NPTE physical therapist (PT) or physical therapist
assistant (PTA) license Exam test preparation
Questions and Answers 2024/2025
A physical therapist prepares to administer the test to a patient with a
suspected meniscal tear in the right knee. Which activity would occur first
when administering this test?
1. Administer the test on the left extremity with the knee in 20° of flexion.
2. Administer the test on the left extremity with the knee in 45° of flexion.
3. Administer the test on the right extremity with the knee in 20° of flexion.
4. Administer the test on the right extremity with the knee in 45° of flexion. -
correct answer 1. Administer the test on the left extremity with the knee in
20° of flexion.
A physical therapist examines a 6-month-old with down syndrome. Which of
the following medical problems is most likely to further delay gross motor
development in this population?
1. Congenital heart defects
2. Seizure disorder
3. Atlantoaxial instability
4. Obesity - correct answer 1. Congenital heart defects
A 73-year-old male patient receiving outpatient physical therapy begins to
experience acute angina. The patient indicates he uses nitroglycerin to
alleviate the angina. What is the most appropriate mode of administration?
1. Oral
2. Buccal
3. Sublingual
4. Topical - correct answer 3. Sublingual
,A female patient with osteopenia is placed on hormone replacement therapy
by her physician. Hormone replacement therapy places the patient at greatest
risk for which of the following conditions?
1. Anneurysm
2. Deep vein thrombosis
3. Vertebral compression fracture
4. Colon cancer - correct answer 2. Deep vein thrombosis
Recent diagnostic imaging identified the presence of a glenoid labral tear.
Which diagnostic imaging method would have most likely been used to
identify this condition?
1. Arthrogram
2. X-ray
3. Doppler ultrasound
4. Bone scan - correct answer 1. Arthrogram
A physical therapist performs goniometric measurements for elbow flexion
with a patient in supine. In order to isolate elbow flexion, which structure
should the therapist stabilize?
1. Distal end of the humerus
2. Proximal end of the humerus
3. Distal end of the ulna
4. Proximal end of the radius - correct answer 1. Distal end of the humerus
A physical therapist administers the berg balance scale with a patient status
post right cva prior to discharge from a rehabilitation facility. The patient
scored a total score of 39. What should the therapist conclude?
1. The patient will require a low burden of care once discharged home.
, 2. The patient will have difficulty independently reaching for objects
3. The patient is at significant risk for multiple or recurrent falls
4. The patient will require assistance during ambulation - correct answer 3.
The patient is at significant risk for multiple or recurrent falls
A physical therapist implements an exercise program that includes a five-
minute cool down period. What does the inclusion of a cool down period assist
with?
1. Increasing mitochondrial number and size
2. Dilation of constricted capillaries
3. Increasing maximum oxygen consumption
4. Preventing pooling of the blood in the extremities - correct answer 4.
Preventing pooling of the blood in the extremities
A physical therapist treats a six-month-old infant that has a rough, slightly
protruding reddish-purple lesion on the right lower side of their face. What is
the most appropriate term for this type of marking?
1. Dermatitis
2. Hemangioma
3. Nevus
4. Rosacea - correct answer 2. Hemangioma
An infant with developmental dysplasia of the hip is referred to physical
therapy. Which of the following devices would the infant most likely use to
reduce a dislocated hip?
1. Adductor splint
2. Abductor pillow
3. Pavlik harness
4. Scottish-rite orthotic - correct answer 3. Pavlik harness
assistant (PTA) license Exam test preparation
Questions and Answers 2024/2025
A physical therapist prepares to administer the test to a patient with a
suspected meniscal tear in the right knee. Which activity would occur first
when administering this test?
1. Administer the test on the left extremity with the knee in 20° of flexion.
2. Administer the test on the left extremity with the knee in 45° of flexion.
3. Administer the test on the right extremity with the knee in 20° of flexion.
4. Administer the test on the right extremity with the knee in 45° of flexion. -
correct answer 1. Administer the test on the left extremity with the knee in
20° of flexion.
A physical therapist examines a 6-month-old with down syndrome. Which of
the following medical problems is most likely to further delay gross motor
development in this population?
1. Congenital heart defects
2. Seizure disorder
3. Atlantoaxial instability
4. Obesity - correct answer 1. Congenital heart defects
A 73-year-old male patient receiving outpatient physical therapy begins to
experience acute angina. The patient indicates he uses nitroglycerin to
alleviate the angina. What is the most appropriate mode of administration?
1. Oral
2. Buccal
3. Sublingual
4. Topical - correct answer 3. Sublingual
,A female patient with osteopenia is placed on hormone replacement therapy
by her physician. Hormone replacement therapy places the patient at greatest
risk for which of the following conditions?
1. Anneurysm
2. Deep vein thrombosis
3. Vertebral compression fracture
4. Colon cancer - correct answer 2. Deep vein thrombosis
Recent diagnostic imaging identified the presence of a glenoid labral tear.
Which diagnostic imaging method would have most likely been used to
identify this condition?
1. Arthrogram
2. X-ray
3. Doppler ultrasound
4. Bone scan - correct answer 1. Arthrogram
A physical therapist performs goniometric measurements for elbow flexion
with a patient in supine. In order to isolate elbow flexion, which structure
should the therapist stabilize?
1. Distal end of the humerus
2. Proximal end of the humerus
3. Distal end of the ulna
4. Proximal end of the radius - correct answer 1. Distal end of the humerus
A physical therapist administers the berg balance scale with a patient status
post right cva prior to discharge from a rehabilitation facility. The patient
scored a total score of 39. What should the therapist conclude?
1. The patient will require a low burden of care once discharged home.
, 2. The patient will have difficulty independently reaching for objects
3. The patient is at significant risk for multiple or recurrent falls
4. The patient will require assistance during ambulation - correct answer 3.
The patient is at significant risk for multiple or recurrent falls
A physical therapist implements an exercise program that includes a five-
minute cool down period. What does the inclusion of a cool down period assist
with?
1. Increasing mitochondrial number and size
2. Dilation of constricted capillaries
3. Increasing maximum oxygen consumption
4. Preventing pooling of the blood in the extremities - correct answer 4.
Preventing pooling of the blood in the extremities
A physical therapist treats a six-month-old infant that has a rough, slightly
protruding reddish-purple lesion on the right lower side of their face. What is
the most appropriate term for this type of marking?
1. Dermatitis
2. Hemangioma
3. Nevus
4. Rosacea - correct answer 2. Hemangioma
An infant with developmental dysplasia of the hip is referred to physical
therapy. Which of the following devices would the infant most likely use to
reduce a dislocated hip?
1. Adductor splint
2. Abductor pillow
3. Pavlik harness
4. Scottish-rite orthotic - correct answer 3. Pavlik harness
