Comprehensive PTA Exam Study Guide:
Roles, Movements, and Clinical Applications
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Role of the PTA - CORRECT ANSWERS The PTA is responsible for performing selected
physical therapy interventions under the direction and supervision of the PT, making
modifications within the POC, documentation, and performing direct personal supervision to
aids, students, or other personnel.
Levels of supervision - CORRECT ANSWERS Direct supervision involves assigning
portions of the intervention or other tasks to the PTA; supervision ensures the PTA performs their
assigned duties properly; indirect supervision means the supervisor is not on premises but has
given written or oral instructions for treatment of the patient and the PT has examined the patient
within a reasonable timeframe; general supervision allows the PT to not be in the same building
but must be available by telecommunications; direct personal supervision means the PT is
physically present and/or immediately available for directions and supervision.
SOAP note - CORRECT ANSWERS A SOAP note is used for medical documentation.
S in SOAP - CORRECT ANSWERS Subjective: what the patient says.
O in SOAP - CORRECT ANSWERS Objective: what the therapist did during the
treatment session.
A in SOAP - CORRECT ANSWERS Assessment: how the patient did during the session,
any observations made.
,P in SOAP - CORRECT ANSWERS Plan: what to do next treatment session.
Common settings for PTAs - CORRECT ANSWERS PTAs work in a variety of settings
including peds, outpatient, inpatient, schools, work rehab, animal therapy, aquatic therapy, acute
care facilities, hospice, home health, etc.
APTA Core Values - CORRECT ANSWERS Core values include inclusion, duty,
excellence, collaboration, integrity, social responsibility, altruism, accountability.
APTA Standards of Ethical Conduct - CORRECT ANSWERS Standard 1: not
discrimination based on age, race, gender, ethnicity, etc.
Standard 2 of APTA Standards - CORRECT ANSWERS Protection of personal
information and gaining trust through explaining session plans.
Standard 3 of APTA Standards - CORRECT ANSWERS Making decisions in the client's
best interest and based on their competency levels.
Standard 4 of APTA Standards - CORRECT ANSWERS Be truthful, accurate and
relevant.
Standard 5 of APTA Standards - CORRECT ANSWERS Fulfillment of legal and ethical
obligations such as abiding by laws and regulations.
Standard 6 of APTA Standards - CORRECT ANSWERS Lifelong learning.
Standard 7 of APTA Standards - CORRECT ANSWERS Not accepting gifts that could
influence decisions.
,Standard 8 of APTA Standards - CORRECT ANSWERS Participation in efforts to meet
the health needs of people around them for those who are at an economic disadvantage.
APTA - CORRECT ANSWERS American Physical Therapy Association.
FSBPT - CORRECT ANSWERS Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy; it
develops and administers the NPTE, maintains a national database of disciplinary actions,
provides practice exam tools, and offers continuing competency resources for state boards.
CAPTE - CORRECT ANSWERS Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy
Education; it sets and enforces educational standards, conducts accreditation reviews to ensure
program quality, and protects the public by ensuring graduates are prepared for safe, effective
practice.
WADoH - CORRECT ANSWERS Washington State Department of Health issues and
renews PTA licenses, enforces laws in the scope of practice, investigates complaints and
maintains continuing education requirements and renewal procedures.
Key founding PTs - CORRECT ANSWERS Marguerite Sanderson and Mary McMillan.
World events shaping PT - CORRECT ANSWERS 1916 polio outbreak, WW1, during and
after WW2.
Public Health crises shaping PT - CORRECT ANSWERS Polio outbreak.
Active Movements - CORRECT ANSWERS Movement generated internally (e.g., moving
arm over head).
, Passive Movements - CORRECT ANSWERS Movements generated externally (e.g.,
therapist moving limb for patient).
Source of Motion - Active - CORRECT ANSWERS Ones self moving body part.
Source of Motion - Passive - CORRECT ANSWERS Outside source moving body part
without muscle activation from the individual being moved.
AROM - CORRECT ANSWERS Active Range of Motion - means you are moving by
yourself without any sort of assistance.
AAROM - CORRECT ANSWERS Active Assisted Range of Motion - means you are
moving but have partial assistance.
PROM - CORRECT ANSWERS Passive Range of Motion - means you are being moved
by an outside source such as a therapist or machine.
Anatomic Position - CORRECT ANSWERS Standing upright, eyes forward, feet parallel,
feet close together, arms at sides of body, palms facing forward.
Anterior - CORRECT ANSWERS Front.
Posterior - CORRECT ANSWERS Back.
Medial - CORRECT ANSWERS Closer to midline.
