SMQT PRACTICE CERTIFICATION SCRIPT 2026
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
● The Role of the Surveyor. Answer: Your role as a surveyor includes: - Assessing the quality
of care and services of a health facility and relating those findings to statutory and regulatory
requirements - Being part of a team that helps to evaluate a facility's compliance in providing
quality care, quality of life, and other structural requirements - Basing your judgments on
objective findings
● CMS Depends on Its Surveyors. Answer: - As a surveyor, you are part of a team engaged
in a process that aims to ensure that beneficiaries receive quality health care in a safe
environment. - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) depends on your
knowledge, objectivity, professionalism, and commitment to monitor compliance with the
regulatory conditions & requirements. - As a surveyor, you are part of a team that helps to
evaluate a facility's compliance; you must show knowledge, objectivity, professionalism, and
commitment; and you must base your judgments on objective findings.
● How the Survey Team Composition is Determined. Answer: The survey, certification, and
enforcement of regulations for nursing homes is codified in past practices regarding the
composition of survey teams and expands eligibility requirements. Survey team size will vary,
depending primarily on the size of the facility being surveyed. The State Agency (or, for
Federal teams, the regional office (RO)) decides how many members will be on the team.
Survey team size is normally based upon the following factors: - The bed size of the facility to
be surveyed - Whether the facility has a historical pattern of serious deficiencies or complaints
- Whether the facility has special care units - Whether new surveyors are to accompany a
team as part of their training
● Team Composition. Answer: The State Agency (or, for Federal teams, the RO) decides
what the composition of the survey team will be, as long as certain statutory and regulatory
requirements are met. - Sections 1819(g)(2)(E) & 1919(g)(2)(E) of the Act & 42 CFR 488.314
require the following: - SNF and NF standard surveys must be conducted by a
multidisciplinary team of professionals, at least one of whom must be a registered nurse (RN)
- Surveyors must be free of conflicts of interest - Surveyors must successfully complete a
training and testing program in survey and certification techniques that has been approved by
the Secretary. *** In other words, surveyors must successfully complete the CMS-approved
training AND pass Module A of the Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test (SMQT).***
Surveyors who assess the requirements of quality of care, nutritional dietary services, and
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
● The Role of the Surveyor. Answer: Your role as a surveyor includes: - Assessing the quality
of care and services of a health facility and relating those findings to statutory and regulatory
requirements - Being part of a team that helps to evaluate a facility's compliance in providing
quality care, quality of life, and other structural requirements - Basing your judgments on
objective findings
● CMS Depends on Its Surveyors. Answer: - As a surveyor, you are part of a team engaged
in a process that aims to ensure that beneficiaries receive quality health care in a safe
environment. - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) depends on your
knowledge, objectivity, professionalism, and commitment to monitor compliance with the
regulatory conditions & requirements. - As a surveyor, you are part of a team that helps to
evaluate a facility's compliance; you must show knowledge, objectivity, professionalism, and
commitment; and you must base your judgments on objective findings.
● How the Survey Team Composition is Determined. Answer: The survey, certification, and
enforcement of regulations for nursing homes is codified in past practices regarding the
composition of survey teams and expands eligibility requirements. Survey team size will vary,
depending primarily on the size of the facility being surveyed. The State Agency (or, for
Federal teams, the regional office (RO)) decides how many members will be on the team.
Survey team size is normally based upon the following factors: - The bed size of the facility to
be surveyed - Whether the facility has a historical pattern of serious deficiencies or complaints
- Whether the facility has special care units - Whether new surveyors are to accompany a
team as part of their training
● Team Composition. Answer: The State Agency (or, for Federal teams, the RO) decides
what the composition of the survey team will be, as long as certain statutory and regulatory
requirements are met. - Sections 1819(g)(2)(E) & 1919(g)(2)(E) of the Act & 42 CFR 488.314
require the following: - SNF and NF standard surveys must be conducted by a
multidisciplinary team of professionals, at least one of whom must be a registered nurse (RN)
- Surveyors must be free of conflicts of interest - Surveyors must successfully complete a
training and testing program in survey and certification techniques that has been approved by
the Secretary. *** In other words, surveyors must successfully complete the CMS-approved
training AND pass Module A of the Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test (SMQT).***
Surveyors who assess the requirements of quality of care, nutritional dietary services, and
