Practitioners take the Postural Alignment Specialist (PAS) certification from Egoscue University to work with clients on posture and pain using the Egoscue approach. This page has free practice sets by topic, worked explanations of sample questions, the checked fees for the bundle and the final exam, a study plan and answers to common questions. We write all of this content with AI tools. It is not official Egoscue material. Practice with the free Postural Alignment Specialist practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (9 questions with answer explanations).

Free Postural Alignment Specialist Study Tools

Interactive Postural Alignment Specialist resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:

• PAS Anatomy & Physiology of Posture 1 — 9 questions with answer explanations
• Postural Alignment Specialist flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
• Postural Alignment Specialist study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
• Postural Alignment Specialist cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review

PAS Exam at a Glance

Facts verified Nov 3, 2026 against Egoscue Institute. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.

What the PAS is and how it works

According to Egoscue Institute (Egoscue University), Egoscue Inc., “We offer three levels of online certification and in-person practical training to fit the needs of practitioners at any level.”^[2]

The PAS is a certification run by the Egoscue Institute (Egoscue University), part of Egoscue Inc. It is for practitioners who want a credential in Egoscue-style postural alignment work. Egoscue describes its program as online certification paired with practical training. You study the coursework online and attend seminars either online or in person.

The coursework and the PAS Certification Final Exam are both delivered online through the Egoscue University catalog. The full Postural Alignment Specialist Certification Curriculum bundle is listed at $2,749. The final exam is also listed on its own at $99.

We have not been able to check the passing score, the number of questions, the eligibility requirements or the retake policy, so we do not state them here. These details can change, and Egoscue University is the only reliable source for them. Before you enroll, read the course catalog at egoscueuniversity-nle.myabsorb.com and the certification page at egoscue.com/become-a-therapist. Contact Egoscue directly if anything about prerequisites, scoring or retakes is unclear.

Our practice sets are grouped by topic, not by an official exam outline, because we could not find a published outline from Egoscue.

Worked examples: how to reason through PAS questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Which soft tissue technique is most appropriate during the acute phase of an overuse injury to reduce hypertonicity without further tissue trauma?

1. Deep transverse friction massage
2. High-intensity myofascial release
3. Light effleurage and gentle cross-fiber stroking
4. Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM)

Answer: C. Light effleurage and gentle cross-fiber stroking

Explanation:

Correct: C, light effleurage and gentle cross-fiber stroking. In the acute phase the tissue is inflamed and easily irritated. The goal is to calm muscle tone and support circulation without adding mechanical load, and light, gentle strokes do that.

A is wrong because deep transverse friction stresses tissue on purpose and belongs to later phases, when remodeling is the goal. B is wrong because high-intensity myofascial release applies sustained heavy pressure that can aggravate inflamed tissue. D is wrong because IASTM creates controlled microtrauma to trigger repair, which is the opposite of what acute tissue needs.

Rule to remember: match how intense a technique is to the stage of the tissue. Acute tissue needs gentle, protective work. Deeper techniques come later, once the inflammation settles.

Example 2

Question: A client rates their lower back pain as 7/10 on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) after a postural correction exercise. What does this score indicate?

1. Mild pain requiring no modification
2. Moderate-to-severe pain that may warrant exercise modification
3. Severe pain requiring immediate medical referral
4. No pain detected

Answer: B. Moderate-to-severe pain that may warrant exercise modification

Explanation:

Correct: B. On the Numeric Rating Scale, a 7/10 is in the moderate-to-severe range. After a corrective exercise, that score is a signal to modify, regress or stop the movement and reassess. It is not a cue to push through.

A is wrong because 7/10 is well above mild, and continuing unchanged risks irritating the area. C is wrong because a pain score alone does not require medical referral. Referral depends on red flags, such as unexplained neurological signs or pain that does not change with position. D is wrong because the client has reported pain, so pain is present.

Rule to remember: use pain ratings to adjust the exercise dose. A high or rising score means you scale back. Decisions about referral rest on the full clinical picture, not a single rating.

Example 3

Question: A client demonstrates knee valgus during a single-leg squat. Which muscle activation exercise is most indicated?

1. Standing hip flexion with resistance band
2. Side-lying hip abduction
3. Supine hip bridge
4. Standing calf raise

Answer: B. Side-lying hip abduction

Explanation:

Correct: B, side-lying hip abduction. Knee valgus during a single-leg squat often means the hip abductors, especially the gluteus medius, are not controlling the thigh bone, so it drifts into adduction and internal rotation. Side-lying hip abduction isolates the gluteus medius and activates it before you load it in standing patterns.

A is wrong because resisted hip flexion trains the hip flexors, which do not resist the inward collapse. C is wrong because a supine bridge mainly works the gluteus maximus and hamstrings in hip extension. It helps, but it does not isolate the abductors. D is wrong because calf raises work the ankle plantar flexors, not hip control.

Rule to remember: when the knee caves in, look up the chain to the hip. Activate the gluteus medius first, then progress to standing and single-leg work.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official Egoscue University course outline so you know what the curriculum covers and how the final exam is delivered. Then take the starter practice test without notes to see where you stand.

Next, work topic by topic. As you finish each part of the official coursework, do the matching practice sets:

• Foundations: Anatomy & Physiology of Posture, Spinal Alignment & Assessment and Postural Deviations & Pathologies
• Assessment: Assessment Techniques & Tools, Gait Analysis & Foot Mechanics and Pain Assessment & Management
• Correction: Corrective Exercise Programming, Muscle Imbalance Correction and Postural Correction Methods & Interventions
• Working with clients: Client Education & Compliance and Professional Ethics & Safety Standards

For every question you miss, write down why the right answer is right and why your choice was wrong. Then check it against the official course material, because we wrote these questions ourselves and they are not real exam items. Go back to your weakest sets a few days later. Near the end, mix sets together so you practise switching between topics, and reread the official exam instructions before test day.