QASP Exam Study Guide Based on Competency
Updated Actual Exam Question and Answer
(2026/2027) | 100% Verified Answers
• Define autism spectrum disorder (ASD) -✓✓ a disorder that appears in childhood
and is marked by significant deficiencies in communication and social interaction,
and by rigidly fixated interests and repetitive behaviors
• Common characteristics of ASD -✓✓ - difficulty relating to others
- insistence on environmental sameness
- stereotypic, repetitive, self-stimulatory behaviors
- wide range of language and communication disorders
• Deficits of ASD -✓✓ - social and emotional reciprocity
- verbal and nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction
- developing and maintaining relationships appropriate to the developmental level
• PDD-NOS -✓✓ pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified
• PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified) -✓✓ one
of several previously separate subtypes of autism that were folded into the single
diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with the publication of the DSM-5
diagnostic manual in 2013
• Asperger's Syndrome -✓✓ behavioral syndrome characterized by varying degrees
of difficulty in social and conversational skills but normal-to-above-average
intelligence and language development; often accompanied by obsessive
preoccupation with particular topics or routines.
- higher functioning autism
• Triad of primary impairments -✓✓ - impaired communication
- impaired reciprocal social interaction and restricted
- repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviors or interests
• Early autism diagnosis red flags -✓✓ - repetitive movements such as hand or
finger posturing, flapping, spinning - seeks out or avoids certain textures, sounds or
movements
,- visual differences (fixating on objects or certain kinds of stimuli such as the light
coming through blinds, looking at things in odd ways or tracking such things as fan
blades, etc. )
• Risk factors to ASD -✓✓ - having a sibling with ASD
- having certain genetic or chromosomal conditions, such as fragile X syndrome or
tuberous sclerosis
- experiencing complications at birth.
- being born to older parents
• Current CDC statistics and rates for the prevalence of ASD -✓✓ one in 36 (2.8%)
8-year-old children have been identified with ASD
• Serial processing in ASD -✓✓ occurs when the brain computes information step-
by-step in a methodical and linear matter
• Parallel processing in ASD -✓✓ the processing of many aspects of a problem
simultaneously
• Co-morbid diagnosis of ASD -✓✓ OCD, intellectual disability, ADHD,
childhood onset schizophrenia, epilepsy, gastrointestinal conditions and mental
health conditions such as depression and anxiety
• Methods of diagnosis for ASD -✓✓ When diagnosing autism spectrum disorder,
professionals like pediatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists and speech
pathologists use the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th
edition, Text revision), or DSM-5-TR, produced by the American Psychiatric
Association
• Criteria for ASD diagnosis -✓✓ - difficulties in social communication
- restricted, repetitive and sensory behavior or interests
- levels of support
• Role of a QASP-S -✓✓ provides behavioral health services under the supervision
of a QBA or above behavior analyst or a licensed or certified professional within
the scope of Applied Behavior Analysis
, • QABA code of ethics -✓✓ establishes standards for professional competence,
behavior, and responsibility for both ethical practice and enforceable actions as
outlined in the QABA Policies and Procedures
• HIPAA benefits -✓✓ ensure that any information disclosed to healthcare
providers and health plans, or information that is created by them, transmitted, or
stored by them, is subject to strict security controls. Patients are also given control
over who their information is released to and who it is shared with
• HIPAA limitations -✓✓ may limit how a covered entity (for example, a health
plan or most health care providers) uses or discloses individually identifiable
health information
• HIPAA use -✓✓ make sure that individuals' health information is properly
protected while allowing the flow of health information needed to provide and
promote high-quality healthcare, and to protect the public's health and well-being
• Retention of records -✓✓ - laws regarding retention vary from state to state
- 10 years or length of time on statute of limitations
-minors: 3 years after age of majority
- medicare/Medicaid patient: a minimum of 6 years
- deceased patient: 2 years
• Storage of records -✓✓ - storage of client records must be secure (lock and
key/password protected)
-these are sensitive confidential documents
- all consent-related requirements remain in effect as long as case files are
maintained
• Transportation of HIPAA records -✓✓ rules state that you must send PHI-related
documents through First Class postal mail. In some situations, you must use
certified mail, and the recipient must sign for it. When sending it certified, it's
trackable, as well. You should never use standard mail
• Security of records -✓✓ to maintain the confidentiality of patient's prescriptions
or drug orders, there shall exist adequate safeguards for security of the records
whether kept manually or in an ADP system
Updated Actual Exam Question and Answer
(2026/2027) | 100% Verified Answers
• Define autism spectrum disorder (ASD) -✓✓ a disorder that appears in childhood
and is marked by significant deficiencies in communication and social interaction,
and by rigidly fixated interests and repetitive behaviors
• Common characteristics of ASD -✓✓ - difficulty relating to others
- insistence on environmental sameness
- stereotypic, repetitive, self-stimulatory behaviors
- wide range of language and communication disorders
• Deficits of ASD -✓✓ - social and emotional reciprocity
- verbal and nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction
- developing and maintaining relationships appropriate to the developmental level
• PDD-NOS -✓✓ pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified
• PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified) -✓✓ one
of several previously separate subtypes of autism that were folded into the single
diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with the publication of the DSM-5
diagnostic manual in 2013
• Asperger's Syndrome -✓✓ behavioral syndrome characterized by varying degrees
of difficulty in social and conversational skills but normal-to-above-average
intelligence and language development; often accompanied by obsessive
preoccupation with particular topics or routines.
