RESOURCES

There are few formally recognized study/prep materials for the Orthopedic Clinical Specialization board exam, though there are some materials that every aspiring specialist should review. Our 12/16 Week Study Plan outlines these resources in more detail, providing specific recommendations, tips, tricks, and week-to-week recommendations. The below recommendations are the independent recommendation of OPTS, and individual study needs may vary significantly.

Must Use:‍ ‍

• APTA Orthopedic Section Clinical Practice Guidelines

• Current Concepts of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, 5th Edition

  • UPDATE: The Orthopedic section of the APTA has announced that the Current Concepts of Orthopedic Physical Therapy, 6th Edition will be available in the fall of 2026.

• Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Description of Specialty Practice

• Systematic Reviews from the Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy (JOSPT) - Last Several Years

  • Our Systematic Review Single Sentence Takeaway (SST) Handout summarizes these for you!

Should Use:

• OPTS Practice Examination

  • Our flagship product. 200+ meticulously reviewed and updated practice questions in an easy to use format.

• OPTS 12/16 Week Study Guide

  • A simple, guided plan that can take some of the prework out of studying; perfect for busy clinicians.

• OCS Field Guide Podcast

Can Use:

• Structured Preparatory Programs

  • Medbridge, Evidence in Motion, Final Frontier, et al.

• Hard-Copy OCS Practice Tests

  • Caution: Please understand these practice tests may not be up-to-date; review publishing information.

Additional Helpful Links:

• Prepare for the OCS Exam: Steps, Study Tools & Key Dates

• OPTS OCS Readiness Quiz

  • A brief 20-question quiz intended to be a general orthopedic rehabilitation knowledge check.