COTA Test Prep Questions and Answers.
A service competent school-based COTA is collaborating with an OTR prior to the initial
evaluation of a student who has a developmental delay. Which part of the student's
evaluation is within the scope of practice for the COTA to complete?
A. Determining the impact of social interactions on development
B. Documenting outcomes of unstructured parent interviews
C. Administering and scoring standardized handwriting assessments
D. Assessing fine motor patterns during classroom activities -
\Correct Response: C
Rationale: Administering and scoring standardized assessments are within the scope of
practice for a service competent school-based COTA practitioner.
Incorrect Responses:
A, B, & D: These options are outside the scope of practice of a COTA practitioner,
although a COTA can contribute to discussions with the OTR on these areas.
A 7-year-old child has a shunt to control hydrocephaly secondary to spina bifida. The
child uses a wheelchair for mobility. During a school-based gross motor activity the child
begins to feel ill, complains of a pounding headache, and appears flushed. Which action
should the COTA take immediately after stopping the activity?
A. Elevate the legs of the wheelchair and contact the school nurse.
B. Lay the child in a supine and activate emergency procedures.
C. Place a cool moist cloth on the child's forehead until symptoms resolve.
D. Reschedule the session and advise the teacher of the occurrence. -
\Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The child should be placed in supine and emergency procedures should be
initiated IMMEDIATELY. The child's symptoms are indicative of a possible blocked
shunt.
A, C, D: These are not appropriate responses to this medical emergency situation.
Classification: Domain 02 Task 05 Knowledge 05
Reference: Solomon J, O'Brien J. (2006). Pediatric Skills for Occupational Therapy
Assistants (2nd ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby. Pages: 276-278
COTA Exam Prep Question:
A client sustained a work-related injury resulting in paraplegia. The client now uses a
manual wheelchair to maneuver within an office workstation. According to the ADA
Accessibility Guidelines, which accommodation is the employer required to provide to
ensure the workstation meets accessibility standards?
, A. Tile or low-pile carpeting in open spaces
B. Space to transfer from the wheelchair to a chair
C. Turning radius of at least 60 inches (152.5 cm) ©
D. Extenders to raise the desk height to 40 inches (101.6 cm -
\Accommodations for work surfaces, ability to use the bathroom is space to turn around
and doorways wide enough for a w/c, grab bars, sink heights and fountain heights.
Ability to use the microwave. Whatever need arises for job and personal ADL's are
considered reasonable accommodations.
A COTA who has established service competency in the use of physical agent
modalities is preparing to use ice massage as an adjunct to an intervention for a client
who has an acute soft tissue injury. Which clinical application procedure is
recommended for this form of cryotherapy?
A. Move the ice on one area of the skin for 1-2 minutes.
B. Use circular motions to move the ice on the skin for 4-5 minutes.
C. Firmly rub the ice parallel to the muscle fiber for 10-15 minutes.
D. Use retrograde motions with the ice until the client reports numbing. -
\Correct Response: B
Rationale: Ice massage is an effective modality to use on small and very targeted areas
of soft tissue. To effectively achieve vasoconstriction and to avoid tissue damage, ice
should be moved in circular motions to massage the area for approximately 4-5
minutes.
Reference:
A: 1-2 minutes is not long enough for the client to experience analgesia at the site of
application.
C & D: These options are too long to perform ice massage and could potentially lead to
further tissue damage.
COTA Prep Question:
A service competent school-based COTA is collaborating with an OTR prior to the initial
evaluation of a student who has a developmental delay. Which part of the student's
evaluation is within the scope of practice for the COTA to complete?
A. Determining the impact of social interactions on development
B. Documenting outcomes of unstructured parent interviews
C. Administering and scoring standardized handwriting assessments
D. Assessing fine motor patterns during classroom activities -
\Correct Response: C
Rationale: Administering and scoring standardized assessments are within the scope of
practice for a service competent school-based COTA practitioner.
Classification Code: Domain 01 Task 01, Knowledge 02
Incorrect Responses:
A, B, & D: These options are outside the scope of practice of a COTA practitioner,
although a COTA can contribute to discussions with the OTR on these areas.
