100+ Free CAQ-HM Practice Questions
Pass your NCCPA CAQ Hospital Medicine exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
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Key Facts: CAQ-HM Exam
120
Total Items
NCCPA CAQ
3 hrs
Exam Time
NCCPA
$350
Exam Fee
NCCPA
3,000 hrs
Practice Required
Prior 6 yrs hospitalist-PA
NCCPA CAQ-HM is the PA subspecialty credential for hospital medicine. 120 items, 3 hours, $350. Eligibility: 3,000 hours hospitalist practice + 150 HM CME. Master sepsis bundle, AFib management with CHA2DS2-VASc, electrolyte correction rates, DKA insulin/fluid protocols, and transitions of care to reduce readmissions.
Sample CAQ-HM Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your CAQ-HM exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A 68-year-old man with HFrEF (EF 25%) is admitted with acute decompensation. He takes lisinopril, metoprolol succinate, and furosemide. Which addition provides the greatest mortality benefit?
2A 72-year-old woman is admitted with ADHF. BP 110/70, weight up 6 kg, JVP 14 cm, bilateral crackles, 3+ pitting edema. She has been on oral furosemide 40 mg daily. Best initial therapy?
3Which agent has shown mortality benefit in HFpEF (EF >50%)?
4A 60-year-old presents with chest pain. ECG shows 2 mm ST elevation in V2-V4. Troponin pending. Door-to-balloon goal at PCI-capable hospital is:
5A 65-year-old with NSTEMI is taken for PCI with a drug-eluting stent. Which is the standard DAPT duration after DES for ACS?
6A 70-year-old man (HTN, DM, prior stroke) presents with new AFib, rate 110, BP 140/85, asymptomatic. CHA2DS2-VASc?
7A 75-year-old woman presents with new AFib of unknown duration, hemodynamically stable. Plan is rhythm control with cardioversion. Best next step?
8A 62-year-old with new AFib is started on apixaban. Which is true regarding DOAC monitoring?
9A patient on warfarin for AFib has INR 6.5 and no bleeding. Best management?
10A 78-year-old has refractory ADHF despite IV diuretics; creatinine rising. What option may be considered?
About the CAQ-HM Exam
NCCPA Certificate of Added Qualifications in Hospital Medicine — for PAs practicing as inpatient hospitalists. Covers cardiovascular admission diagnoses (HF, ACS, AFib), pulmonary (COPD/CHF differentiation, PE), sepsis/ID, renal & electrolyte management, GI, ICU procedures, endocrine inpatient (DKA/HHS), neurologic inpatient, hematologic, hospitalist professional practice, and transitions of care/quality.
Questions
120 scored questions
Time Limit
3 hours
Passing Score
Scaled (NCCPA-set)
Exam Fee
$350 (NCCPA)
CAQ-HM Exam Content Outline
Cardiovascular
ACS, AFib, decompensated HF, hypertensive emergency, perioperative cardiac risk
Sepsis / Infectious Disease
Hour-1 bundle, source control, antimicrobial stewardship, HCAP/HAP, C. difficile
Pulmonary
COPD/CHF differentiation, PE workup, pneumonia, ARDS, NIV vs intubation
Renal & Electrolytes
AKI workup, hyper/hypoNa correction rates, hyperK protocols, AKI dialysis indications
Gastrointestinal
UGIB management, ALF, hepatic encephalopathy, pancreatitis severity, SBO
ICU Procedures & Critical Care
Central line, intubation, paracentesis, thoracentesis, ABG interpretation
Endocrine Inpatient
DKA/HHS protocols, perioperative glycemic control, adrenal crisis, thyroid storm
Neurologic Inpatient
Stroke admission, status epilepticus, delirium prevention, withdrawal protocols
Hematologic
Anticoagulation reversal, transfusion thresholds, HIT, DVT prophylaxis
Hospitalist Professional Practice
Inpatient billing, code status, palliative integration, ethics, scope
Transitions of Care / Quality
Discharge med rec, readmission prevention, care coordination, Project BOOST
How to Pass the CAQ-HM Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Scaled (NCCPA-set)
- Exam length: 120 questions
- Time limit: 3 hours
- Exam fee: $350
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
CAQ-HM Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate CHA2DS2-VASc?
CHA2DS2-VASc estimates stroke risk in nonvalvular AFib. Points: CHF 1, HTN 1, Age ≥75 (2), DM 1, prior Stroke/TIA (2), Vascular disease 1, Age 65-74 (1), Sex female 1. Score ≥2 in men or ≥3 in women warrants oral anticoagulation; DOAC preferred over warfarin in nonvalvular AFib. HAS-BLED estimates bleeding risk in parallel.
What are safe sodium correction rates?
Hyponatremia: correct ≤8-10 mEq/L per 24h to avoid osmotic demyelination (especially chronic, alcoholic, malnourished). Symptomatic severe hyponatremia (Na <120, seizure, coma) — use 3% saline 100 mL bolus, recheck. Hypernatremia: correct ≤10 mEq/L per 24h to avoid cerebral edema. Free water deficit calculation: 0.6 × wt × (Na/140 − 1).
How are HCAP and HAP managed?
IDSA/ATS removed HCAP as a category in 2016 — patients are stratified as community-acquired or true HAP/VAP. HAP (≥48h hospitalization) and VAP (≥48h on vent) require empiric coverage for MRSA (vanco/linezolid) + Pseudomonas (pip-tazo, cefepime, meropenem) when risk factors present. De-escalate based on cultures and clinical response.
How should I study for CAQ-HM?
Plan 80-120 hours over 10-14 weeks. Work the NCCPA CAQ Hospital Medicine content blueprint, drill weighted-domain practice questions, complete required Category 1 CME, and submit experience requirements (typically ≥3,000 hours specialty practice in the prior 6 years and ≥150 specialty CME) before sitting the exam.