NBCOT Exam Practice Questions &
Answers
A client in the mid-stage of Alzheimer's disease lives at home with a spouse as the
primary caregiver. The spouse wants the client to remain at home as long as possible;
despite a progressive decline in the client's cognition. What strategy should be included
in the recommendations for supporting the client's aging-in-place?
A. Establish a routine schedule of familiar daily activities to encourage engagement.
B. Have the client use a variety of assistive devices to minimize task demands.
C. Plan most activities for the morning to avoid the effects of sundowning. - ✔ Establish
a routine schedule of familiar daily activities to encourage engagement.
During which home maintenance tasks would symptoms related to constructional
apraxia be MOST EVIDENT?
A. Washing the interior sides of single pane windows
B. Using a roller brush to paint an interior wall of the home
C. Vacuuming floors in the main living area of the home
D. Following written instructions for installing curtain rods - ✔ Following written
instructions for installing curtain rods
COTA:
What clinical symptom is typically present in the affected hand of a client who has
severe carpal tunnel syndrome?
A. Positive Tinel's sign at the wrist
B. Decreased light touch of all digits
C. Numbness of the small finger
D. Atrophy of the extrinsic muscles - ✔ Positive Tinel's sign at the wrist
OTR:
What is the PRIMARY purpose for completing a dysphagia screening for an inpatient
who had a right CVA several days ago?
A. To detect silent aspiration and identify foods that are safe for the patient to eat
B. To identify causes for aspiration and the need for referral to speech therapy
C. To observe the patient's oral motor control and determine a need for further
evaluation
D. To determine the patient's tolerance to various food textures prior to requesting a
modified diet - ✔ To observe the patient's oral motor control and determine a need for
further evaluation
OTR:
An OTR is facilitating a group for clients diagnosed with a polysubstance use disorder.
During the first group session, the OTR describes how trigger events and irrational
thinking can lead to substance misuse. Which theoretical model does this approach
exemplify?
, A. Cognitive-behavioral
B. Psychodynamic
C. Human Occupation - ✔ Cognitive-behavioral
COTA:
A COTA witnesses an OT aide using a goniometer to measure a patient's upper
extremity ROM. What action should the COTA take in response to this observation?
A. Determine if the aide has established service competency for this task.
B. Show the aide how to use the instrument according to facility policies.
C. Ask the aide to stop the activity and discuss the situation with the supervisor. - ✔
Ask the aide to stop the activity and discuss the situation with the supervisor.
A client sustained a non-displaced distal radius fracture 8 weeks ago. The OTR
receives a consult from the client's physician to initiate ultrasound and therapeutic
exercise. The state regulatory board allows occupational therapists to use physical
agent modalities (PAM), however, the OTR assigned to the client has not had PAM
training. How should the OTR respond to this referral?
A. Follow the protocol for ultrasound as outlined in the instruction manual.
B. Refer the client to an occupational therapist who is experienced in ultrasound.
C. Apply moist heat to the affected hand and wrist instead of ultrasound. - ✔ Refer the
client
OTR:
An adolescent-age student has athetoid cerebral palsy and has been participating in
school-based OT since pre-school. After transitioning to the sixth grade in a new school,
the teachers report the student is not using assistive devices, is sullen, and does not
interact with peers. What INITIAL action should the OTR take in response to the
teachers' reports about this student?
A. Revise the IEP goals to focus on student preferences.
B. Establish new goals to work toward self-sufficiency.
C. Develop a transition plan for promoting autonomy.
D. Complete an evaluation using a top-down approach. - ✔ Complete an evaluation
using a top-down approach.
COTA:
A COTA is working with a student in the third grade who has a sensory processing
deficit. Intervention activities include providing sensory-based movement activities to
facilitate an appropriate level of arousal. Which responses are common indicators that
the activity is beginning to exceed the student's sensory threshold?
Select the 3 BEST choices.