Roles, Movements, and Clinical Applications
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Role of the PTA - CORRECT ANSWERS The PTA is responsible for performing selected
physical therapy interventions under the direction and supervision of the PT, making
modifications within the POC, documentation, and performing direct personal supervision to
aids, students, or other personnel.
Levels of supervision - CORRECT ANSWERS Direct supervision involves assigning
portions of the intervention or other tasks to the PTA; supervision ensures the PTA performs their
assigned duties properly; indirect supervision means the supervisor is not on premises but has
given written or oral instructions for treatment of the patient and the PT has examined the patient
within a reasonable timeframe; general supervision allows the PT to not be in the same building
but must be available by telecommunications; direct personal supervision means the PT is
physically present and/or immediately available for directions and supervision.
SOAP note - CORRECT ANSWERS A SOAP note is used for medical documentation.
S in SOAP - CORRECT ANSWERS Subjective: what the patient says.
O in SOAP - CORRECT ANSWERS Objective: what the therapist did during the
treatment session.
A in SOAP - CORRECT ANSWERS Assessment: how the patient did during the session,
any observations made.
,P in SOAP - CORRECT ANSWERS Plan: what to do next treatment session.
Common settings for PTAs - CORRECT ANSWERS PTAs work in a variety of settings
including peds, outpatient, inpatient, schools, work rehab, animal therapy, aquatic therapy, acute
care facilities, hospice, home health, etc.
APTA Core Values - CORRECT ANSWERS Core values include inclusion, duty,
excellence, collaboration, integrity, social responsibility, altruism, accountability.
APTA Standards of Ethical Conduct - CORRECT ANSWERS Standard 1: not
discrimination based on age, race, gender, ethnicity, etc.
Standard 2 of APTA Standards - CORRECT ANSWERS Protection of personal
information and gaining trust through explaining session plans.
Standard 3 of APTA Standards - CORRECT ANSWERS Making decisions in the client's
best interest and based on their competency levels.
Standard 4 of APTA Standards - CORRECT ANSWERS Be truthful, accurate and
relevant.
Standard 5 of APTA Standards - CORRECT ANSWERS Fulfillment of legal and ethical
obligations such as abiding by laws and regulations.
Standard 6 of APTA Standards - CORRECT ANSWERS Lifelong learning.
Standard 7 of APTA Standards - CORRECT ANSWERS Not accepting gifts that could
influence decisions.
,Standard 8 of APTA Standards - CORRECT ANSWERS Participation in efforts to meet
the health needs of people around them for those who are at an economic disadvantage.
APTA - CORRECT ANSWERS American Physical Therapy Association.
FSBPT - CORRECT ANSWERS Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy; it
develops and administers the NPTE, maintains a national database of disciplinary actions,
provides practice exam tools, and offers continuing competency resources for state boards.
CAPTE - CORRECT ANSWERS Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy
Education; it sets and enforces educational standards, conducts accreditation reviews to ensure
program quality, and protects the public by ensuring graduates are prepared for safe, effective
practice.
WADoH - CORRECT ANSWERS Washington State Department of Health issues and
renews PTA licenses, enforces laws in the scope of practice, investigates complaints and
maintains continuing education requirements and renewal procedures.
Key founding PTs - CORRECT ANSWERS Marguerite Sanderson and Mary McMillan.
World events shaping PT - CORRECT ANSWERS 1916 polio outbreak, WW1, during and
after WW2.
Public Health crises shaping PT - CORRECT ANSWERS Polio outbreak.
Active Movements - CORRECT ANSWERS Movement generated internally (e.g., moving
arm over head).
, Passive Movements - CORRECT ANSWERS Movements generated externally (e.g.,
therapist moving limb for patient).
Source of Motion - Active - CORRECT ANSWERS Ones self moving body part.
Source of Motion - Passive - CORRECT ANSWERS Outside source moving body part
without muscle activation from the individual being moved.
AROM - CORRECT ANSWERS Active Range of Motion - means you are moving by
yourself without any sort of assistance.
AAROM - CORRECT ANSWERS Active Assisted Range of Motion - means you are
moving but have partial assistance.
PROM - CORRECT ANSWERS Passive Range of Motion - means you are being moved
by an outside source such as a therapist or machine.
Anatomic Position - CORRECT ANSWERS Standing upright, eyes forward, feet parallel,
feet close together, arms at sides of body, palms facing forward.
Anterior - CORRECT ANSWERS Front.
Posterior - CORRECT ANSWERS Back.
Medial - CORRECT ANSWERS Closer to midline.
