Illinois Occupational Therapy Assistant
Licensing Examination Practice
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. Which activity best reflects the primary goal of occupational therapy for
an older adult with limited mobility?
A. Increasing muscle mass
B. Improving social activities
C. Enhancing functional independence
D. Reducing medication use
Rationale: OT focuses on promoting independence and participation in
daily occupations.
,2. An OTA providing ADL training to a patient post-stroke should prioritize
which action first?
A. Teaching meal preparation
B. Training in basic grooming tasks
C. Teaching community mobility
D. Addressing leisure activities
Rationale: Basic ADLs such as grooming are foundational before
progressing to more complex activities.
3. When working under OT supervision, an OTA may independently:
A. Change the patient’s plan of care
B. Implement established interventions
C. Complete an occupational profile
D. Modify initial goals
Rationale: OTAs carry out interventions but do not initiate or change the
care plan.
4. A child with sensory processing issues seeks movement constantly.
Which activity is most appropriate?
A. Quiet reading
B. Tabletop puzzles
C. Swinging on a therapy swing
,D. Word recognition tasks
Rationale: Proprioceptive and vestibular input can help regulate seeking
behaviors.
5. To promote correct body mechanics during lifting, an OTA should teach
a patient to:
A. Bend at the waist
B. Bend at the knees
C. Twist while lifting
D. Keep objects far from the body
Rationale: Bending at the knees protects the back and reduces injury risk.
6. A patient with low vision benefits most from:
A. Using pastel-colored labels
B. Removing all lighting
C. Increasing contrast in the environment
D. Reading only small-print material
Rationale: High contrast supports safer and more efficient visual
processing.
7. An OTA notices a new pressure sore during treatment. The FIRST step is
to:
, A. Apply a topical ointment
B. Continue treatment to maintain progress
C. Notify the supervising OT and nursing
D. Ignore it unless the patient complains
Rationale: OTAs must report medical changes to the OT and nursing team
immediately.
8. A patient with Parkinson’s disease experiences freezing episodes. The
OTA should recommend:
A. Walking faster
B. Blocking visual cues
C. Using rhythmic auditory cues
D. Minimizing lighting
Rationale: Rhythmic cues help initiate and maintain movement.
9. During feeding therapy, the safest position for dysphagia management
is:
A. Supine
B. Upright at 90 degrees
C. Side-lying
D. Prone
Rationale: Upright posture reduces aspiration risk.
Licensing Examination Practice
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. Which activity best reflects the primary goal of occupational therapy for
an older adult with limited mobility?
A. Increasing muscle mass
B. Improving social activities
C. Enhancing functional independence
D. Reducing medication use
Rationale: OT focuses on promoting independence and participation in
daily occupations.
,2. An OTA providing ADL training to a patient post-stroke should prioritize
which action first?
A. Teaching meal preparation
B. Training in basic grooming tasks
C. Teaching community mobility
D. Addressing leisure activities
Rationale: Basic ADLs such as grooming are foundational before
progressing to more complex activities.
3. When working under OT supervision, an OTA may independently:
A. Change the patient’s plan of care
B. Implement established interventions
C. Complete an occupational profile
D. Modify initial goals
Rationale: OTAs carry out interventions but do not initiate or change the
care plan.
4. A child with sensory processing issues seeks movement constantly.
Which activity is most appropriate?
A. Quiet reading
B. Tabletop puzzles
C. Swinging on a therapy swing
,D. Word recognition tasks
Rationale: Proprioceptive and vestibular input can help regulate seeking
behaviors.
5. To promote correct body mechanics during lifting, an OTA should teach
a patient to:
A. Bend at the waist
B. Bend at the knees
C. Twist while lifting
D. Keep objects far from the body
Rationale: Bending at the knees protects the back and reduces injury risk.
6. A patient with low vision benefits most from:
A. Using pastel-colored labels
B. Removing all lighting
C. Increasing contrast in the environment
D. Reading only small-print material
Rationale: High contrast supports safer and more efficient visual
processing.
7. An OTA notices a new pressure sore during treatment. The FIRST step is
to:
, A. Apply a topical ointment
B. Continue treatment to maintain progress
C. Notify the supervising OT and nursing
D. Ignore it unless the patient complains
Rationale: OTAs must report medical changes to the OT and nursing team
immediately.
8. A patient with Parkinson’s disease experiences freezing episodes. The
OTA should recommend:
A. Walking faster
B. Blocking visual cues
C. Using rhythmic auditory cues
D. Minimizing lighting
Rationale: Rhythmic cues help initiate and maintain movement.
9. During feeding therapy, the safest position for dysphagia management
is:
A. Supine
B. Upright at 90 degrees
C. Side-lying
D. Prone
Rationale: Upright posture reduces aspiration risk.
