ADA Test Accommodations

The Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") covers "public entities." The Board of Physical Therapy is a "public entity" covered by the ADA. The Board may not refuse to allow a person with a disability to take the examination simply because the person has a disability. It must permit persons with disabilities to take the examination in an integrated setting unless separate or different measures are necessary to ensure equal opportunity. It must eliminate unnecessary eligibility standards or rules that deny individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to take the examination.

The ADA provides comprehensive civil rights protections for "qualified individuals with disabilities." An "individual with a disability" is a person who: 1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a "major life activity," 2) has a record of such an impairment, or 3) is regarded as having such an impairment. "Major life activities" include functions such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. Individuals who currently engage in the illegal use of drugs are not protected by the ADA when an action is taken on the basis of their current illegal use of drugs. 

 

A "qualified" individual with a disability is one who meets the essential eligibility requirements for the examination. The Board is not required to take any action that would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of the examination or an undue financial and administrative burden. However, the Board must take any other action, if available, that would not result in a fundamental alteration or undue burdens but would ensure that individuals with disabilities receive the benefits or services.

The Board is required to make reasonable modifications in any policies, practices, and procedures that deny equal access to individuals with disabilities, unless a fundamental alteration in the examination would result. To do so, it must furnish auxiliary aids and services when necessary to ensure effective communication, unless an undue burden or fundamental alteration would result. The Board may not place special charges on individuals with disabilities to cover the costs of measures necessary to ensure nondiscriminatory treatment, such as making modifications required to provide program accessibility or providing qualified interpreters. Finally, it must operate the examination so that, when viewed in its entirety, it is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.

 

Integration of individuals with disabilities into the mainstream of society is fundamental to the purposes of the ADA. The Board may not provide the examination to individuals with disabilities through programs that are separate or different, unless the separate programs are necessary to ensure that the benefits and services are equally effective. Even when separate programs are permitted, an individual with a disability still has the right to choose to participate in the regular program. The Board cannot require an individual with a disability to accept a special accommodation or benefit if the individual chooses not to accept it.

If you have any questions about the ADA we encourage you to call the United States Department of Justice, which has an ADA information line, at (202)514-0301 (voice) or (202)514-0381/0383 (TDD). These telephone numbers are not toll-free numbers.

If you are a person with a disability, you have certain rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"). A brief summary of these rights is on the next page. It is not meant to be complete. If you have any questions about your rights under the ADA, we encourage you to call the United States Department of Justice, which has an ADA Information Line at (202) 514-0301 (voice) or (202) 514-0381 (TDD). These telephone numbers are not toll-free numbers.

The NPTE (National Physical Therapy Examination) exam administered through Prometric Testing Centers. The building is accessible to persons with physical disabilities. The examination lasts for one day for a period of approximately 5.0 hours. The exam consists of approximately 250 multiple-choice questions. 

 

The exam is timed and requires reading. You may wish to refer to the NPTE Information Bulletin at www.fsbpt.org for further details.

 

If you have any questions about the examination itself, please contact the Board of Physical Therapy office at (612) 627-5406.

The ADA requires this agency to make "reasonable accommodation" for applicants with disabilities in giving this examination. If you are a person with disability that may affect your ability to enter the examination facility or to take any portion of the examination, the ADA may require the agency to provide alternative examination arrangements. We are not required to do so if we are unaware of your need for alternatives. Based on the above description of the examination facilities and the examination itself, we ask that you inform us of any alternative arrangements you may require to take this examination. Please review the documentation guidelines and accommodations request form below: