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APTA Specialist Certification - Governed by ABPTS

APTA Specialist Certification - Governed by ABPTS

All questions on the exam relate to the competencies outlined in "Description of Specialty Practice: Geriatric Physical Therapy."

The examination blueprint is based on approximately 200 questions in the exam. Questions are written to avoid use of negative stems, and they may include graphics. Examination questions will represent both a practice expectation and a knowledge area associated with that expectation.

A case scenario may have more than one question; however, the questions are written independently so that incorrectly answering one question should not jeopardize answering others questions correctly.

The following is a summary including the percentage of exam questions for each of the major components of the DSP.

Outline Summary

A. Foundation Sciences (5%) 
B. Clinical Sciences (5%)
C. Behavioral Sciences (5%)

A. Professional Roles and Responsibilities (15%)

B. Patient and Client Management

     1. Examination (25%)
     2. Evaluation/Diagnosis/Prognosis (15%)
     3. Intervention (25%)
     4. Outcomes (5%)

TOTAL 100%

The medical conditions that may be represented on the examination include (but are not limited to) the following:

Musculoskeletal Disorders

  • Spine – to include
    -Degenerative Joint/Disc Disease
    -Compression Fracture
    -Spinal Stenosis
    -Kyphosis/Scoliosis
  • Upper Extremity– to include
    • Shoulder
      -Rotator Cuff Syndromes
      -Osteoarthritis
      -Other Shoulder Conditions
    • Arm/ Elbow
      -Humeral Fracture
      -Other Elbow/ Arm Conditions
    • Wrist/Hand
      -Radio-Ulna Fracture
      -Osteoarthritis
      -Tendinopathy
      -Other Wrist/Hand Conditions
  • Lower Extremity– to include
    • Hip & Pelvis
      -Hip Osteoarthritis
      -Hip and Pelvic Fractures
      -Other Hip Conditions
    • Knee
      -Knee Osteoarthritis
      -Other Knee Conditions
    • Leg/ Ankle/ Foot
      -Tibial/Fibular fracture
      -Tendinopathy
      -Plantar Fasciitis
  • Rheumatic Conditions– to include
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Lupus
    • Gout/Pseudogout
    • Polymyalgia Rheumatica
  • Osteoporosis & Osteopenia
  • Amputations
  • Myopathy
  •  Neuromuscular Disorders
  • Cerebrovascular Accident
  • Head Injury– to include
    • Traumatic Brain Injury
    • Concussions
  • Degenerative Disorders
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinson Syndromes
    • Huntington’s Chorea
    • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
  • Dementia
    • Alzheimer’s disease
    • Other Dementia types
    • Neurocognitive Disorders
  • Peripheral Neuropathy
  • Acquired CNS Disorders
    • Brain Tumors
    • CNS Infections
  • Vestibular Disorders
  • Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Disorders
  • Cardiac
    • Coronary Heart Disease
    • Cardiac Arrhythmia/ Conduction Disorders
    • Heart Failure/ Valvular Disease
    • Cardiac Pacemakers and Defibrillators
    • Other Cardiac Conditions
  • Peripheral Vascular
    • Arterial Insufficiency
    • Venous Insufficiency
    • Lymphedema
    • Deep Vein Thrombosis
  • Pulmonary
    • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
    • Chronic Restrictive Lung Disease
    • Pulmonary Hypertension/Cor Pulmonale
    • Lung Neoplasm
    • Pneumonia
    • Respiratory Failure
    • Pulmonary Embolism
    • Other Pulmonary Conditions
  •  Integumentary Disorders
    • Pressure Sores
    • Burns
    • Vascular and Lymphatic Wounds
    • Skin Tears
    • Neuropathic Wounds
    • Other Integumentary Conditions
  • Metabolic & Endocrine Disorders
    • Diabetes
    • Dehydration
    • Electrolyte Imbalance
    • Other Metabolic Conditions
  • Urinary Disorders
    • Renal Failure
    • Urinary Tract Infection
    • Bladder Incontinence
    • Prostate Neoplasm
    • Other Urinary Conditions
  •  Other Neoplasms
    • Breast Neoplasm
    • Gastric and Bowel Neoplasm
  • Multisystem
    • Sarcopenia/Dynapenia
    • Falls
    • Failure to Thrive
    • Sepsis
    • Organ Transplant
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