A. Uncontrollable jerky motions of the extremities during parachute games
B. Facial paleness while spinning in a net suspension swing
C. Fidgeting in a desk chair when participating in a board game
D. Irregular involuntary movement of both eyes while on a tilt and spin board
Answers
A client in the mid-stage of Alzheimer's disease lives at home with a spouse as the
primary caregiver. The spouse wants the client to remain at home as long as possible;
despite a progressive decline in the client's cognition. What strategy should be included
in the recommendations for supporting the client's aging-in-place?
A. Establish a routine schedule of familiar daily activities to encourage engagement.
B. Have the client use a variety of assistive devices to minimize task demands.
C. Plan most activities for the morning to avoid the effects of sundowning. - ✔ Establish
a routine schedule of familiar daily activities to encourage engagement.
During which home maintenance tasks would symptoms related to constructional
apraxia be MOST EVIDENT?
A. Washing the interior sides of single pane windows
B. Using a roller brush to paint an interior wall of the home
C. Vacuuming floors in the main living area of the home
D. Following written instructions for installing curtain rods - ✔ Following written
instructions for installing curtain rods
COTA:
What clinical symptom is typically present in the affected hand of a client who has
severe carpal tunnel syndrome?
A. Positive Tinel's sign at the wrist
B. Decreased light touch of all digits
C. Numbness of the small finger
D. Atrophy of the extrinsic muscles - ✔ Positive Tinel's sign at the wrist
OTR:
What is the PRIMARY purpose for completing a dysphagia screening for an inpatient
who had a right CVA several days ago?
A. To detect silent aspiration and identify foods that are safe for the patient to eat
B. To identify causes for aspiration and the need for referral to speech therapy
C. To observe the patient's oral motor control and determine a need for further
evaluation
D. To determine the patient's tolerance to various food textures prior to requesting a
modified diet - ✔ To observe the patient's oral motor control and determine a need for
further evaluation
OTR:
An OTR is facilitating a group for clients diagnosed with a polysubstance use disorder.
During the first group session, the OTR describes how trigger events and irrational
thinking can lead to substance misuse. Which theoretical model does this approach
exemplify?
, A. Cognitive-behavioral
B. Psychodynamic
C. Human Occupation - ✔ Cognitive-behavioral
COTA:
A COTA witnesses an OT aide using a goniometer to measure a patient's upper
extremity ROM. What action should the COTA take in response to this observation?
A. Determine if the aide has established service competency for this task.
B. Show the aide how to use the instrument according to facility policies.
C. Ask the aide to stop the activity and discuss the situation with the supervisor. - ✔
Ask the aide to stop the activity and discuss the situation with the supervisor.
A client sustained a non-displaced distal radius fracture 8 weeks ago. The OTR
receives a consult from the client's physician to initiate ultrasound and therapeutic
exercise. The state regulatory board allows occupational therapists to use physical
agent modalities (PAM), however, the OTR assigned to the client has not had PAM
training. How should the OTR respond to this referral?
A. Follow the protocol for ultrasound as outlined in the instruction manual.
B. Refer the client to an occupational therapist who is experienced in ultrasound.
C. Apply moist heat to the affected hand and wrist instead of ultrasound. - ✔ Refer the
client
OTR:
An adolescent-age student has athetoid cerebral palsy and has been participating in
school-based OT since pre-school. After transitioning to the sixth grade in a new school,
the teachers report the student is not using assistive devices, is sullen, and does not
interact with peers. What INITIAL action should the OTR take in response to the
teachers' reports about this student?
A. Revise the IEP goals to focus on student preferences.
B. Establish new goals to work toward self-sufficiency.
C. Develop a transition plan for promoting autonomy.
D. Complete an evaluation using a top-down approach. - ✔ Complete an evaluation
using a top-down approach.
COTA:
A COTA is working with a student in the third grade who has a sensory processing
deficit. Intervention activities include providing sensory-based movement activities to
facilitate an appropriate level of arousal. Which responses are common indicators that
the activity is beginning to exceed the student's sensory threshold?
Select the 3 BEST choices.
A. Uncontrollable jerky motions of the extremities during parachute games
B. Facial paleness while spinning in a net suspension swing
C. Fidgeting in a desk chair when participating in a board game
D. Irregular involuntary movement of both eyes while on a tilt and spin board
