Predictors of Success in the National Physical Therapy Examination for Hispanic Doctor of Physical Therapy Students

Hispanic/Latino students often underachieve in higher education programs in the health professions and have shown lower first-time pass rates on the National Physical Therapy Examination than their White peers. A plausible explanation for this difference is the lack of English proficiency. The purpose of this study was to determine predictive academic variables for passing licensure examination on the first attempt for Hispanic/Latino Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students.

Numerous studies have been conducted to determine the factors that predict success on the National Physical Therapy Examination; however, there is a scarcity of literature on the predictors of success for Hispanic/Latino DPT students, particularly on the influence of English proficiency.

A nonprobability convenience sample of 67 Hispanic students from a single DPT program was used.

A retrospective, predictive, correlational study was conducted. Data collection was performed by secondary analysis of student academic profiles. Predictor variables included proficiency in the English language; undergraduate grade point average; verbal, quantitative, and written skills; and first-year and third-year grade point average while enrolled in the physical therapist education program.

The first-time pass rate was 59.7% (n = 40). Results showed that students who passed and those who did not pass on their first attempt differed in first-year and third-year program grade point average with large effect sizes of d = 1.13 and d = 1.48, respectively; however, third-year grade point average was the only significant independent predictor of success. English proficiency and preadmission variables did not predict first-time success.

The results suggest first-year and third-year grade point average may be used to identify at-risk students. Use of these variables is encouraged to monitor the progression of students. The study highlighted the need to identify additional predictors of performance.