CAPR publishes the references its exam writers use. Here is that list, organised by blueprint weighting, with a line on what each book is for — and which ones you actually need.
From CAPR's Key Reference List, updated April 2025. Editions are as CAPR lists them. PT StudyBuddy has no commercial relationship with any publisher.
| Author | Title | Why it's on the list |
|---|---|---|
| Magee & Manske | Orthopedic Physical Assessment, 7th ed. | The assessment text CAPR lists first for MSK; special tests, their interpretation and the reasoning behind choosing them are examined constantly |
| Dutton | Dutton's Orthopedic Examination, Evaluation and Intervention, 6th ed. | Assessment through to intervention in one place; the intervention chapters map well to care-planning questions |
| Kisner, Borstad & Colby | Therapeutic Exercise: Foundations and Techniques, 8th ed. | Exercise prescription, progression and precautions — the 'what would you do next session' answers |
| Brukner & Khan | Clinical Sports Medicine, 6th ed. | Sports and overuse conditions, return-to-play decision-making |
| Magee, Zachazewski, Quillen & Manske | Pathology and Intervention in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 2nd ed. | Post-surgical protocols and pathology-specific rehabilitation |
| Author | Title | Why it's on the list |
|---|---|---|
| Lazaro, Reina-Guerra & Quiben | Umphred's Neurological Rehabilitation, 7th ed. | The neuro rehabilitation reference: stroke, SCI, TBI, degenerative conditions, with assessment and treatment |
| Nichols-Larsen et al. | Neurologic Rehabilitation: Neuroscience and Neuroplasticity in PT Practice, 2nd ed. | The 'why' behind neuro interventions; useful for reasoning questions and oral justification |
| Author | Title | Why it's on the list |
|---|---|---|
| Frownfelter & Dean | Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy: Evidence to Practice, 6th ed. | CAPR's first-listed CVR text |
| Hillegass | Essentials of Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy, 5th ed. | Concise, exam-friendly coverage of the same ground |
| DeTurk & Cahalin | Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy: An Evidence-Based Approach, 3rd ed. | Deeper reading for the acute-care and ICU scenarios |
| Author | Title | Why it's on the list |
|---|---|---|
| Fulk & Chui | O'Sullivan & Schmitz's Physical Rehabilitation, 8th ed. | The broad rehabilitation text many candidates already own; covers most other-systems conditions |
| Goodman & Fuller | Goodman and Fuller's Pathology: Implications for the Physical Therapist, 5th ed. | Pathology, red flags and medical screening — where 'refer' answers come from |
| Boissonnault & Vanwye | Primary Care for the Physical Therapist: Examination and Triage, 3rd ed. | Screening and triage; direct-access reasoning |
| Paz, West, Panasci & Greenwood | Acute Care Handbook for Physical Therapists, 5th ed. | Lines, labs, vitals and safe mobilisation in hospital — heavily examined in client-safety questions |
| Bellew, Michlovitz & Nolan | Michlovitz's Modalities for Therapeutic Intervention, 7th ed. | Electrophysical agents, contraindications and parameters |
| Shamus | The Color Atlas of Physical Therapy | Visual reference; helpful for media-enhanced questions |
| Author | Title | Why it's on the list |
|---|---|---|
| Palisano, Orlin & Schreiber | Campbell's Physical Therapy for Children, 6th ed. | Developmental milestones, common paediatric conditions |
| Bloyer et al. | Guide to Pediatric Physical Therapy: A Clinical Approach | Newer, case-led paediatric text |
| Spearing, Pelletier & Drnach | Tecklin's Pediatric Physical Therapy, 6th ed. | Alternative paediatric reference |
| Avers & Wong | Guccione's Geriatric Physical Therapy, 4th ed. | Falls, frailty, multimorbidity |
| Staples et al. | Geriatric Physical Therapy: A Case Study Approach, 2nd ed. | Case format suits oral preparation |
| Author | Title | Why it's on the list |
|---|---|---|
| CAPR | Code of Ethical Conduct and Core Professional Values (2023) | Free PDF. The source for ethics questions in both sections |
| CAPR | Model Standards of Practice (2024) | Free PDF. Consent, documentation, delegation, boundaries — the professional-responsibilities domain |
| NPAG | Competency Profile for Physiotherapists in Canada (2017) | Free PDF. The competencies the blueprint's milestones are built from |
| Your province's college | Standards of Practice | Free. Ontario, BC, Alberta and the others each publish theirs; questions on scope, supervision and controlled acts follow them |
| Haddad, Doherty & Purtilo | Health Professional and Patient Interaction, 10th ed. | Communication and client-centred care |
PT StudyBuddy's lectures cite these references, the notes and study manual condense them by system in blueprint order, and the ethics module works through the CAPR and provincial documents with practice questions — so you read the books for depth, not to build the syllabus yourself.
No. CAPR's list is what its item writers reference, not a reading list. Most successful candidates own one MSK assessment text, one rehabilitation text, one pathology or acute-care text, and read the free CAPR and provincial documents cover to cover.
For most clinical content, yes — the anatomy and the tests haven't changed. Where editions matter is anything guideline-driven (cardiac rehab parameters, falls prevention, red-flag criteria), so check those against the current edition or the guideline itself.
For the written, Magee's Orthopedic Physical Assessment, because MSK is half the exam. For the oral and the non-clinical questions, CAPR's Code of Ethical Conduct and Model Standards of Practice — free, short, and the source of the questions candidates most often get wrong.
CAPR publishes a Written Component practice exam built from retired PCE items, which it says is still valuable because the platform and question style are similar, plus a learning module with worked explanations. Neither covers the oral or the vignette sets.
