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Educational Videos


	2008 Symposium: "Spinal Manipulation: Thrusting Physical Therapy Forward" More Info

	The Scan: Based on the NAIOMT Scanning Examination More Info

	2006 Symposium: "An Integrated Approach to Manual Therapy Techniques of the Thorax" More Info

Exam Information

The information below outlines the structure of the NAIOMT exam and certification process. A Level III certification (or equivalent) is required to enroll in Level IV coursework. You can find a complete explanation of the Level IV pre-requisites on the course description page.

Please note: it is NOT necessary to take NAIOMT exams unless you are pursuing certification or want to go on to Level IV coursework.

	Overview

	Exam Process & Scheduling

	Online Exams

	Level III Exams

	Level IV Exams

	Grading

	Cancellation, Date Change, Cancelling Course Policies

Overview


	The NAIOMT examinations follow core courses 500-800 (Levels I-IV). A certificate is granted after successful completion of the Level I and II exams. Level III Exams include a written exam, submission of case histories, and an oral/practical exam. The physical therapist earns a certification and may use the NAIOMT initials CMPT (NAIOMT certified manual physical therapist) after successfully completing all Level III exams. Successful completion of the online exams are required to apply for the Level III exams. For Level IV certification, a student must successfully complete all NAIOMT exams. After completion of the Level IV Oral Practical exam, the physical therapist may use the initials COMT (NAIOMT-certified orthopaedic manual/manipulative therapist). The COMT may undertake Instructor or Clinical Fellowship Instructor training with NAIOMT. The three established levels of examinations are designed to be taken at the conclusion of preceding course work and in sequence. A student may challenge an examination without completing the entire course work, although this is not recommended.

	Please note: Andrews University Students working toward a NAIOMT Certification should contact the NAIOMT Exam Coordinator for details regarding financial and academic obligations.

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Exam Process and Scheduling

	Written exams are generally scheduled at least twice a year. Level III Case Histories are due on the same dates. The Level III and IV practical exams are also offered at least twice a year. If there are a number of students in one area that are interested in taking the practical exam, these may be arranged regionally. Six months notice is required to schedule a regional practical exam. Examination dates are set by the examination committee and administered by the examination coordinator. Examination costs and dates may be found on the current examination schedule. It is important to honor all deadline dates when applying for an examination. Site coordinators and volunteer models assist the oral practical examination coordination. Volunteer proctors assist the written examinations. Candidates taking the written examinations obtain their own proctors. NAIOMT will have final approval of proctor selection. Informative exam packets may be obtained from the examination coordinator. These individual packets contain examples of past examinations and/or case history guidelines. The online exam packet is available for download in the section below. For more informaiton contact NAIOMT or Email Exam Coordinator

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Online Internet Exams

Exams Available Online:

LI 500
LIIUQ 600
LIILQ 610

Prerequisites: None
Recommendations: Levels I and II curriculum
Scheduling: Exams are generally offered five times per year and can be taken all together or separately as the candidate chooses. Candidates must register and pay online before the deadline. Candidates may choose any location with a computer and internet access.

Format:

Each exam consists of a 100 questions, focusing on the material covered in the course of the same number (i.e. LI 500 covers material from level I/500 course)
Questions are in multiple choice, true/false and matching formats.
The pass mark for each exam is 70%
Tests must be proctored by an individual who can verify appropriate testing conditions and administer the exam. See FAQs for more info.

For a full explanation and sample questions you can download our Guide to Taking I-Tests.

General Information :

Each exam is designed to be taken after completion of the NAIOMT course work
A “Level II” certificate of completion is sent when all three (3) I-tests are passed.
Completion of these I-tests is recommended but NOT required before taking Level III (700, 710, 720) classes.
Proof of completion of the three online exams (500, 600, 610) is required before applying to any part of the NAIOMT Level III examination process.
Completion of the Level II examination or the three online exams does NOT permit the candidate to state they are “NAIOMT certified.” Certification within NAIOMT is only awarded after completing the Level III and Level IV examinations.
There is no limit to the number of times you can submit the fee and take an exam and no limit as to how many different exams you can take on any one day. You cannot, however, repeat an exam on the same day.
The online exams are equally as challenging as the old written version. Of the 291 exams taken in 2009 the approximate grade distribution was as follows:

•    Pass with Distinction (A, 90%+): 3% of exams
•    Good Pass (B, 80%+): 30% of exams
•    Pass (C, 70%+): 49% of exams
•    Non Pass (D, <70%): 19% of exams

Level III Intermediate Exams


	Prerequisites: Pass preliminary examinations (online exam series) Recommendations: Levels I, II and III course work Scope: Levels I, II and III curriculum, sciences, examination methods, treatment protocols, and techniques. The following exams may be taken in any order:
	Three written case histories Three-hour written essay style exam One and one-half hour, four station oral practical exam. Minimum of 2-4 examiners and one physician examiner

	Scheduling: Generally the written exam and case histories are held twice per year in March and October. Location:The Oral Practicals are scheduled regularly based on demand, but there is usually an exam in Portland, OR in December each year. Proctor: Refer to Online Exams FAQ. Fees & dates: Refer to current exam schedule on web site.

