What the NBCOT, NPTE, and SLP exams cover
Each exam publishes an official content outline. NBCOT’s OTR exam has four domains and the COTA exam has three, with published percentages. FSBPT’s NPTE-PT and NPTE-PTA outlines, in effect since January 2024, list item ranges by body system and nonsystem area. The Praxis Speech-Language Pathology test (5331) has three content categories of about one-third each. Read the official outlines; this page lists only their top-level headings.
Quoted from official pages checked November 10, 2026. Confirm current requirements, fees, and dates on those sites. This page is not legal advice and does not guarantee eligibility, certification, or licensure.
NBCOT (OTR and COTA)
NBCOT’s Certification Exam Handbook (PDF, ID 40 rev092526), checked November 10, 2026, states: “Exam content is derived from the results of practice analyses and developed to measure the knowledge required for practicing as an entry-level OTR or COTA professional.” It lists the domain areas and proportion of test items established for the OTR and COTA “blueprints of the certification examination content outlines from January 2024”:
OTR exam:
- “Domain 01: Evaluation and Assessment — 23%”
- “Domain 02: Analysis, Interpretation, and Planning — 23%”
- “Domain 03: Select and Manage Interventions — 38%”
- “Domain 04: Competency and Practice Management — 16%”
COTA exam:
- “Domain 01: Collaborate and Gather Information — 27%”
- “Domain 02: Select and Implement Interventions — 55%”
- “Domain 03: Uphold Professional Standards and Responsibilities — 18%”
The handbook also states: “All items on the NBCOT exams are classified according to these domain, task, and knowledge statements.” It refers readers to the “2022 OTR Examination Content Outline and 2022 COTA Examination Content Outline”, which NBCOT’s exam outline page links as PDFs (OTR, COTA). That page states: “Before studying for the exam, you should review the exam outline.” And: “There is a task and knowledge statement for each domain as well as a breakdown on the percentage of items included.” The 2022 outline PDFs show the same domain percentages as the handbook.
On format, the handbook states: “OTR: 180 items comprising a mix of three- and four-option single-response multiple-choice items and six-option multi-select scenario sets”. And: “COTA: 190 items comprising three- and four-option single-response multiple-choice items and six-option multi-select items”.
FSBPT (NPTE-PT and NPTE-PTA)
FSBPT’s NPTE Content page, checked November 10, 2026, states: “Content outlines delineate the major content areas of the examinations.” It also states: “In June 2022, FSBPT completed a new practice analysis cycle. The process resulted in important updates to the NPTE Content Outlines that went into effect in January 2024.” And: “The PT exam consists of 225 items and the PTA exam consists of 180 items.” Its FAQ states: “The NPTE-PT will have five sections of 45 questions each (total of 225 questions), with 45 pretest items scattered throughout the five sections. The NPTE-PTA will have four sections of 45 questions each (total of 180 questions), with 40 pretest items scattered throughout the four sections.”
The NPTE-PT Test Content Outline (PDF) states: “This test is designed to measure whether an examinee has the knowledge required of entry-level physical therapist practitioners.” The NPTE-PTA Test Content Outline (PDF) states: “This test is designed to measure whether an examinee has the knowledge required of entry-level physical therapist assistants working under the supervision of a physical therapist.” Both outlines break each body system into item ranges by category. The PT outline uses Physical Therapy Examination; Foundations for Evaluation, Differential Diagnosis, & Prognosis; and Interventions. The PTA outline uses Physical Therapy Data Collection; Diseases/Conditions that Impact Effective Treatment; and Interventions. The totals, copied from the outlines:
| Body system or nonsystem area | NPTE-PT | NPTE-PTA |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Systems | 22-27 | 20-27 |
| Musculoskeletal System | 44-54 | 31-40 |
| Neuromuscular & Nervous Systems | 39-48 | 27-35 |
| Integumentary System | 8-11 | 3-8 |
| Metabolic & Endocrine Systems | 4-6 | 4-6 |
| Gastrointestinal System | 3-6 | 0-4 |
| Genitourinary System | 2-5 | 0-4 |
| Lymphatic System | 4-7 | 2-6 |
| System Interactions | 8-10 | 5-7 |
| Equipment, Devices, & Technologies | 5-6 | 8-10 |
| Therapeutic Modalities | 4-6 | 5-7 |
| Safety & Protection | 5-7 | 6-8 |
| Professional Responsibilities | 4-5 | 2-4 |
| Research & Evidence-Based Practice | 3-5 | 1-3 |
| TOTAL | 180 | 140 |
The outline totals (180 and 140) match the item counts above minus the 45 and 40 pretest items FSBPT describes. Ranges are copied as printed; see each PDF for the categories inside each system.
Speech-language pathology (Praxis 5331)
ETS’s Praxis Study Companion for Speech-Language Pathology (5331) (PDF), checked November 10, 2026, lists the test at 150 minutes with 132 selected-response questions and three content categories:
- “Foundations and Professional Practice”: approximately 44 questions, 33%
- “Screening, Assessment, Evaluation, and Diagnosis”: approximately 44 questions, 33%
- “Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation of Treatment”: approximately 44 questions, 33%
The Study Companion describes the questions this way:
The questions test knowledge and its application across the “big nine” areas of practice: speech sound production; fluency; voice, resonance, and motor speech; receptive and expressive language; social aspects of communication, including pragmatics; cognitive aspects of communication; augmentative and alternative communication; hearing; and feeding and swallowing
It also states: “This test may contain some questions that will not count toward your score.”
ASHA’s National Examination Preparation page states: “The exam content, format, and passing standards will remain unchanged with the transition to PSI.” And: “Current Praxis preparation resources and practice tests remain relevant for candidates preparing for the National Audiology Examination™ or National Speech-Language Pathology Examination™ .” ASHA’s national examinations page states: “The examination questions, format, content areas, structure, and passing standards will not change.”
What this page does not do
It does not list task or knowledge statements, recommend study materials, or sell or link test-prep products. Read the official outlines linked above.