CPNP-PC Exam Prep: 200 Questions with
Rationales & Clinical Pearls for 2026/2027
Success
Sample CPNP-PC Practice Questions with
Rationales
1. A 9-month-old infant can sit without
support, babble, and reach for toys, but does
not pass objects between hands. What is the
most appropriate next step?
• A. Reassure the parent; this is age-
appropriate.
• B. Refer to early intervention.
• C. Repeat screening at 12 months.
• D. Order a brain MRI.
• ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: B. Refer to early
intervention.
, • Rationale: Passing objects between hands
is expected by 6 months. This is a red flag
for fine motor delay, and Early Intervention
(EI) should be involved promptly to assess
and support development. Waiting until 12
months wastes valuable time during
critical brain development.
2. A 4-year-old cannot draw a circle, uses two-
word sentences inconsistently, and struggles
with parallel play at daycare. What is the most
appropriate next step?
• A. Wait until kindergarten to reassess.
• B. Refer for a full developmental
evaluation.
• C. Recommend preschool.
• D. Reassure parents and monitor.
, • ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: B. Refer for a full
developmental evaluation.
• Rationale: The child shows delays across
multiple domains—language, motor, and
social—warranting a comprehensive
evaluation. Waiting misses the window for
early neuroplasticity.
3. A 13-year-old boy collapses during football
practice with bilateral leg weakness, back pain,
absent reflexes, and ascending sensory loss.
What condition should be ruled out first?
• A. Guillain-Barré syndrome
• B. Conversion disorder
• C. Muscular dystrophy
• D. Spinal muscular atrophy
• ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: A. Guillain-Barré
syndrome
, • Rationale: Ascending weakness, areflexia,
and back pain strongly suggest GBS, which
is a medical emergency.
4. A 2-month-old presents with poor feeding,
hypotonia, a weak cry, and absent deep
tendon reflexes. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
• A. Infantile botulism
• B. Cerebral palsy
• C. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
• D. Tethered cord syndrome
• ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: A. Infantile botulism
• Rationale: A "floppy baby" with poor
feeding and absent reflexes is classic for
infantile botulism.
5. A 2-year-old presents with frequent head
banging, no spoken words, lack of eye contact,
Rationales & Clinical Pearls for 2026/2027
Success
Sample CPNP-PC Practice Questions with
Rationales
1. A 9-month-old infant can sit without
support, babble, and reach for toys, but does
not pass objects between hands. What is the
most appropriate next step?
• A. Reassure the parent; this is age-
appropriate.
• B. Refer to early intervention.
• C. Repeat screening at 12 months.
• D. Order a brain MRI.
• ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: B. Refer to early
intervention.
, • Rationale: Passing objects between hands
is expected by 6 months. This is a red flag
for fine motor delay, and Early Intervention
(EI) should be involved promptly to assess
and support development. Waiting until 12
months wastes valuable time during
critical brain development.
2. A 4-year-old cannot draw a circle, uses two-
word sentences inconsistently, and struggles
with parallel play at daycare. What is the most
appropriate next step?
• A. Wait until kindergarten to reassess.
• B. Refer for a full developmental
evaluation.
• C. Recommend preschool.
• D. Reassure parents and monitor.
, • ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: B. Refer for a full
developmental evaluation.
• Rationale: The child shows delays across
multiple domains—language, motor, and
social—warranting a comprehensive
evaluation. Waiting misses the window for
early neuroplasticity.
3. A 13-year-old boy collapses during football
practice with bilateral leg weakness, back pain,
absent reflexes, and ascending sensory loss.
What condition should be ruled out first?
• A. Guillain-Barré syndrome
• B. Conversion disorder
• C. Muscular dystrophy
• D. Spinal muscular atrophy
• ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: A. Guillain-Barré
syndrome
, • Rationale: Ascending weakness, areflexia,
and back pain strongly suggest GBS, which
is a medical emergency.
4. A 2-month-old presents with poor feeding,
hypotonia, a weak cry, and absent deep
tendon reflexes. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
• A. Infantile botulism
• B. Cerebral palsy
• C. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
• D. Tethered cord syndrome
• ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: A. Infantile botulism
• Rationale: A "floppy baby" with poor
feeding and absent reflexes is classic for
infantile botulism.
5. A 2-year-old presents with frequent head
banging, no spoken words, lack of eye contact,
