PTA - PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT | NATIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY
EXAMINATION (NPTE-PTA) | QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS |
VERIFIED PHYSICAL THERAPY LATEST 2026/2027
PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT (PTA)
1. Which of the following activities falls within the scope of practice of the
physical therapist assistant?
A. Performing the initial patient examination and evaluation
B. Carrying out interventions outlined in the plan of care established by
the physical therapist
C. Determining the patient's prognosis and discharge plan
D. Changing the long-term goals when the patient improves quickly
The PTA implements the plan of care; examination, evaluation, diagnosis,
prognosis, and goal setting belong to the PT.
2. During a session, a PTA notices that the patient's condition has changed
in a way that is outside the plan of care. What is the most appropriate
action?
A. Hold the intervention and communicate the change to the
supervising physical therapist
B. Continue the planned treatment and mention the change at the next
reassessment
C. Modify the treatment based on the PTA's own judgment
D. Refer the patient back to the physician directly
Changes in status that fall outside the plan of care must be reported to the
supervising PT, who decides on any modification.
PTA Practice Examination | Page 1
,3. Which professional is responsible for interpreting a referral and
establishing the physical therapy diagnosis and prognosis?
A. Physical therapist assistant
B. Physical therapy aide
C. Physical therapist
D. Occupational therapist
Diagnosis and prognosis are components of the evaluation, which cannot be
delegated to a PTA.
4. Under HIPAA, protected health information may be shared without
written patient authorization when it is:
A. Requested by a neighbor who is concerned about the patient
B. Wanted by the patient's employer for a work update
C. Requested by a journalist covering a local story
D. Needed for treatment among the providers caring for the patient
HIPAA allows disclosure for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations
without a separate authorization.
5. A patient declines a scheduled treatment session. What should the PTA
do?
A. Explain that refusing will cause discharge and start treatment anyway
B. Respect the refusal, document it, and inform the supervising physical
therapist
C. Perform only the parts of the session the patient dislikes least without
telling the PT
D. Ignore the refusal and complete the session quickly
Patients have the right to refuse care; the PTA documents the refusal and
notifies the PT.
6. The ethical principle of autonomy refers to:
A. The patient's right to make decisions about his or her own care
B. The therapist's duty to act in the patient's best interest
C. The duty to avoid causing harm
D. The fair distribution of healthcare resources
Autonomy is respect for a patient's self-determination.
PTA Practice Examination | Page 2
,7. The ethical principle of nonmaleficence means the clinician must:
A. Tell the patient the truth at all times
B. Avoid causing harm to the patient
C. Give equal access to all patients
D. Keep promises made to the patient
Nonmaleficence is the obligation to do no harm.
8. The principle of justice in healthcare ethics is best described as:
A. Acting to benefit the patient
B. Fair and equitable treatment of patients and distribution of
resources
C. Being faithful to commitments
D. Respecting the patient's right to choose
Justice concerns fairness in how care and resources are distributed.
9. Which situation best represents negligence?
A. A patient falls despite the PTA following every safety precaution
B. A patient is unhappy with the treatment outcome
C. A PTA fails to use reasonable care, and the patient is injured as a
result
D. A PTA follows the plan of care and the patient improves slowly
Negligence requires a duty, a breach of that duty, causation, and resulting
harm.
10. Which statement belongs in the Subjective section of a SOAP note?
A. Right knee active flexion measures 0 to 105 degrees
B. The patient is progressing toward the short-term goal
C. Continue therapy three times per week
D. The patient reports pain of 6/10 in the right knee when climbing
stairs
Subjective data are what the patient or family reports; measurements are
objective.
PTA Practice Examination | Page 3
, 11. Which entry is an example of objective data in a SOAP note?
A. Active knee flexion measured at 110 degrees with a goniometer
B. The patient says the knee feels better today
C. The patient feels anxious about going home
D. The patient hopes to return to golf
Objective data are measurable and observable findings.
12. In a SOAP note, the plan section typically includes:
A. The patient's description of symptoms
B. Raw goniometric measurements
C. The patient's insurance information
D. Frequency, duration, and the interventions to be continued or
progressed
The plan describes what will happen next in the course of treatment.
13. What is the correct way to correct an error in a paper medical record?
A. Use correction fluid and rewrite the entry
B. Scribble over the error until it cannot be read
C. Draw a single line through the error, write the correction, then initial
and date it
D. Tear out the page and rewrite the note
A single line keeps the original entry legible and preserves the legal integrity
of the record.
14. Which of the following tasks may a physical therapist NOT delegate to a
physical therapist assistant?
A. Applying a hot pack as ordered
B. Instructing a patient in a home exercise program
C. Gait training with a walker
D. Performing the initial evaluation
Initial evaluation and plan-of-care development are reserved for the PT.
