Sports Medicine EOPA
SPORTS MEDICINE END OF PATHWAY ASSESSMENT (EOPA)
| EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | VERIFIED
SPORTS MEDICINE LATEST 2026/2027
SPORTS MEDICINE
END OF PATHWAY ASSESSMENT (EOPA)
1. Which professional is primarily responsible for the prevention,
emergency care, clinical diagnosis, and rehabilitation of injuries in
athletes and physically active individuals?
A. Strength and conditioning coach
B. Sports psychologist
C. Certified athletic trainer
D. Exercise physiologist
C. Certified athletic trainer
The certified athletic trainer covers the full continuum of care from
prevention through return to play.
2. Athletic trainers in the United States must pass the certification
exam administered by which organization?
A. Board of Certification (BOC)
B. American Red Cross
C. National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
D. American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
A. Board of Certification (BOC)
The BOC administers the national certification exam for entry-level
athletic trainers.
Page 1 of 52
, Sports Medicine EOPA
3. An athletic trainer works under the direction of which professional?
A. A physical therapist
B. A licensed physician
C. The athletic director
D. The head coach
B. A licensed physician
Athletic trainers practice under the direction of, and in collaboration
with, a physician.
4. Which sports medicine professional would most likely design a
program to improve an athlete's speed, strength, and power?
A. Registered dietitian
B. Orthopedic surgeon
C. Athletic training student aide
D. Strength and conditioning specialist
D. Strength and conditioning specialist
Strength and conditioning specialists design performance-enhancing
training programs.
5. A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and surgically treating
disorders of bones and joints is called a(n):
A. Podiatrist
B. Neurologist
C. Orthopedist
D. Dermatologist
C. Orthopedist
Orthopedists specialize in the musculoskeletal system, including
surgery of bones and joints.
6. Which professional is best qualified to evaluate and treat problems
of the foot and ankle, including prescribing custom orthotics?
A. Podiatrist
B. Chiropractor
C. Optometrist
D. Massage therapist
A. Podiatrist
A podiatrist (DPM) specializes in the foot and ankle and commonly
prescribes orthotics.
Page 2 of 52
, Sports Medicine EOPA
7. Which entry-level degree is now required to become a certified
athletic trainer?
A. Master's degree from a CAATE-accredited program
B. High school sports medicine certificate
C. Bachelor's degree in any health field
D. Associate degree in exercise science
A. Master's degree from a CAATE-accredited program
Entry-level professional athletic training education is now at the
master's level through CAATE-accredited programs.
8. The professional who helps athletes manage performance anxiety,
motivation, and coping after injury is a:
A. Sports psychologist
B. Biomechanist
C. Physician assistant
D. Equipment manager
A. Sports psychologist
Sports psychologists address the mental and emotional aspects of
performance and injury recovery.
9. Which member of the sports medicine team is usually the first
person to respond when an athlete is injured during practice?
A. Athletic trainer
B. Athletic director
C. Team physician
D. Emergency room nurse
A. Athletic trainer
The athletic trainer is typically on site and first to respond to injuries
at practices and games.
Page 3 of 52
, Sports Medicine EOPA
10. The governing body that accredits professional athletic training
education programs is the:
A. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
B. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
C. National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA)
D. Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
(CAATE)
D. Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
(CAATE)
CAATE accredits athletic training education programs; NATA is the
professional membership association.
SECTION 2: MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
11. The suffix "-itis" means:
A. Inflammation
B. Removal
C. Study of
D. Pain
A. Inflammation
"-itis" denotes inflammation, as in tendinitis or bursitis.
12. The prefix "hyper-" means:
A. Within
B. Above or excessive
C. Below or deficient
D. Around
B. Above or excessive
"Hyper-" means above normal or excessive, as in hyperextension.
13. "Arthroscopy" refers to:
A. Surgical removal of a joint
B. Visual examination of the inside of a joint
C. Fusion of a joint
D. Inflammation of a joint
B. Visual examination of the inside of a joint
Arthro- (joint) plus -scopy (visual examination).
