OTR Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. An OTR is training a caregiver to use a mechanical Hoyer lift. Which instruction is MOST important for safety? → Ensure the sling is positioned under the client before operating the lift
2. Which ethical principle is violated when an OT shares a client's diagnosis with the client's employer without consent? → Confidentiality/Fidelity
3. A client with low vision is having difficulty reading medication labels. Which low-vision assistive strategy should the OTR recommend FIRST? → Provide large-print labels and a handheld magnifier
4. What type of assessment evaluates a client’s cognitive abilities? → Cognitive assessment
5. When conducting a risk assessment for OTR operations, which factor should receive the HIGHEST priority? → Probability and severity of potential harm
6. How does observation help in client evaluation? → Objective performance data
7. Which feeding milestone should be established before introducing pureed solids to an infant? → Sitting with minimal support and head control
8. A core principle of trauma-informed care in OT practice is: → Ensuring physical safety, trustworthiness, and client empowerment throughout care
9. Which setting commonly employs occupational therapists? → Hospitals and rehab centers
10. When conducting a risk assessment for OTR operations, which factor should receive the HIGHEST priority? → Probability and severity of potential harm
11. Which approach is MOST consistent with the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) when addressing a patient's occupational dysfunction? → Exploring the patient's volition, habituation, and performance capacity
12. Which assessment method provides the MOST reliable data for OTR professionals making critical decisions? → Standardized tools combined with professional observation
13. Which type of environmental control unit (ECU) is MOST appropriate for a client with C4 complete spinal cord injury who has no functional hand movement? → Voice-activated ECU
14. A client with COPD experiences dyspnea during self-care tasks. Which adaptive equipment recommendation BEST conserves energy during bathing? → Tub transfer bench and handheld shower
15. An OTR who accepts a gift of significant monetary value from a client most likely violates which ethical principle? → Fidelity
16. Which DBT skill module is most relevant when OTs teach clients to tolerate emotional distress without making situations worse? → Distress Tolerance
17. An OTR is using constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) with a stroke patient. Which element is essential to this approach? → Restraint of the less-affected limb
18. When recommending a reacher for a client post-total hip arthroplasty (posterior approach), the primary purpose is to: → Maintain hip precautions by avoiding hip flexion beyond 90°
19. In mirror therapy for phantom limb pain following amputation, what is the mechanism of action? → Visual feedback tricking the brain into perceiving the missing limb as intact
20. What does beneficence mean in professional ethics? → Promoting client well-being
21. Which of the following best exemplifies the ethical principle of justice in OT practice? → Advocating for equal access to OT services for underserved populations
22. A pediatric OTR uses criterion-referenced assessment rather than norm-referenced assessment. The PRIMARY advantage of criterion-referenced tools is that they: → Determine if specific skills are mastered regardless of peer comparison
23. Which factor MOST significantly affects the quality of technical outcomes in OTR practice? → The practitioner's training, preparation, and attention to detail
24. What is the purpose of an OT evaluation? → Assess abilities and plan therapy
25. A top-down assessment approach in OT begins by evaluating: → The client's occupational roles and participation
26. An OTR learns that a client has expressed suicidal ideation to another team member but not to the OT. The OTR's ethical obligation is to: → Coordinate with the treatment team and follow facility protocol for safety
27. Which seating feature is MOST important for a client with cerebral palsy who demonstrates extensor tone with posterior pelvic tilt? → High seat back with headrest
28. An OTR evaluating a client with multiple sclerosis uses the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). What is the FSS designed to measure? → The impact of fatigue on daily functioning
29. A client reports feeling disconnected from meaningful roles after retirement. Which OT construct best captures this experience? → Occupational alienation
30. The Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) is a self-designed tool that: → Helps individuals identify triggers, early warning signs, and personal recovery strategies