State Board Anxiety -- Revisited
I recently received quite a few heartfelt responses to a blog I wrote last year on the subject of the dreaded PTA "state board licensure exam." I feel your pain, people. I vividly remember the pre/post anxiety and panic of preparing and actually taking the test.
Many readers asked about the timeliness of receiving the test results. My case was different, since I found out I passed exactly five days after the test and I heard of a few of my classmates having found out they passed through the PSBPT website as early as three days post. You want to see your license indicate "ACTIVE."
There is also the option to find out your test score early through a nominal fee of $50. However, I opted to stew in my fear and anxiety for those few days and, well -- I spent that $50 towards a "congratulatory-either-way" dinner with my husband. Whether I had passed or not, the fact that I didn't have to hide out in my "study corner" of the house for the first night in many, was reason to celebrate in itself.
As I stated in my original blog on the subject, I was petrified that I might have failed -- which is no exaggeration. I did indeed cry on the way home from the testing center, certain of this failure. I wasn't confident walking into the test as it was. I historically struggle with test-taking and scored dismally on Scorebuilders and the PEAT pre-tests. Luckily, I did pass that day and was able to shelf the whole experience as one of the more painful/stressful of my life (second only to childbirth and moving out-of-state).
Re-reading all of the comments posted by anxious readers, I certainly hope you received the same good news. However, if not -- my advice to you is to not give up! The day before I was to take the test, I posed this worst-case scenario to one of the PTs I work with. I asked, "What happens if I fail the test?" She responded (without skipping a beat), "You'll study some more and re-take the test... until you pass."
Basically, what I want to impart to you folks out there is that your journey is really just getting started. If you passed the test, my sincerest congratulations but if not, it's only a matter of time before you will. Focus your study time on your weakest topic (that was neuro for me) and be relentless. If you survived PTA school, quitting should not be in your vocabulary. You earned it. You deserve it. You will pass it. Your career is waiting for you -- don't give up now!