NBCOT Occupational Therapy Certification Problem Solving
Exam Questions and With Distinction level Marking scheme
updated 2024/2025
What percentage of the US does NOT have access to public transportation - correct
answer 75%
Person has 10 day old new knee, they are SLOWER, so assessing walking speed for
crosswalks is the most important for community mob - correct answer N/A
AOTA's Ethics commision ONLY has authority for involvement for OTP's with
membership and at the time of the incident...who handles the issue otherwise? -
correct answer State licensing board
When you have someone doing something shady, who do you go to first? - correct
answer THEM
What is fidelity? (Two main ones, duty to and respect to) - correct answer You have
duty to your COMMITMENTS and the RESPECT of other professions
If you ask another therapist to splint for you because they are more experienced, you
are abiding by? - correct answer Non-maleficence because bad splinting can cause
harm
If you are pulling in another therapist to do power chair measurements because they're
better, it's not non maleficence it is...? - correct answer Beneficence
Dating or sleeping with a patient is a breach of? - correct answer Non Maleficence
What is the absolute worst thing AOTA can do and the least worst thing they can do for
a violation? - correct answer Best: A reprimand letter
Worse: Revoking your AOTA membership
,T or F: If you aren't a member of AOTA, you can't send in a complaint - correct answer
F, you can, but you have to list who you are complaining about
When you refer a patient to a luxurious pain relief spa 25 miles away knowing damn
well that they can't afford it or even get there, you are breathing...? - correct answer
Justice
T or F: it is acceptable to cessate therapy when you feel your morals are compromised -
correct answer False: It is only acceptable if you are in danger
What ethics is violated when keeping patients on caseload too long? - correct answer
Beneficence (they are no longer benefitting)_
Someone comes in as a student who has special requirements, what's the first thing
that is checked above everything? - correct answer If the demands can be
reasonably accounted for
Your boss telling you not to bill education for a patient is a breach of...? - correct
answer It's not a breach of anything. In face, it's following justice because it's helping
the patient get services without a charge
What two things are cold spray used for? - correct answer Txing trigger points and
increasing passive stretch of a muscle tenodn
What types of conditions would you use itontophoresis on? - correct answer
Inflammatory ones, that's why at fieldwork we used it for lateral epicondylitis
What medication does ionto use? - correct answer Dexamethasome
What is pillar pain? - correct answer Pain on either side of the carpal tunnel release
site, it might be unknown
,In the realm of nerve healing and testing, the order in which recovery occurs is...? -
correct answer 1) ONe point moving
2) One point discrim
3) Two point moving
4) Two point discrim
What angle are the MCPs in with a MCP flexion splint due to a dorsal scar? - correct
answer 90 degrees of MCP flexion
What nerve does cubital tunnel involve? What other syndrome shares this nerve? -
correct answer Cubital. And ulnar tunnel is the other.
What's double crush syndrome? - correct answer Where BOTH SIDES (proximal and
distal) of a nerve are impinged
What two motions, done without pain, indicate that they probably dont have rotator cuff
involment? - correct answer Internal and external shoulder rotation
Describe ape hand deformity (nerve and how it looks) - correct answer median nerve
injury. You cant bend PIP and DIP of digits 2 and 3.
How do you splint a mallet finger? - correct answer Put dip in hyperextension, this
provides slack for the tendon to heal.
We have a guy with a "hemiparetic hand" and you're seeing him in acute care. Your
priority should be... - correct answer "In the acute stage of recovery, passive range of
motion, positioning of the affected extremity, and bed mobility are critical components in
restoring function for ADL performance."
___-___ days post tendon repair is when the tendon is MOST at risk for ruptur - correct
answer 10-12 days
, ___-___ weeks after is the intermediate phase in which the tendons begin to regain
strength - correct answer 4-8 weeks
What two ways can you make donning a splint easier ? - correct answer 1) Using D
rings
2) Marking straps
Flexion blocking exercises improve what motion? - correct answer Flexion
A 10 year old had a zone 2 flexor tendon laceration c repair, you want to immobilize
because they cant be trusted for PROM and shit - correct answer na
Distal radius fx, when can you begin AROM (assuming good healing so far)? - correct
answer 3--6 weeks
You give someone a splint for boutinaire, you tell them to WEAR IT....(how long,
consistency, and why) - correct answer ALL THE TIME FOR 6 WEEKS.....Continuous
use of the PIP joint extension splint allows the central slip to reestablish tissue continuity
and prevents further flexion deformity.
