Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) Examination study guide
CHT · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) credential is administered by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC), the body whose site describes itself as maintaining contact information for "all certified hand therapists" and which publishes a certification pathway aimed at both current CHTs and "aspiring CHT" candidates. The credential signals advanced competency in hand and upper-limb rehabilitation and is pursued by therapists who want to distinguish themselves clinically in that specialty area. This study guide is an independent resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by HTCC; it is built to help you organize preparation, not to replace official materials. Because HTCC's CHT exam page was unavailable when this guide was compiled, no item count, time limit, passing standard, fee, retake rule, or domain weighting is asserted here, and none should be inferred from this page. The CHT study guide has 4 sections and about 1,348 words.
01Evaluation and Assessment
Assessment items rarely ask you to recite a norm. They place a finding in context: is a structure injured, is function changing, or is the plan working?
354 words, about 2 min02Treatment and Intervention
Treatment items test whether you can stress tissue without re-injuring it. Inflammation (roughly days 0–5): protect, elevate, gentle AROM, no heat.
337 words, about 2 min03Anatomy, Kinesiology, and Pathophysiology
Know the six dorsal extensor compartments - 1: APL and EPB (de Quervain); 2: ECRL/ECRB (intersection syndrome); 3: EPL; 4: EDC and EIP; 5: EDM; 6: ECU. Know the flexor zones (Verdan I–V) and the pulley system, where A2 and A4 are the critical pulleys, A1 is the site of trigger finger, and A2 is lost in FDP avulsion.
340 words, about 2 min04Professional Practice, Research, and Evidence
Rank evidence roughly as systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized trials, then individual randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, case series, and expert opinion. Appraise for randomization, blinding, allocation concealment, completeness of follow-up, and sample size.
317 words, about 2 min