Physical Therapy students post 100% first-time pass rate on national exam

By Kate Hunger 

All 38 Physical Therapy students who took the National Physical Therapy Examination this summer passed on the first try.

The school’s 100% first-time pass rate puts it in the company of a select number of programs in the country, said Department Chair and Associate Professor Greg Ernst, PT, Ph.D., ECS.

The national average pass rate was 93%. In 2019, just eight programs out of 250 had a 100% first-time pass rate, he said.

One student from the graduating class will take the exam in October.

Ernst credits the faculty, students, and area clinical instructors for the achievement.

“Our faculty is very diverse in their expertise, and so that allows them to pass that knowledge on to the students,” he said. “In particular, this year it seemed students were really committed and taking this seriously.”

Recent graduates Kevin Vallecillos, PT, DPT, and Mackenzie Cross, PT, DPT, said the program prepared them well for the exam and for the profession. 

Vallecillos works with patients recovering from brain injury or stroke. He said he appreciated learning about the professional experiences of faculty members who still practice.

“That just allowed it to be real, and they gave us plenty of opportunities to shadow our faculty and staff in their setting. I think that added another level of learning,” Vallecillos said. 

Cross, who works for a home health pediatric clinic, said the classwork helped her prepare for the exam. She also praised faculty for preparing her for clinical rotations, particularly in geriatrics, neurology and pediatrics. 

“Our faculty have a wide array of understanding in different areas of physical therapy,” she said.