Predicting Academic Difficulties and National Physical Therapy Examination Success in a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program: The Role of Admissions Variables and Course-Specific Performance.

Introduction: The rise in Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs has coincided with a decrease in applicants, creating challenges in maintaining admissions standards while ensuring student success. This study aimed to determine whether admissions variables predict academic difficulty and to assess their relationship with National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) outcomes.

Review Of Literature: A literature review suggests that undergraduate grade point average (GPA), particularly prerequisite GPA, can predict DPT performance and NPTE success, although findings are inconsistent.