OTA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield OTA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. An OTA is working with a client who has hemiplegia. Which principle of the neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) approach best guides intervention? → Inhibit abnormal tone and facilitate normal movement patterns
2. A client with diabetes is referred to OT for lower extremity care training. Which topic is MOST critical to include in the treatment plan? → Daily foot inspection and proper nail and skin care technique
3. An OTA is applying a resting hand splint to a patient with a median nerve injury. What is the CORRECT position for the wrist and fingers? → Wrist in 20–30° extension, fingers in slight flexion, thumb in palmar abduction
4. Which approach BEST supports occupational engagement for an older adult newly admitted to a long-term care facility? → Conducting an occupational profile interview to identify meaningful roles and interests
5. Which of the following is the most appropriate way to correct a handwritten documentation error? → Cross out with a single line, initial, and date
6. Under IDEA, an OTA providing school-based services must ensure that OT goals are integrated into which document? → The Individualized Education Program (IEP)
7. In Occupational Therapy Assistant Test practice, what is the best approach to quality improvement in ot fundamentals? → Use data-driven methods with measurable outcomes
8. An OTA documents an intervention that was not actually performed. This action constitutes: → Healthcare fraud
9. According to AOTA's Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics, the principle of 'beneficence' requires that OT practitioners: → Act in the best interest of clients and promote their welfare
10. A patient with COPD is participating in upper extremity strengthening. When does oxygen desaturation MOST commonly occur for these patients? → During unsupported arm elevation activities
11. In Occupational Therapy Assistant Test practice, what is the best approach to quality improvement in physical rehabilitation? → Use data-driven methods with measurable outcomes
12. Which approach best demonstrates mastery of adaptive equipment in Occupational Therapy Assistant Test practice? → Applying principles to novel situations with sound judgment
13. A patient recovering from a total hip replacement needs a treatment plan focused on ADL retraining. Which precaution must be integrated into the plan? → Hip precautions to avoid dislocation during functional activities
14. A patient with rheumatoid arthritis is performing ADL training. Which joint protection principle should the OTA emphasize? → Distribute load over larger joints and more joints
15. A child with dyspraxia (developmental coordination disorder) is MOST likely to have difficulty with: → Planning and executing novel motor sequences in a coordinated way
16. A physician's order reads 'OT evaluate and treat.' The OTA begins treatment. What should the OTA document first? → A statement confirming OT supervision and the OT's evaluation findings
17. When collaborating with a teacher to modify classroom tasks for a child with fine motor delays, which modification is MOST appropriate for a writing task? → Allow the child to use a word processor or provide wider-ruled paper with a pencil grip
18. Which activity would be MOST appropriate in the acute phase of psychiatric hospitalization? → A brief, low-demand collage activity
19. An OTA documents that a patient 'ambulated 50 feet with minimal assist.' This is an example of what type of documentation? → Objective data
20. Which frame of reference guides sensory integration therapy in pediatric OT practice? → Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) frame of reference
21. Which of the following BEST describes 'therapeutic use of self' in OT? → Intentionally using one's personality and relationship to benefit the client
22. The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, primarily detects: → Head position and movement relative to gravity
23. The OT practice framework identifies 'process skills' as a type of performance skill. Which of the following is an example of a process skill? → Organizes — logically arranging tools and materials for a task
24. Which approach best demonstrates mastery of physical rehabilitation in Occupational Therapy Assistant Test practice? → Applying principles to novel situations with sound judgment
25. A client with cognitive impairment struggles with multi-step tasks. Which activity modification would be MOST beneficial? → Breaking the task into single-step cueing segments
26. Which ethical principle is MOST directly applied when an OTA provides culturally competent care that respects a client's cultural background and values? → Justice
27. Which of the following is an example of a 'top-down' assessment approach in occupational therapy? → Observing a client perform a functional task first, then identifying underlying deficits
28. An OTA wants to send a patient's evaluation summary to the referring physician. What must occur first? → A signed patient authorization or a HIPAA-permitted disclosure must be in place
29. A client reports fatigue during a morning ADL session. Based on energy conservation principles, what should the OTA recommend first? → Prioritize tasks and eliminate nonessential steps
30. A patient with a below-knee amputation is being fitted for a prosthesis. What is the PRIMARY goal of residual limb shaping? → Reduce edema and shape the limb into a cylindrical form