Patient Care Tech CPCT Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (1–10)

Question 1

The abbreviation 'ADLs' in patient care refers to which of the following?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Activities of daily living. ADLs are the routine self-care tasks a person performs daily, such as bathing, dressing, toileting, grooming, eating, and transferring. Helping with ADLs is a core PCT responsibility.

Question 2

A patient who must remain in bed should be repositioned at least how often to help prevent pressure injuries?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Every 2 hours. Repositioning an immobile, bedbound patient at least every 2 hours relieves prolonged pressure over bony areas and is a standard pressure-injury prevention measure.

Question 3

Which body areas are at HIGHEST risk for developing pressure injuries in a patient confined to bed?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Bony prominences such as the sacrum, heels, and hips. Pressure injuries develop where bone lies close to the skin surface, because tissue there is compressed between bone and the mattress. The sacrum, heels, elbows, and hips are classic sites.

Question 4

Before transferring a patient from the bed to a wheelchair, the wheelchair wheels should be:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Locked to prevent the chair from rolling. Locking the wheelchair wheels prevents the chair from rolling away during the transfer, which protects both the patient and the technician from a fall or injury.

Question 5

When lifting an object or assisting a patient, proper body mechanics call for the technician to:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Bend the knees and lift with the leg muscles. Bending the knees and using the strong leg muscles, while keeping the back straight and the load close, protects the spine from injury. Twisting and bending at the waist are common causes of back strain.

Question 6

When feeding a patient who has difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), the technician should position the patient:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Sitting upright at about 90 degrees. An upright, seated position lets gravity help food move down the esophagus and reduces the risk of aspiration into the airway, which is the main danger in dysphagia.

Question 7

Oral care for an unconscious patient is performed primarily to:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Keep the mouth and mucous membranes clean and moist and prevent aspiration. Unconscious patients cannot clear secretions, so the mouth dries and bacteria accumulate. Frequent oral care keeps the mucosa moist and clean and lowers the risk of aspiration and infection.

Question 8

When giving a complete bed bath, the technician should generally wash the patient's body:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

From cleanest area to dirtiest, perineal area last. Washing from clean to dirty (face first, perineal area last) prevents carrying microorganisms from contaminated areas to cleaner ones, reducing infection risk.

Question 9

Passive range-of-motion exercises are performed when:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

The technician moves the patient's joints because the patient cannot do so independently. In passive range of motion, the caregiver moves the joints for the patient. It is used when a patient cannot move independently and helps maintain joint mobility and prevent contractures.

Question 10

When using a gait belt to assist a patient with walking, the technician should:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Apply it snugly around the patient's waist and grasp it from behind/side. A gait belt is secured snugly at the waist so the technician can hold on and steady or guide the patient during ambulation, improving control if the patient begins to fall.

Patient Care Tech CPCT Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (1–10)

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