Froment's sign (what's weak and what does it present as in terms of grip/pinch) -
correct answer Adductor pollicis is weak so they compensate by flexing IP of thumb
Wartenbergs sign (what does it look like and why) - correct answer Ulnar nerve injury,
pinky is abducted out
What kind of program can be used to treat CRPS? - correct answer Stress loading
program
CRPS symptoms include pain and what other four symptoms? - correct answer
swelling, stiffness, and sweating or weird hair growth
Exam Questions and With Distinction level Marking scheme
updated 2024/2025
What percentage of the US does NOT have access to public transportation - correct
answer 75%
Person has 10 day old new knee, they are SLOWER, so assessing walking speed for
crosswalks is the most important for community mob - correct answer N/A
AOTA's Ethics commision ONLY has authority for involvement for OTP's with
membership and at the time of the incident...who handles the issue otherwise? -
correct answer State licensing board
When you have someone doing something shady, who do you go to first? - correct
answer THEM
What is fidelity? (Two main ones, duty to and respect to) - correct answer You have
duty to your COMMITMENTS and the RESPECT of other professions
If you ask another therapist to splint for you because they are more experienced, you
are abiding by? - correct answer Non-maleficence because bad splinting can cause
harm
If you are pulling in another therapist to do power chair measurements because they're
better, it's not non maleficence it is...? - correct answer Beneficence
Dating or sleeping with a patient is a breach of? - correct answer Non Maleficence
What is the absolute worst thing AOTA can do and the least worst thing they can do for
a violation? - correct answer Best: A reprimand letter
Worse: Revoking your AOTA membership
,T or F: If you aren't a member of AOTA, you can't send in a complaint - correct answer
F, you can, but you have to list who you are complaining about
When you refer a patient to a luxurious pain relief spa 25 miles away knowing damn
well that they can't afford it or even get there, you are breathing...? - correct answer
Justice
T or F: it is acceptable to cessate therapy when you feel your morals are compromised -
correct answer False: It is only acceptable if you are in danger
What ethics is violated when keeping patients on caseload too long? - correct answer
Beneficence (they are no longer benefitting)_
Someone comes in as a student who has special requirements, what's the first thing
that is checked above everything? - correct answer If the demands can be
reasonably accounted for
Your boss telling you not to bill education for a patient is a breach of...? - correct
answer It's not a breach of anything. In face, it's following justice because it's helping
the patient get services without a charge
What two things are cold spray used for? - correct answer Txing trigger points and
increasing passive stretch of a muscle tenodn
What types of conditions would you use itontophoresis on? - correct answer
Inflammatory ones, that's why at fieldwork we used it for lateral epicondylitis
What medication does ionto use? - correct answer Dexamethasome
What is pillar pain? - correct answer Pain on either side of the carpal tunnel release
site, it might be unknown
,In the realm of nerve healing and testing, the order in which recovery occurs is...? -
correct answer 1) ONe point moving
2) One point discrim
3) Two point moving
4) Two point discrim
What angle are the MCPs in with a MCP flexion splint due to a dorsal scar? - correct
answer 90 degrees of MCP flexion
What nerve does cubital tunnel involve? What other syndrome shares this nerve? -
correct answer Cubital. And ulnar tunnel is the other.
What's double crush syndrome? - correct answer Where BOTH SIDES (proximal and
distal) of a nerve are impinged
What two motions, done without pain, indicate that they probably dont have rotator cuff
involment? - correct answer Internal and external shoulder rotation
Describe ape hand deformity (nerve and how it looks) - correct answer median nerve
injury. You cant bend PIP and DIP of digits 2 and 3.
How do you splint a mallet finger? - correct answer Put dip in hyperextension, this
provides slack for the tendon to heal.
We have a guy with a "hemiparetic hand" and you're seeing him in acute care. Your
priority should be... - correct answer "In the acute stage of recovery, passive range of
motion, positioning of the affected extremity, and bed mobility are critical components in
restoring function for ADL performance."
___-___ days post tendon repair is when the tendon is MOST at risk for ruptur - correct
answer 10-12 days
, ___-___ weeks after is the intermediate phase in which the tendons begin to regain
strength - correct answer 4-8 weeks
What two ways can you make donning a splint easier ? - correct answer 1) Using D
rings
2) Marking straps
Flexion blocking exercises improve what motion? - correct answer Flexion
A 10 year old had a zone 2 flexor tendon laceration c repair, you want to immobilize
because they cant be trusted for PROM and shit - correct answer na
Distal radius fx, when can you begin AROM (assuming good healing so far)? - correct
answer 3--6 weeks
You give someone a splint for boutinaire, you tell them to WEAR IT....(how long,
consistency, and why) - correct answer ALL THE TIME FOR 6 WEEKS.....Continuous
use of the PIP joint extension splint allows the central slip to reestablish tissue continuity
and prevents further flexion deformity.
Froment's sign (what's weak and what does it present as in terms of grip/pinch) -
correct answer Adductor pollicis is weak so they compensate by flexing IP of thumb
Wartenbergs sign (what does it look like and why) - correct answer Ulnar nerve injury,
pinky is abducted out
What kind of program can be used to treat CRPS? - correct answer Stress loading
program
CRPS symptoms include pain and what other four symptoms? - correct answer
swelling, stiffness, and sweating or weird hair growth