- higher functioning autism
• Triad of primary impairments -✓✓ - impaired communication
- impaired reciprocal social interaction and restricted
- repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviors or interests
• Early autism diagnosis red flags -✓✓ - repetitive movements such as hand or
finger posturing, flapping, spinning - seeks out or avoids certain textures, sounds or
movements
,- visual differences (fixating on objects or certain kinds of stimuli such as the light
coming through blinds, looking at things in odd ways or tracking such things as fan
blades, etc. )
• Risk factors to ASD -✓✓ - having a sibling with ASD
- having certain genetic or chromosomal conditions, such as fragile X syndrome or
tuberous sclerosis
- experiencing complications at birth.
- being born to older parents
• Current CDC statistics and rates for the prevalence of ASD -✓✓ one in 36 (2.8%)
8-year-old children have been identified with ASD
• Serial processing in ASD -✓✓ occurs when the brain computes information step-
by-step in a methodical and linear matter
• Parallel processing in ASD -✓✓ the processing of many aspects of a problem
simultaneously
• Co-morbid diagnosis of ASD -✓✓ OCD, intellectual disability, ADHD,
childhood onset schizophrenia, epilepsy, gastrointestinal conditions and mental
health conditions such as depression and anxiety
• Methods of diagnosis for ASD -✓✓ When diagnosing autism spectrum disorder,
professionals like pediatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists and speech
pathologists use the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th
edition, Text revision), or DSM-5-TR, produced by the American Psychiatric
Association
• Criteria for ASD diagnosis -✓✓ - difficulties in social communication
- restricted, repetitive and sensory behavior or interests
- levels of support
• Role of a QASP-S -✓✓ provides behavioral health services under the supervision
of a QBA or above behavior analyst or a licensed or certified professional within
the scope of Applied Behavior Analysis
, • QABA code of ethics -✓✓ establishes standards for professional competence,
behavior, and responsibility for both ethical practice and enforceable actions as
outlined in the QABA Policies and Procedures
• HIPAA benefits -✓✓ ensure that any information disclosed to healthcare
providers and health plans, or information that is created by them, transmitted, or
stored by them, is subject to strict security controls. Patients are also given control
over who their information is released to and who it is shared with
• HIPAA limitations -✓✓ may limit how a covered entity (for example, a health
plan or most health care providers) uses or discloses individually identifiable
health information
• HIPAA use -✓✓ make sure that individuals' health information is properly
protected while allowing the flow of health information needed to provide and
promote high-quality healthcare, and to protect the public's health and well-being
• Retention of records -✓✓ - laws regarding retention vary from state to state
- 10 years or length of time on statute of limitations
-minors: 3 years after age of majority
- medicare/Medicaid patient: a minimum of 6 years
- deceased patient: 2 years
• Storage of records -✓✓ - storage of client records must be secure (lock and
key/password protected)
-these are sensitive confidential documents
- all consent-related requirements remain in effect as long as case files are
maintained
• Transportation of HIPAA records -✓✓ rules state that you must send PHI-related
documents through First Class postal mail. In some situations, you must use
certified mail, and the recipient must sign for it. When sending it certified, it's
trackable, as well. You should never use standard mail
• Security of records -✓✓ to maintain the confidentiality of patient's prescriptions
or drug orders, there shall exist adequate safeguards for security of the records
whether kept manually or in an ADP system
