SMQT (Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test) Exam
Sample Questions and Overview Questions And
Answers, and Proven Strategies to Pass First Try
(2026 Edition)
SMQT (Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test) Exam -Exam Coverage
Exam coverage for the SMQT (Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test) Exam includes the
knowledge and skills required to conduct health care facility surveys for the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). It focuses on federal regulations (Conditions of
Participation), survey procedures, deficiency identification, resident rights, quality of care
standards, and infection control requirements in healthcare facilities such as nursing homes and
hospitals. The exam also evaluates understanding of documentation, interview techniques,
observation skills, and enforcement actions.
Emphasis is placed on accurately assessing compliance with CMS regulations, identifying
deficiencies in care or facility operations, ensuring patient safety, and applying regulatory
standards consistently during health care facility inspections. 🏥📘
The TC must complete which tasks during offsite prep? - ✔✔ANSWER
✔✔-Create/export shell from ACO
Import shell into ASE-q
Add team members
Complete offsite prep screen
Make unit assignments
Make mandatory task assignments
print documents
Share offsite prep with team
,What documents are printed by the TC during offsite prep? -
✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-1 matrix with instructions
1 entrance conference worksheet
3 beneficiary worksheets
What is the purpose of the initial pool process? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-To
briefly screen all residents and observe, interview and complete initial
record review.
When should you share data? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-At the end of each
day and when the team composition changes.
What is severity level 2 - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-Noncompliance that has
potential to cause more than minimal harm that is not IJ
resident has no more than minimal discomfort,
their is a potential to compromise residents ability to reach highest
practicable level,
shame/embarassment without loss of interest
minimal episodic pain,
facility has no system to prevent problems
What must be done prior to Sample Selection - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-The
completed I.P data is shared and the TC confirms that the data is
complete.
,What are the 7 LTSCP steps? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-1. Offsite prep
2. Facility entrance
3. Initial Pool Process
4. Sample Selction
5.Investigation
6. Ongoing and other survey activities
7. Potential Citations
How wide must an exit corridor be? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-8 feet
Name 3 antipsychotics - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-Thorazine (chlorpromazine)
Haldol (haloperidol) Abilify (aripiprazole) Clozaril (clozapine) Zyprexa
(olanzapine) Latuda (lurasidone) Seroquel (quetiapine) Risperdal
(risperidone)
Indications of unnecessary medication include? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-
Excessive dose
excessive duration
without adequate monitoring
without adequate indication for use
use in the presence of adverse consequences
, What is a psychotropic drug? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-Any drug that affects
brain activities associated with mental processes and behavior-include
anti-psychotic, antidepressant, anti-anxiety and hypnotic medications
What is "anticholinergic side effect"? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-an effect of a
medication that may cause dry mouth, blurred vision, tachycardia,
urinary retention, constipation, confusion, delirium, hallucinations,
flushed and increased blood pressure
What is Extrapyramidal symptoms" (EPS)? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-a
neurological side effect that may occur within a few day or years of
treatment with antipsychotics. Includes various syndromes such as;
akathisia, medication-induced Parkinsonism, and dystonia.
What is akathesia ? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-a distressing feeling of internal
restlessnesss that may appear as constant motion, the inability to sit
still, fidgeting, pacing or rocking.
What is Medication-induced Parkinsonism? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-
Syndrome of symptoms like Parkinson's; tremor, shuffling gait,
slowness of movement, expressionless face, drooling, postural
unsteadiness and rigidity of muscles.
What is dystonia? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-acute, painful, spastic contraction
of muscle groups (commonly the neck, eyes and trunk) that often
occurs soon after initiating treatment.
Sample Questions and Overview Questions And
Answers, and Proven Strategies to Pass First Try
(2026 Edition)
SMQT (Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test) Exam -Exam Coverage
Exam coverage for the SMQT (Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test) Exam includes the
knowledge and skills required to conduct health care facility surveys for the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). It focuses on federal regulations (Conditions of
Participation), survey procedures, deficiency identification, resident rights, quality of care
standards, and infection control requirements in healthcare facilities such as nursing homes and
hospitals. The exam also evaluates understanding of documentation, interview techniques,
observation skills, and enforcement actions.
Emphasis is placed on accurately assessing compliance with CMS regulations, identifying
deficiencies in care or facility operations, ensuring patient safety, and applying regulatory
standards consistently during health care facility inspections. 🏥📘
The TC must complete which tasks during offsite prep? - ✔✔ANSWER
✔✔-Create/export shell from ACO
Import shell into ASE-q
Add team members
Complete offsite prep screen
Make unit assignments
Make mandatory task assignments
print documents
Share offsite prep with team
,What documents are printed by the TC during offsite prep? -
✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-1 matrix with instructions
1 entrance conference worksheet
3 beneficiary worksheets
What is the purpose of the initial pool process? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-To
briefly screen all residents and observe, interview and complete initial
record review.
When should you share data? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-At the end of each
day and when the team composition changes.
What is severity level 2 - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-Noncompliance that has
potential to cause more than minimal harm that is not IJ
resident has no more than minimal discomfort,
their is a potential to compromise residents ability to reach highest
practicable level,
shame/embarassment without loss of interest
minimal episodic pain,
facility has no system to prevent problems
What must be done prior to Sample Selection - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-The
completed I.P data is shared and the TC confirms that the data is
complete.
,What are the 7 LTSCP steps? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-1. Offsite prep
2. Facility entrance
3. Initial Pool Process
4. Sample Selction
5.Investigation
6. Ongoing and other survey activities
7. Potential Citations
How wide must an exit corridor be? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-8 feet
Name 3 antipsychotics - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-Thorazine (chlorpromazine)
Haldol (haloperidol) Abilify (aripiprazole) Clozaril (clozapine) Zyprexa
(olanzapine) Latuda (lurasidone) Seroquel (quetiapine) Risperdal
(risperidone)
Indications of unnecessary medication include? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-
Excessive dose
excessive duration
without adequate monitoring
without adequate indication for use
use in the presence of adverse consequences
, What is a psychotropic drug? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-Any drug that affects
brain activities associated with mental processes and behavior-include
anti-psychotic, antidepressant, anti-anxiety and hypnotic medications
What is "anticholinergic side effect"? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-an effect of a
medication that may cause dry mouth, blurred vision, tachycardia,
urinary retention, constipation, confusion, delirium, hallucinations,
flushed and increased blood pressure
What is Extrapyramidal symptoms" (EPS)? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-a
neurological side effect that may occur within a few day or years of
treatment with antipsychotics. Includes various syndromes such as;
akathisia, medication-induced Parkinsonism, and dystonia.
What is akathesia ? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-a distressing feeling of internal
restlessnesss that may appear as constant motion, the inability to sit
still, fidgeting, pacing or rocking.
What is Medication-induced Parkinsonism? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-
Syndrome of symptoms like Parkinson's; tremor, shuffling gait,
slowness of movement, expressionless face, drooling, postural
unsteadiness and rigidity of muscles.
What is dystonia? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-acute, painful, spastic contraction
of muscle groups (commonly the neck, eyes and trunk) that often
occurs soon after initiating treatment.