A service competent school-based COTA is collaborating with an OTR prior to the initial
evaluation of a student who has a developmental delay. Which part of the student's
evaluation is within the scope of practice for the COTA to complete?
A. Determining the impact of social interactions on development
B. Documenting outcomes of unstructured parent interviews
C. Administering and scoring standardized handwriting assessments
D. Assessing fine motor patterns during classroom activities -
\Correct Response: C
Rationale: Administering and scoring standardized assessments are within the scope of
practice for a service competent school-based COTA practitioner.
Incorrect Responses:
A, B, & D: These options are outside the scope of practice of a COTA practitioner,
although a COTA can contribute to discussions with the OTR on these areas.
A 7-year-old child has a shunt to control hydrocephaly secondary to spina bifida. The
child uses a wheelchair for mobility. During a school-based gross motor activity the child
begins to feel ill, complains of a pounding headache, and appears flushed. Which action
should the COTA take immediately after stopping the activity?
A. Elevate the legs of the wheelchair and contact the school nurse.
B. Lay the child in a supine and activate emergency procedures.
C. Place a cool moist cloth on the child's forehead until symptoms resolve.
D. Reschedule the session and advise the teacher of the occurrence. -
\Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The child should be placed in supine and emergency procedures should be
initiated IMMEDIATELY. The child's symptoms are indicative of a possible blocked
shunt.
A, C, D: These are not appropriate responses to this medical emergency situation.
Classification: Domain 02 Task 05 Knowledge 05
Reference: Solomon J, O'Brien J. (2006). Pediatric Skills for Occupational Therapy
Assistants (2nd ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby. Pages: 276-278
COTA Exam Prep Question:
A client sustained a work-related injury resulting in paraplegia. The client now uses a
manual wheelchair to maneuver within an office workstation. According to the ADA
Accessibility Guidelines, which accommodation is the employer required to provide to
ensure the workstation meets accessibility standards?
, A. Tile or low-pile carpeting in open spaces
B. Space to transfer from the wheelchair to a chair
C. Turning radius of at least 60 inches (152.5 cm) ©
D. Extenders to raise the desk height to 40 inches (101.6 cm -
\Accommodations for work surfaces, ability to use the bathroom is space to turn around
and doorways wide enough for a w/c, grab bars, sink heights and fountain heights.
Ability to use the microwave. Whatever need arises for job and personal ADL's are
considered reasonable accommodations.
A COTA who has established service competency in the use of physical agent
modalities is preparing to use ice massage as an adjunct to an intervention for a client
who has an acute soft tissue injury. Which clinical application procedure is
recommended for this form of cryotherapy?
A. Move the ice on one area of the skin for 1-2 minutes.
B. Use circular motions to move the ice on the skin for 4-5 minutes.
C. Firmly rub the ice parallel to the muscle fiber for 10-15 minutes.
D. Use retrograde motions with the ice until the client reports numbing. -
\Correct Response: B
Rationale: Ice massage is an effective modality to use on small and very targeted areas
of soft tissue. To effectively achieve vasoconstriction and to avoid tissue damage, ice
should be moved in circular motions to massage the area for approximately 4-5
minutes.
Reference:
A: 1-2 minutes is not long enough for the client to experience analgesia at the site of
application.
C & D: These options are too long to perform ice massage and could potentially lead to
further tissue damage.
COTA Prep Question:
A service competent school-based COTA is collaborating with an OTR prior to the initial
evaluation of a student who has a developmental delay. Which part of the student's
evaluation is within the scope of practice for the COTA to complete?
A. Determining the impact of social interactions on development
B. Documenting outcomes of unstructured parent interviews
C. Administering and scoring standardized handwriting assessments
D. Assessing fine motor patterns during classroom activities -
\Correct Response: C
Rationale: Administering and scoring standardized assessments are within the scope of
practice for a service competent school-based COTA practitioner.
Classification Code: Domain 01 Task 01, Knowledge 02
Incorrect Responses:
A, B, & D: These options are outside the scope of practice of a COTA practitioner,
although a COTA can contribute to discussions with the OTR on these areas.