	Once any portion of the LIII exam has been taken, the candidate has five years to complete the remaining two portions. A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the three Exams. The physical therapist is then a Certified Manual Physical Therapist and can use the initials CMPT.

	2009 Grade Distributions: Of the 74 written exams taken in 2009 the approximate grade distribution was as follows:
	• Pass with Distinction (A, 90%+): 12% of exams • Good Pass (B, 80%+): 38% of exams • Pass (C, 70%+): 38% of exams • Non Pass (D, <70%): 12% of exams

	Of the 146 individual case histories submitted in 2009 the approximate grade distribution was as follows:
	• Pass (70%+): 79% of submissions • Non Pass (<70%): 21% of submissions

	Of the 146 Intermediate Oral Practical Examinations taken in 2009 the approximate grade distribution was as follows:
	• Pass with Distinction (A, 90%+): 24% of exams • Good Pass (B, 80%+): 39% of exams • Pass (C, 70%+): 25% of exams • Non Pass (D, <70% or safety fail): 12% of exams

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Level IV Exams


	Prerequisites: Pass all three LIII Intermediate Exams Recommendations: Levels I, II, III and IV curriculum, sciences examination and treatment protocols and techniques including spinal manipulation (thrust). Format: One and one-half hour four-station oral practical exam. Oral practical exams have a minimum of 2-4 examiners and one physician examiner. Fees & dates: Refer to current exam schedule

	A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the LIV Advanced Examination. The physical therapist is now a Certified Orthopaedic Manual/Manipulative Therapist and can use the initials COMT.

	Of all the Advanced Oral Practical Examinations taken in 2008 the approximate grade distribution was as follows:
	• Pass with Distinction (A, 90%+): 21% of exams • Pass (B, 80%+): 64% of exams • Non Pass (D, <80% or safety fail): 14% of exams

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Grading

For the following examinations:

Level III Essay written, Level III Case Studies
Level III Oral Practical examination
Levels I, II, and III Internet examinations
Andrews University transfer of examination credits

Examination grades will be:

Pass	> 70%	grade C
Good Pass	> 80%	grade B
With Distinction	> 90%	grade A

For the following examinations:

Level IV Advanced Oral Practical

Examination grades will be:

Good Pass	> 80%	grade B
With Distinction	> 90%	grade A

The Pass mark will be 70% or above.The Good Pass or "B" grade is important for those candidates using the NAIOMT exams for credits to advanced degrees, as it is a minimum grade for earning credits.

For the Advanced Level IV Examinations:

Level IV Advanced Oral Practical

Cancellation, Date Change, Challenging Course Policies

Exam Cancellation
A full refund minus $20 administrative fee will be granted up to one (1) week prior to the examination when cancelling an exam. Thereafter no refunds are provided.

Exam Date Change
Changing an examination date can be done up to one (1) week prior to an examination with an additional charge of $20.00. Thereafter no date changes can be made. When requesting a date change, please provide the date of the future exam you wish to take - your request will not be accepted unless you do so. Only one date change per exam type is acceptable. A written explanation provided by email to, exams@naiomt.com is required for both a cancellation and date change.

Exam Date Change fees can be made online. Go to the "Exams" page and click the "Registration" link at the top left. Find "Follow Up Payments" section and select "Make Payment Here". Be sure to place in the comment section of the payment page your explanation for a date change. Otherwise your request will not be processed.

The above date change and cancellation policies apply to all exams, except for the LIII and LIV Oral Practical exams. See below for more information.

Cancellation Policy for LIII and LIV Oral Practical Exams:
If you are not able to pay the full application fee at the time of submitting your application, you may submit a $500 NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT with your application. The balance is due 12 weeks prior to the exam date or the candidate risks forfeiture of their deposit and time slot. Cancellation may jeopardize the running of the exam; therefore candidate cancellation on or after the 12-week deadline may result in the loss of both the deposit and the remaining examination fee if another candidate cannot fill the vacant time slot. NAIOMT reserves the right to cancel oral practical exams due to lack of
registrants.

No date change fee is applied to LIII and LIV oral practical exams.

Challenging Course Policies
If you are pursuing examination and plan not to attend certain NAIOMT core courses you are required to pay a one-time $15.00 per day per course fee ($90.00 - Core courses run 6 days) for all related courses not attended at the time you register for the exam. Follow the above directions for "Follow-Up Payments".