PracticeVideosBlogFlashcardsEspañol
All Practice Exams

Free Practice Questions for CAQ-Peds

Exam-style questions and explanations by OpenExamPrep.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card
100+ Questions
100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More NCCPA Physician Assistant Exams

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

NCCPA PANCE Physician Assistant

Practice QuestionsStudy GuideCheat SheetFlashcards1 video1 blog

NCCPA PANRE Physician Assistant Recertifying Exam

Practice QuestionsStudy GuideCheat SheetFlashcards1 video1 blog

NCCPA CAQ Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery

Practice Questions

NCCPA CAQ Dermatology

Practice Questions

NCCPA CAQ Emergency Medicine

Practice Questions

NCCPA CAQ Geriatric Medicine

Practice Questions

More From This Family

Videos and articles for deeper review.

VideoFREE NCCPA PANRE Guide 2026: Pass Recertification on First TryVideoPANCE Exam Guide 2026: Study by the 2025 NCCPA BlueprintArticleFREE NCCPA PANRE Guide 2026: Pass Recertification on First Try15 min readArticlePANCE Exam Guide 2026: Study by the 2025 NCCPA Blueprint13 min read
Exam Review

Key Facts: CAQ-Peds Exam

120

Total Items

NCCPA CAQ

3 hrs

Exam Time

NCCPA

$350

Exam Fee

NCCPA

3,000 hrs

Practice Required

Prior 6 yrs peds-PA

NCCPA CAQ-Peds is the PA subspecialty credential for pediatrics. 120 items, 3 hours, $350. Eligibility: 3,000 hours peds practice + 150 peds CME. Master CDC immunization schedule, Bright Futures milestones, GAS pharyngitis (Centor + RADT), bronchiolitis supportive care, and peds asthma stepwise GINA/NAEPP management.

Sample CAQ-Peds Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the CAQ-Peds exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A term newborn at 1 minute of life has a heart rate of 120, slow irregular respirations, some flexion of extremities, grimace with stimulation, and a pink body with blue extremities. What is the Apgar score?
A.5
B.6
C.7
D.8
Explanation: Apgar: HR>100=2, slow irregular respirations=1, some flexion=1, grimace=1, acrocyanosis=1. Total = 6.
2A 36-hour-old breastfed term infant has a total serum bilirubin of 14 mg/dL. Per the Bhutani nomogram, this level is in the high-intermediate risk zone. What is the most appropriate next step?
A.Reassurance and routine follow-up in 1 week
B.Plot on AAP phototherapy nomogram and treat if at threshold
C.Immediately initiate exchange transfusion
D.Discontinue breastfeeding permanently
Explanation: Per the 2022 AAP hyperbilirubinemia guideline, total bilirubin should be plotted on the phototherapy threshold nomogram (accounting for gestational age and risk factors). Phototherapy is initiated if at or above threshold.
3At what age does the AAP recommend the first formal CCHD (critical congenital heart disease) screening using pulse oximetry?
A.Within the first hour of life
B.After 24 hours of age but before discharge
C.At the 2-week well-child visit
D.At the 2-month visit
Explanation: CCHD pulse oximetry screening is performed after 24 hours of life (or shortly before discharge if earlier) on the right hand and either foot. Earlier screening produces too many false positives due to transitional circulation.
4A 4-month-old infant born full-term who is exclusively breastfed has no vitamin D supplementation. What is the recommended daily dose of vitamin D for this infant?
A.100 IU
B.200 IU
C.400 IU
D.1000 IU
Explanation: AAP recommends 400 IU/day of vitamin D for all exclusively or partially breastfed infants beginning in the first few days of life and continuing until they consume at least 1L/day of vitamin D-fortified formula or milk.
5Which newborn screening test uses otoacoustic emissions (OAE) or auditory brainstem response (ABR)?
A.CCHD screening
B.Hearing screening
C.Phenylketonuria screening
D.Bilirubin screening
Explanation: Universal newborn hearing screening uses OAE or ABR. The EHDI 1-3-6 framework: screen by 1 month, diagnose by 3 months, intervene by 6 months.
6A 2-day-old infant has a positive newborn screen for phenylketonuria (PKU). What is the cornerstone of management?
A.Exchange transfusion
B.Lifelong phenylalanine-restricted diet
C.Daily levothyroxine
D.Pancreatic enzyme replacement
Explanation: PKU management requires lifelong dietary phenylalanine restriction and use of medical formula (Phe-free) to prevent intellectual disability. Sapropterin may be added in BH4-responsive cases.
7An infant of an Rh-negative mother is found to be Rh-positive at birth and has a positive direct Coombs test with rising bilirubin. What is the most appropriate initial treatment?
A.Phototherapy
B.IV immunoglobulin (IVIG)
C.Exchange transfusion
D.Discontinue feeding
Explanation: Phototherapy is first-line for hemolytic hyperbilirubinemia. IVIG may be added per AAP if bilirubin continues to rise within 2-3 mg/dL of exchange threshold despite intensive phototherapy. Exchange transfusion is reserved for severe cases.
8What is the average expected weight gain for a healthy term infant during the first 3 months of life?
A.10-15 g/day
B.20-30 g/day
C.50-60 g/day
D.80-100 g/day
Explanation: Term infants gain approximately 20-30 g/day (about 1 oz/day) for the first 3 months. They typically double birth weight by 4-6 months and triple it by 12 months.
9By what age should a child be able to sit without support and transfer objects from one hand to another?
A.4 months
B.6 months
C.9 months
D.12 months
Explanation: By 6 months, infants typically sit without support, transfer objects hand-to-hand, and roll in both directions. These are key developmental milestones from CDC's developmental checklists.
10A breastfeeding mother asks how long the AAP recommends exclusive breastfeeding. What is the correct answer?
A.3 months
B.6 months
C.9 months
D.12 months
Explanation: AAP recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, with continued breastfeeding alongside complementary foods for at least 1-2 years (now 'as long as mutually desired').

