CPA Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. When grooming a mustache, at what reference point is the bottom edge typically trimmed? → Along the top lip line
2. The immediate first aid priority for a heat stroke victim in a petroleum field setting is: → Rapidly cool the body using ice packs or cool water immersion and call EMS
3. A petroleum facility's Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) must be revalidated at minimum every: → 5 years
4. What is the purpose of a 'buddy system' in sanitation protocols at remote petroleum sites? → To ensure each worker monitors another for signs of chemical exposure or illness
5. A client calls upset that their fuel delivery arrived two hours late. What is the best first response? → Apologize sincerely and explain the reason for the delay
6. During a men's haircut, what technique is used to create a defined line along the neck without a hard edge? → Tapering
7. What is the primary risk of drinking from an unverified water source at a remote drilling site? → Waterborne pathogens causing gastrointestinal illness
8. What does the term 'MAWP' stand for in the context of pressure vessel maintenance? → Maximum Allowable Working Pressure
9. Which type of bleeding is characterized by bright red blood spurting in pulses from a wound? → Arterial bleeding
10. Which part of the nephron is primarily responsible for filtering blood under pressure to produce the initial filtrate? → Glomerulus
11. What is the scientific term for the knee joint in the hindlimb of horses and cattle? → Stifle
12. What type of joint allows the greatest range of motion and is found at the shoulder of most domestic animals? → Ball-and-socket joint
13. What is the MAIN reason for using a strainer upstream of a control valve or pump? → To remove solid particles that could damage the equipment
14. What is the importance of reservoir pressure in oil production? → To extract oil by maintaining pressure
15. In the context of petroleum geology, what is 'porosity'? → The percentage of void space in a rock that can hold fluids
16. Which type of respirator is required when working in an atmosphere with oxygen levels below 19.5%? → Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) or supplied-air respirator
17. What is the function of drill collars in a bottom hole assembly (BHA)? → To provide weight on bit and keep the drill string in tension
18. Which motivational model suggests that animals have internal drives that build up over time until a releasing stimulus triggers the behavior? → Hydraulic model
19. What is evidence-based practice in CPA Animal Anatomy & Physiology? → Integrating research evidence with expertise and client needs
20. What role do standard operating procedures play in CPA Animal Anatomy & Physiology? → Ensuring consistency and quality through documented instructions
21. What is the purpose of a production platform in offshore drilling? → To extract oil and store gas
22. Why are hazard assessments important in the petroleum industry? → To identify and mitigate risks
23. What is hydraulic fracturing? → A method of extracting oil and gas
24. What is the primary function of the choke manifold in well control operations? → To control annular back pressure while circulating a kick out of the well
25. In well control, what is the 'driller's method' used for? → A two-circulation kick-killing method that circulates the kick out before weighting up mud
26. A petroleum apprentice receives a complaint via email. The most appropriate response time for a professional service reply is: → Within one business day
27. Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) containing petroleum products in the U.S. are primarily regulated under which law? → Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle I
28. What is evidence-based practice in CPA Sanitation & Disease Prevention? → Integrating research evidence with expertise and client needs
29. Under OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030), what is the first step when a petroleum worker is cut and bleeding on-site? → Treat blood as potentially infectious and use gloves before rendering aid
30. A foraging animal that selects food patches to maximize energy intake while minimizing time spent searching is following: → Optimal foraging theory