If you need help studying for the Certified Pulmonary Function Technology (CPFT) test or just want some more information about what the test is like, you’ve come to the right place.
Click below to take a free CPFT practice test!
Exam Eligibility
Before you can register to take the CPFT test, you’ll need to meet at least ONE of the following eligibility requirements:
- You need an associate degree (or higher) from an entry into practice respiratory therapy education program
- You need to be a CRT or RRT credentialed by the NBRC
- You need at least 62 semester hours in college, including college credit level courses in biology and mathematics
If you meet one of these requirements, you’re set to begin the registration process!
What’s on the Exam?
First, let’s talk about the questions on the exam. There are 115 multiple-choice questions total, but only 100 of the questions will count toward your score. Why is that?
The 15 unscored questions on the exam are called “pretest” questions. These are added to the exam to determine if they’re good enough questions to add to future versions of the test.
The trick is that you won’t have any way of knowing which questions are scored and which ones are pretest questions. They will appear just like the scored questions throughout the test.
Each question falls under one of the following three cognitive levels:
- 🧠 Recall: The recall questions test your ability to recall/recognize information.
- 🛠️ Application: The application questions test your ability to apply knowledge to given situations.
- 🔍 Analysis: The analysis questions test your ability to analyze and evaluate solutions.
Let’s take a closer look at the three sections of the exam.
1. Instrumentation/Equipment
33 scored questions
- Configure and maintain body habitus equipment
- Set up blood gas analyzers
- Calibrate spirometers
- Adjust aerosol delivery devices
- Set up metered dose or dry powder inhalers
- Inspect and maintain valves
- Calibrate gas analyzers
- Set up body plethysmographs
- Configure exercise equipment
- Set up field walking test equipment
- Calibrate ECG monitors
- Maintain gas delivery systems
- Calibrate pressure measuring devices
- Inspect gas and water absorbers
- Maintain emergency management equipment
- Set up arterial/venous blood collection equipment
- Inspect quality control devices
- Manage infection control materials/methods
Troubleshoot
- Diagnose issues with body habitus equipment
- Troubleshoot blood gas analyzers
- Resolve spirometer functionality issues
- Fix aerosol delivery devices
- Diagnose metered dose or dry powder inhaler issues
- Resolve valve issues
- Diagnose problems with gas analyzers
- Troubleshoot body plethysmographs
- Fix exercise equipment issues
- Resolve field walking test equipment malfunctions
- Troubleshoot ECG monitors
- Diagnose issues with gas delivery systems
- Fix pressure measuring device problems
- Repair gas and water absorbers
- Troubleshoot emergency management equipment
- Resolve issues with arterial/venous blood collection equipment
- Diagnose quality control device malfunctions
- Troubleshoot infection control materials/methods
Perform Quality Control
- Conduct quality checks for body habitus equipment
- Verify blood gas analyzer accuracy
- Perform quality control on spirometers
- Check aerosol delivery devices
- Validate functionality of metered dose or dry powder inhalers
- Conduct quality checks for valves
- Evaluate gas analyzers
- Verify body plethysmograph accuracy
- Inspect exercise equipment for quality control
- Check field walking test equipment for accuracy
2. Procedures
44 scored questions
- Body habitus measurements and estimates
- Spirometry
- Inhaled medication delivery
- Blood sample collection
- Sputum sample collection
- Blood gas analysis
- CO-oximetry
- Static lung volumes
- DLCO
- Instruction for home testing
- Patient education
- Oxygen assessment and titration
Perform the Procedure
- Body habitus measurements and estimates
- Spirometry
- Inhaled medication delivery
- Blood sample collection
- Sputum sample collection
- Blood gas analysis
- CO-oximetry
- Static lung volumes
- DLCO
- Instruction for home testing
- Patient education
- Oxygen assessment and titration
Evaluate Validity of Result
- Body habitus measurements and estimates
- Spirometry
- Inhaled medication delivery
- Blood sample collection
- Sputum sample collection
- Blood gas analysis
- CO-oximetry
- Static lung volumes
- DLCO
- Instruction for home testing
- Patient education
- Oxygen assessment and titration
3. Data Management
23 scored questions
- Blood gas
- CO-oximetry
- Spirometry
- Static lung volumes
- DLCO
- Home testing
- Oxygen assessment and titration
- Exercise test
- Blood pressure monitoring
- ECG analysis
- Pulse oximetry
- Airway responsiveness
How to Register
To get started, you’ll need to submit an application on the NBRC website. The application will ask you for your contact information and any documentation to prove your eligibility (among other things).
When you submit the application, you’ll also need to submit the application fee, which is $200.
CPFT Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
Exam Scores
For each question you answer correctly, you’ll receive one point toward your score. The number of points you get by the end of the exam is called your raw score. Your raw score determines your pass or fail status after comparison to the cut score.
If your raw score reaches 75, which is the low cut score, you’ll be awarded the CPFT credential. If your raw score reaches the high cut score, which can fluctuate, you’ll receive the CPFT and RPFT credentials.
Retaking the Exam
If you didn’t get a passing score on your first try, that’s okay! You can retake the test up to two more times without having to wait between attempts.
Keep in mind that you will have to pay the full retesting fee ($170) every time you retake the test.
FAQs
How many questions are on the CPFT exam?
The exam contains 115 questions.
What is the time limit for the CPFT exam?
The exam is timed at 2 hours.
What is the passing score for the CPFT exam?
You’ll need to get a final cut score of at least 75 to pass.
How much does the CPFT exam cost?
The testing fee is $200.