About the CAQ-Peds Exam

NCCPA Certificate of Added Qualifications in Pediatrics — for PAs in pediatric primary or subspecialty practice. Covers newborn/infant care, growth/development/behavior, acute illnesses (otitis, pharyngitis, bronchiolitis), infectious disease and immunizations (CDC schedule), pediatric emergencies (anaphylaxis, status), chronic disease (asthma, diabetes, sickle cell), mental health and adolescent care, nutrition, anticipatory guidance/procedures, and peds professional practice.

Exam sponsor: NCCPA. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

120 questions

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

Scaled (NCCPA-set)

Exam / Certification Fees

$350

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

15%

Newborn / Infant

NRP, newborn screen, hyperbilirubinemia (Bhutani), feeding, hip exam (Ortolani/Barlow)

15%

Growth, Development, Behavior

Bright Futures milestones, ASQ, M-CHAT, growth curves, ADHD screening

15%

Acute Illnesses

AOM, GAS pharyngitis, viral URI, gastroenteritis, croup, UTI

10%

Infections & Immunization

CDC schedule, MMR/Varicella, Tdap, HPV, influenza, COVID, meningococcal, RSV

10%

Pediatric Emergencies

Anaphylaxis, status epilepticus, sepsis, intussusception, pyloric stenosis, NAT

10%

Chronic Conditions

Asthma (NAEPP/GINA), T1DM, SCD, cystic fibrosis, congenital heart disease

8%

Mental Health & Adolescent

Depression PHQ-A, suicidality, eating disorders, contraception, HEEADSSS

6%

Procedures & Anticipatory Guidance

Vision/hearing screen, lead, dental, anticipatory guidance, immunization counseling

6%

Nutrition

Breastfeeding support, formula choices, complementary feeding, iron/Vit D, obesity

5%

Pediatric Professional Practice

Confidentiality, mandatory reporting, vaccine refusal counseling, telehealth

Preparing for the CAQ-Peds Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Scaled (NCCPA-set)
  • Exam length: 120 questions
  • Time limit: 3 hours
  • Exam / certification fees: $350 Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CAQ-Peds: Suggested Study Strategy

1Memorize the CDC pediatric immunization schedule and catch-up rules — extremely high-yield
2Know Bright Futures milestones at 9, 18, 24, 30 months and use ASQ/M-CHAT for screening
3Master AAP febrile infant algorithm by age band (0-21, 22-28, 29-60 days)
4Drill peds emergencies: anaphylaxis (epi 0.01 mg/kg IM), intussusception (currant jelly stool, US), pyloric stenosis (olive mass, alkalosis)
5Know HPV/HEEADSSS adolescent confidentiality rules and minor consent for STI/contraception/MH

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the AAP fever workup approach by age?

AAP 2021 (Pantell) algorithm for well-appearing febrile infants ≥38°C: 0-21 days — full sepsis workup (CBC/CMP, blood/urine/CSF cultures), empiric antibiotics, admit. 22-28 days — inflammatory markers (procalcitonin, CRP, ANC), urine; LP and antibiotics by risk. 29-60 days — urine, blood, inflammatory markers; selective LP/antibiotics; observation often appropriate.

When is RSV prophylaxis indicated?

Two main strategies: (1) Maternal RSVpreF vaccine (Abrysvo) at 32-36 weeks gestation in seasonal months protects infants in first months. (2) Nirsevimab (Beyfortus) — long-acting monoclonal — for infants <8 months entering or born during RSV season; consider for high-risk children up to 24 months. Replaces palivizumab in most cases.

How is GAS pharyngitis diagnosed?

Centor/McIsaac criteria estimate pretest probability: tonsillar exudate, tender anterior cervical LAD, fever, no cough; subtract 1 for age >44, add 1 for age 3-14. Score 2-3: rapid antigen detection test (RADT); negative RADT → throat culture in children. Score ≥4: treat empirically vs RADT-confirmed. Treatment: penicillin or amoxicillin × 10 days.

How should I study for CAQ-Peds?

Plan 80-120 hours over 10-14 weeks. Work the NCCPA CAQ Pediatrics 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.