specialist Certification

Examination Content Outline

The questions on the examination will be approximately distributed according to the following percentages of content areas. This is an approximation only and may not represent the exact distribution of test questions on the exam. All questions on the exam relate to the competencies outlined in the book Description of Specialty Practice (DSP) Neurologic Physical Therapy.

I. Knowledge Areas (8%)

1. Foundation Sciences
2. Behavioral Sciences
3. Clinical Sciences

II. Practice Expectations (92%)

• Professional Roles, Responsibilities, and Values
  • Leadership (4%)
  • Virtuous Behavior-commitment, caring, and compassion (2%) 
  • Education (5%) 
  • Consultation (4%) 
  • Evidence-Based Practice (6%) 
• Patient/Client Management
  • Examination (25%) 
  • Evaluation/Diagnosis/Prognosis (12%)
  • Intervention (28%)
  • Outcomes (6%) 

Total  100

Medical Conditions

The medical conditions that may be represented on the examination include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Balance and vestibular disorders
• Congenital and acquired conditions of childhood (cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, genetic disorders)
• Congential and acquired conditions of adolescence and adulthood
  • Cerebral vascular accident
  • Traumatic brain injury
• Progressive disorders of the central nervous system
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Parkinson disease
• Acute or chronic peripheral neuropathies (post-polio syndrome, Guillain-Barre syndrome)
• Spinal cord injury 

Pediatric Physical Therapy Specialist Certification

Examination Content Outline

The following is a summary indicating the percent of exam content of each competency area.  Questions from these areas may reflect any of the linkages of the practice expectations with tests and measures and interventions.

Individual’s taking the Pediatric Specialty Examination should understand there are differences in the terminology used in the IDEA¹ and the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice.²,³  Individuals should note the age of the child and the practice setting to understand and use appropriate terminology.  For example, for a 30 month-old child in an early intervention program the term “evaluation” would imply determining program eligibility, however, if the child is in an outpatient physical therapy clinic “evaluation” would imply making a clinical judgment for the purpose of establishing the diagnosis and prognosis

1.        Practice Expectations (50%) 

The following area will encompass 15% of the questions:

•       Ethical/Legal

The following areas will encompass 55% of the questions:

•       Elements of Patient/Client Management  
  •     Examination 
  •     Evaluation/Diagnosis 
  •     Prognosis/Outcomes 
  •     Clinical Reasoning

The following areas will compass 30% of the questions:

•       Other Professional Roles
  •       Consultation 
  •       Education
  •       Critical Inquiry
  •       Administration

2. Test and Measures (20%)

• Analysis of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Function 
• Analysis of Posture 
• Assessment of Motor Skills 
• Assessment of Arousal, Attention, and Cognition
• Analysis of Devices/Assistive Technology 
• Analysis of Environment and Tasks 
• Analysis of Gait 
• Musculoskeletal Assessment 
• Orthotic, Prosthetic, and Protective Devices 
• Self Care and Home Management

3. Intervention Skills (30%)

• Coordination, Communication, and Documentation 
• Patient/Client Related Instruction 
• Direct Interventions 
• Functional Training 
• Therapeutic Exercise & Manual Therapy Techniques 
• Prescription, Application, Fabrication of Devices and Equipment 
• Motor Performance 
• Wound Management 
• Electrotherapeutic Modalities 
• Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Techniques

TOTAL  - 100