Hand Therapy Certification Examination

It is a comprehensive test of advanced clinical skills and theory in upper limb rehabilitation, covering the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder girdle. HTCC publishes the official exam blueprint and a terms and abbreviations list under Exam Preparation, which are the best guides to the content areas and terminology the exam uses.

HTCC states a CHT has a minimum of three years of clinical experience, including 4,000 hours or more in direct practice in hand therapy, and has passed the exam. Verify your specific situation against HTCC's current Eligibility Requirements and Supporting Documentation pages, since documentation rules are set by HTCC, not by this site.

HTCC requires every CHT to demonstrate continued professional development and competency by recertifying every five years. Recertification can be pursued by professional development or by examination; HTCC maintains separate pages for each pathway, including eligibility requirements, deadlines, and fees.

HTCC announced that the fall 2026 examination application is open from August 1st to October 15th. Application windows change, so check HTCC's Deadlines, Fees and Refunds page and the How To Apply page for the current cycle before submitting anything.

It is an advanced competency exam, so it assumes years of hands-on practice rather than entry-level knowledge. The most common failure mode is studying broadly instead of targeting weak blueprint domains, followed by weak splinting and wound/scar reasoning and by neglecting terminology. Let practice-question results, not comfort, decide your study order.

Start with the HTCC blueprint and terms list, then take a diagnostic set of practice questions to find weak domains. Study your two weakest areas first while you still have energy, rotate in the stronger ones for maintenance, and finish with timed mixed sets that force you to commit to an answer and move on.

Read the whole stem before looking at options, identify what is being asked, and eliminate choices that are true but irrelevant. When two answers seem close, prefer the one supported by the safest, most standard clinical rationale. Flag genuinely unknown items, answer them, and return only if time permits.

Retake policy, waiting periods, and any associated fees are set by HTCC and are not stated in the material this page was built from, so they are not reported here. Consult HTCC's Certification FAQs and Deadlines, Fees and Refunds pages, or contact HTCC directly at [email protected], for the authoritative answer.

Scheduling, rescheduling, and test center locations are handled through HTCC's Exam Appointment section, which includes pages for scheduling or rescheduling an exam and locating a test center. HTCC also publishes admission and security procedures and an overview of PSI's procedures for the day of the test.