PCA Competency Test Georgia Exam 2026 | 200 Questions & Answers with Explanations | Latest Update

PCA COMPETENCY TEST (GEORGIA EXAM) – 200 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS (A+ SOLUTION GUIDE)

SECTION 1: ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE



1. Which of the following best describes the primary role of a Personal Care Assistant (PCA)?

A) Administering medications independently

B) Providing supportive care for daily living activities under supervision

C) Performing medical diagnosis

D) Writing care plans

Answer: B – Rationale: PCAs assist with basic daily care—such as bathing, grooming, and mobility—
under the direction of a licensed professional. They do not perform medical procedures independently.



2. As a Personal Care Assistant, you:

A) Work independently without supervision

B) Work as part of the health care team

C) Supervise other PCAs

D) Make independent medical decisions

Answer: B – Rationale: PCAs are members of the healthcare team and work under the supervision of
licensed nurses or therapists.



3. As a Personal Care Assistant, it is your responsibility to:

A) Do all tasks requested by the patient's family

B) Do only the tasks that the registered nurse or therapist assigns to you

C) Perform any medical procedure you feel comfortable with

D) Make independent changes to the care plan

Answer: B – Rationale: PCAs must work within their scope of practice and only perform delegated
tasks assigned by a licensed professional.

,4. When you work in the home, you will be:

A) Working completely independently

B) Working under the supervision of a professional supervisor

C) Responsible for all medical decisions

D) Required to work without any oversight

Answer: B – Rationale: Even when working in a home setting, PCAs operate under the supervision of a
licensed nurse or agency supervisor who oversees the care plan and delegation of tasks.



5. The most important quality for a PCA working with older adults is:

A) Speed and efficiency

B) Patience and empathy

C) Physical strength

D) Medical knowledge

Answer: B – Rationale: Working with older adults requires patience, empathy, and understanding.
Age-related changes may slow responses, and compassionate care is essential for maintaining dignity
and trust.



6. A PCA who is responsible for her own actions and the actions of others is demonstrating:

A) Punctuality

B) Accountability

C) Empathy

D) Patience

Answer: B – Rationale: Accountability means taking responsibility for one's own actions and
recognizing the consequences of those actions. It is a core professional value for PCAs.



7. Which task is outside the PCA scope of practice in Georgia?

A) Feeding a client

B) Changing a sterile dressing

C) Transferring from bed to wheelchair

D) Reporting changes in skin condition

, Answer: B – Rationale: Sterile dressing changes require a licensed nurse and are outside the PCA
scope of practice. PCAs may reinforce a pre-existing non-sterile dressing but not perform sterile
procedures.



8. Reinforce a dressing:

A) True – PCA can do this

B) False – PCA cannot do this

Answer: A (True) – Rationale: Under the direction of a nurse, PCAs may reinforce (add a layer to) an
existing dressing in a stable situation, but the nurse must order this and assess the wound first.



9. Give an enema:

A) True – PCA can do this

B) False – PCA cannot do this

Answer: B (False) – Rationale: Enema administration is a nursing task requiring assessment and clinical
judgment outside PCA scope of practice.



10. Administer medication:

A) True – PCA can do this

B) False – PCA cannot do this

Answer: B (False) – Rationale: PCAs in Georgia are not permitted to administer any medications,
including oral, topical, or injectable drugs. Medication administration is a licensed nursing activity.



11. Change a sterile dressing:

A) True – PCA can do this

B) False – PCA cannot do this

Answer: B (False) – Rationale: Sterile dressing changes require sterile technique and clinical judgment,
which are outside PCA scope of practice in Georgia.



12. Give a rectal suppository:

A) True – PCA can do this

B) False – PCA cannot do this

, Answer: B (False) – Rationale: Suppository administration requires assessment skills and is a nursing
task outside PCA scope.



13. Give a tubal (tube) feeding:

A) True – PCA can do this

B) False – PCA cannot do this

Answer: B (False) – Rationale: Tube feedings require specialized nursing assessment and are not
within PCA scope. PCAs may assist with feeding only for patients eating by mouth.



14. Give insulin:

A) True – PCA can do this

B) False – PCA cannot do this

Answer: B (False) – Rationale: Administration of insulin is a medication task requiring licensed nursing
or medical certification, outside PCA scope.



15. Cut fingernails or toenails:

A) True – PCA can do this for most patients

B) False – PCA cannot cut nails for diabetic patients

C) True only for non-diabetic patients

D) False – PCA cannot cut any patient's nails

Answer: B – Rationale: PCAs may generally assist with nail care for healthy clients, but cutting nails of
diabetic patients is prohibited due to risk of injury, infection, and poor healing. This is outside PCA scope
for diabetic clients.



16. Which of the following actions is the Personal Care Assistant permitted to take in relation to drug
administration?

A) Administering the medication directly

B) Recording and reporting the patient's reaction to the medication

C) Adjusting the dosage based on patient's response

D) Filling prescriptions at the pharmacy