Page 4 of 52
SPORTS MEDICINE END OF PATHWAY ASSESSMENT (EOPA)
| EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | VERIFIED
SPORTS MEDICINE LATEST 2026/2027
SPORTS MEDICINE
END OF PATHWAY ASSESSMENT (EOPA)
1. Which professional is primarily responsible for the prevention,
emergency care, clinical diagnosis, and rehabilitation of injuries in
athletes and physically active individuals?
A. Strength and conditioning coach
B. Sports psychologist
C. Certified athletic trainer
D. Exercise physiologist
C. Certified athletic trainer
The certified athletic trainer covers the full continuum of care from
prevention through return to play.
2. Athletic trainers in the United States must pass the certification
exam administered by which organization?
A. Board of Certification (BOC)
B. American Red Cross
C. National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
D. American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
A. Board of Certification (BOC)
The BOC administers the national certification exam for entry-level
athletic trainers.
Page 1 of 52
, Sports Medicine EOPA
3. An athletic trainer works under the direction of which professional?
A. A physical therapist
B. A licensed physician
C. The athletic director
D. The head coach
B. A licensed physician
Athletic trainers practice under the direction of, and in collaboration
with, a physician.
4. Which sports medicine professional would most likely design a
program to improve an athlete's speed, strength, and power?
A. Registered dietitian
B. Orthopedic surgeon
C. Athletic training student aide
D. Strength and conditioning specialist
D. Strength and conditioning specialist
Strength and conditioning specialists design performance-enhancing
training programs.
5. A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and surgically treating
disorders of bones and joints is called a(n):
A. Podiatrist
B. Neurologist
C. Orthopedist
D. Dermatologist
C. Orthopedist
Orthopedists specialize in the musculoskeletal system, including
surgery of bones and joints.
6. Which professional is best qualified to evaluate and treat problems
of the foot and ankle, including prescribing custom orthotics?
A. Podiatrist
B. Chiropractor
C. Optometrist
D. Massage therapist
A. Podiatrist
A podiatrist (DPM) specializes in the foot and ankle and commonly
prescribes orthotics.
Page 2 of 52
, Sports Medicine EOPA
7. Which entry-level degree is now required to become a certified
athletic trainer?
A. Master's degree from a CAATE-accredited program
B. High school sports medicine certificate
C. Bachelor's degree in any health field
D. Associate degree in exercise science
A. Master's degree from a CAATE-accredited program
Entry-level professional athletic training education is now at the
master's level through CAATE-accredited programs.
8. The professional who helps athletes manage performance anxiety,
motivation, and coping after injury is a:
A. Sports psychologist
B. Biomechanist
C. Physician assistant
D. Equipment manager
A. Sports psychologist
Sports psychologists address the mental and emotional aspects of
performance and injury recovery.
9. Which member of the sports medicine team is usually the first
person to respond when an athlete is injured during practice?
A. Athletic trainer
B. Athletic director
C. Team physician
D. Emergency room nurse
A. Athletic trainer
The athletic trainer is typically on site and first to respond to injuries
at practices and games.
Page 3 of 52
, Sports Medicine EOPA
10. The governing body that accredits professional athletic training
education programs is the:
A. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
B. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
C. National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA)
D. Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
(CAATE)
D. Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
(CAATE)
CAATE accredits athletic training education programs; NATA is the
professional membership association.
SECTION 2: MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
11. The suffix "-itis" means:
A. Inflammation
B. Removal
C. Study of
D. Pain
A. Inflammation
"-itis" denotes inflammation, as in tendinitis or bursitis.
12. The prefix "hyper-" means:
A. Within
B. Above or excessive
C. Below or deficient
D. Around
B. Above or excessive
"Hyper-" means above normal or excessive, as in hyperextension.
13. "Arthroscopy" refers to:
A. Surgical removal of a joint
B. Visual examination of the inside of a joint
C. Fusion of a joint
D. Inflammation of a joint
B. Visual examination of the inside of a joint
Arthro- (joint) plus -scopy (visual examination).
Page 4 of 52
