AOA Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the AOA exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 AOA Exam Format at a Glance
📚 AOA Topics to Study (21)
✍️ Sample AOA Questions & Answers
1. Which immunization is specifically recommended for healthcare workers to protect against occupational blood-borne pathogen exposure?
Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for healthcare workers due to their occupational risk of exposure to infected blood and body fluids.
2. How does OMM help improve circulation?
OMM techniques are specifically designed to improve the body's circulatory and lymphatic systems. By applying gentle pressure, stretching, and rhythmic movements to tissues, osteopathic physicians can release fascial restrictions and muscle tension that may impede fluid flow. This manual stimulation helps enhance the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues while facilitating the removal of waste products, thereby improving overall circulation and reducing swelling.
3. Why is it important for osteopathic physicians to take a holistic approach to patient care?
A holistic approach ensures that all aspects of a patient's health, including physical, mental, and emotional factors, are addressed, leading to better health outcomes.
4. What is the primary pharmacological concern when prescribing NSAIDs to elderly patients?
NSAIDs in elderly patients carry increased risks of GI bleeding, acute kidney injury, fluid retention, and cardiovascular events due to age-related physiologic changes.
5. Which screening test is recommended for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in men aged 65–75 who have ever smoked?
A one-time abdominal ultrasound screening is recommended for men aged 65–75 who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime.
6. Rational treatment in the osteopathic model is based upon an understanding and integration of which three principles?
The fourth tenet of osteopathic medicine states that rational treatment is based upon the application of the other three core principles: 1) the body is a unit; the person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit; 2) the body is capable of self-regulation and self-healing; and 3) structure and function are reciprocally interrelated. [4, 12, 24] This foundational concept guides the osteopathic physician's diagnostic and therapeutic approach.