NBCOT COTA – Certified Occupational
Therapy Assistant Exam Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. Which of the following is the primary role of a COTA in the
occupational therapy process?
A) Develop the initial plan of care
B) Implement interventions under the supervision of an OT
C) Perform independent evaluations
D) Prescribe adaptive equipment
Rationale: COTAs implement interventions and contribute to the plan
of care under the supervision of an OT.
2. A COTA is working with a client who has rheumatoid arthritis.
Which intervention is most appropriate to maintain joint function?
A) Passive range of motion exercises only
B) Active range of motion and gentle strengthening exercises
C) High-resistance strengthening exercises
D) Immobilization of affected joints
Rationale: Active ROM and gentle strengthening maintain joint
function without exacerbating inflammation.
,3. Which assessment is specifically designed to evaluate a client’s
ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs)?
A) Berg Balance Scale
B) Barthel Index
C) Purdue Pegboard Test
D) Nine-Hole Peg Test
Rationale: The Barthel Index measures independence in ADLs such as
bathing, dressing, and feeding.
4. When documenting a client’s progress, which is most important for
the COTA to include?
A) Personal opinions about the client’s motivation
B) General statements like “improving”
C) Specific measurable outcomes related to the client’s goals
D) Only information observed by the supervising OT
Rationale: Documentation should focus on measurable outcomes to
track progress objectively.
5. A client with a CVA demonstrates left-sided neglect. Which
intervention is most appropriate?
A) Encourage use of the right hand only
B) Provide visual cues and graded scanning activities
C) Avoid activities on the neglected side
D) Focus only on strengthening unaffected side
Rationale: Visual scanning and graded activities help improve
awareness of the neglected side.
,6. Which of the following is an example of a compensatory approach?
A) Hand strengthening exercises
B) Teaching a client to use a reacher to pick up items
C) PROM to maintain joint mobility
D) Sensory re-education exercises
Rationale: Compensatory approaches teach alternative ways to
complete tasks when impairments cannot be fully remediated.
7. A COTA is asked to help a child with fine motor delays. Which
activity is most appropriate?
A) Running and jumping
B) Buttoning and beading activities
C) Passive stretching of the upper limbs
D) Sensory massage of hands
Rationale: Buttoning and beading directly improve fine motor
coordination and dexterity.
8. Which term describes a client’s ability to use both sides of the body
in a coordinated manner?
A) Balance
B) Sensory integration
C) Bilateral coordination
D) Proprioception
Rationale: Bilateral coordination is the ability to use both sides of the
body together effectively.
, 9. The primary goal of splinting in hand therapy is to:
A) Reduce pain without addressing function
B) Replace lost function permanently
C) Maintain or improve joint alignment and function
D) Immobilize the hand indefinitely
Rationale: Splinting preserves joint alignment, prevents contractures,
and can assist in functional use.
10. A client recovering from a hip replacement should avoid which of
the following movements?
A) Walking with a walker
B) Hip flexion beyond 90 degrees
C) Gentle seated exercises
D) Range of motion of the unaffected leg
Rationale: Hip flexion beyond 90 degrees can dislocate the prosthesis
in the early postoperative period.
11. Which type of memory involves recalling facts and information?
A) Procedural
B) Declarative (explicit)
C) Implicit
D) Motor
Rationale: Declarative memory involves consciously recalling facts
and knowledge.
12. A COTA is working with a client with Parkinson’s disease. Which
intervention is most beneficial?
Therapy Assistant Exam Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. Which of the following is the primary role of a COTA in the
occupational therapy process?
A) Develop the initial plan of care
B) Implement interventions under the supervision of an OT
C) Perform independent evaluations
D) Prescribe adaptive equipment
Rationale: COTAs implement interventions and contribute to the plan
of care under the supervision of an OT.
2. A COTA is working with a client who has rheumatoid arthritis.
Which intervention is most appropriate to maintain joint function?
A) Passive range of motion exercises only
B) Active range of motion and gentle strengthening exercises
C) High-resistance strengthening exercises
D) Immobilization of affected joints
Rationale: Active ROM and gentle strengthening maintain joint
function without exacerbating inflammation.
,3. Which assessment is specifically designed to evaluate a client’s
ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs)?
A) Berg Balance Scale
B) Barthel Index
C) Purdue Pegboard Test
D) Nine-Hole Peg Test
Rationale: The Barthel Index measures independence in ADLs such as
bathing, dressing, and feeding.
4. When documenting a client’s progress, which is most important for
the COTA to include?
A) Personal opinions about the client’s motivation
B) General statements like “improving”
C) Specific measurable outcomes related to the client’s goals
D) Only information observed by the supervising OT
Rationale: Documentation should focus on measurable outcomes to
track progress objectively.
5. A client with a CVA demonstrates left-sided neglect. Which
intervention is most appropriate?
A) Encourage use of the right hand only
B) Provide visual cues and graded scanning activities
C) Avoid activities on the neglected side
D) Focus only on strengthening unaffected side
Rationale: Visual scanning and graded activities help improve
awareness of the neglected side.
,6. Which of the following is an example of a compensatory approach?
A) Hand strengthening exercises
B) Teaching a client to use a reacher to pick up items
C) PROM to maintain joint mobility
D) Sensory re-education exercises
Rationale: Compensatory approaches teach alternative ways to
complete tasks when impairments cannot be fully remediated.
7. A COTA is asked to help a child with fine motor delays. Which
activity is most appropriate?
A) Running and jumping
B) Buttoning and beading activities
C) Passive stretching of the upper limbs
D) Sensory massage of hands
Rationale: Buttoning and beading directly improve fine motor
coordination and dexterity.
8. Which term describes a client’s ability to use both sides of the body
in a coordinated manner?
A) Balance
B) Sensory integration
C) Bilateral coordination
D) Proprioception
Rationale: Bilateral coordination is the ability to use both sides of the
body together effectively.
, 9. The primary goal of splinting in hand therapy is to:
A) Reduce pain without addressing function
B) Replace lost function permanently
C) Maintain or improve joint alignment and function
D) Immobilize the hand indefinitely
Rationale: Splinting preserves joint alignment, prevents contractures,
and can assist in functional use.
10. A client recovering from a hip replacement should avoid which of
the following movements?
A) Walking with a walker
B) Hip flexion beyond 90 degrees
C) Gentle seated exercises
D) Range of motion of the unaffected leg
Rationale: Hip flexion beyond 90 degrees can dislocate the prosthesis
in the early postoperative period.
11. Which type of memory involves recalling facts and information?
A) Procedural
B) Declarative (explicit)
C) Implicit
D) Motor
Rationale: Declarative memory involves consciously recalling facts
and knowledge.
12. A COTA is working with a client with Parkinson’s disease. Which
intervention is most beneficial?