PTA Practice Examination | Page 4
EXAMINATION (NPTE-PTA) | QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS |
VERIFIED PHYSICAL THERAPY LATEST 2026/2027
PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT (PTA)
1. Which of the following activities falls within the scope of practice of the
physical therapist assistant?
A. Performing the initial patient examination and evaluation
B. Carrying out interventions outlined in the plan of care established by
the physical therapist
C. Determining the patient's prognosis and discharge plan
D. Changing the long-term goals when the patient improves quickly
The PTA implements the plan of care; examination, evaluation, diagnosis,
prognosis, and goal setting belong to the PT.
2. During a session, a PTA notices that the patient's condition has changed
in a way that is outside the plan of care. What is the most appropriate
action?
A. Hold the intervention and communicate the change to the
supervising physical therapist
B. Continue the planned treatment and mention the change at the next
reassessment
C. Modify the treatment based on the PTA's own judgment
D. Refer the patient back to the physician directly
Changes in status that fall outside the plan of care must be reported to the
supervising PT, who decides on any modification.
PTA Practice Examination | Page 1
,3. Which professional is responsible for interpreting a referral and
establishing the physical therapy diagnosis and prognosis?
A. Physical therapist assistant
B. Physical therapy aide
C. Physical therapist
D. Occupational therapist
Diagnosis and prognosis are components of the evaluation, which cannot be
delegated to a PTA.
4. Under HIPAA, protected health information may be shared without
written patient authorization when it is:
A. Requested by a neighbor who is concerned about the patient
B. Wanted by the patient's employer for a work update
C. Requested by a journalist covering a local story
D. Needed for treatment among the providers caring for the patient
HIPAA allows disclosure for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations
without a separate authorization.
5. A patient declines a scheduled treatment session. What should the PTA
do?
A. Explain that refusing will cause discharge and start treatment anyway
B. Respect the refusal, document it, and inform the supervising physical
therapist
C. Perform only the parts of the session the patient dislikes least without
telling the PT
D. Ignore the refusal and complete the session quickly
Patients have the right to refuse care; the PTA documents the refusal and
notifies the PT.
6. The ethical principle of autonomy refers to:
A. The patient's right to make decisions about his or her own care
B. The therapist's duty to act in the patient's best interest
C. The duty to avoid causing harm
D. The fair distribution of healthcare resources
Autonomy is respect for a patient's self-determination.
PTA Practice Examination | Page 2
,7. The ethical principle of nonmaleficence means the clinician must:
A. Tell the patient the truth at all times
B. Avoid causing harm to the patient
C. Give equal access to all patients
D. Keep promises made to the patient
Nonmaleficence is the obligation to do no harm.
8. The principle of justice in healthcare ethics is best described as:
A. Acting to benefit the patient
B. Fair and equitable treatment of patients and distribution of
resources
C. Being faithful to commitments
D. Respecting the patient's right to choose
Justice concerns fairness in how care and resources are distributed.
9. Which situation best represents negligence?
A. A patient falls despite the PTA following every safety precaution
B. A patient is unhappy with the treatment outcome
C. A PTA fails to use reasonable care, and the patient is injured as a
result
D. A PTA follows the plan of care and the patient improves slowly
Negligence requires a duty, a breach of that duty, causation, and resulting
harm.
10. Which statement belongs in the Subjective section of a SOAP note?
A. Right knee active flexion measures 0 to 105 degrees
B. The patient is progressing toward the short-term goal
C. Continue therapy three times per week
D. The patient reports pain of 6/10 in the right knee when climbing
stairs
Subjective data are what the patient or family reports; measurements are
objective.
PTA Practice Examination | Page 3
, 11. Which entry is an example of objective data in a SOAP note?
A. Active knee flexion measured at 110 degrees with a goniometer
B. The patient says the knee feels better today
C. The patient feels anxious about going home
D. The patient hopes to return to golf
Objective data are measurable and observable findings.
12. In a SOAP note, the plan section typically includes:
A. The patient's description of symptoms
B. Raw goniometric measurements
C. The patient's insurance information
D. Frequency, duration, and the interventions to be continued or
progressed
The plan describes what will happen next in the course of treatment.
13. What is the correct way to correct an error in a paper medical record?
A. Use correction fluid and rewrite the entry
B. Scribble over the error until it cannot be read
C. Draw a single line through the error, write the correction, then initial
and date it
D. Tear out the page and rewrite the note
A single line keeps the original entry legible and preserves the legal integrity
of the record.
14. Which of the following tasks may a physical therapist NOT delegate to a
physical therapist assistant?
A. Applying a hot pack as ordered
B. Instructing a patient in a home exercise program
C. Gait training with a walker
D. Performing the initial evaluation
Initial evaluation and plan-of-care development are reserved for the PT.
PTA Practice Examination | Page 4
