RPFT Exam Information and Outline
Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist
RPFT Exam Syllabus & Study Guide
Before you start practicing with our exam simulator, it is essential to understand the official RPFT exam objectives. This course outline serves as your roadmap, breaking down exactly which technical domains and skills will be tested. By reviewing the syllabus, you can identify your strengths and focus your study time on the areas where you need the most improvement.
The information below reflects the latest 2026 course contents as defined by NBRC. We provide this detailed breakdown to help you align your preparation with the actual exam format, ensuring there are no surprises on test day. Use this outline as a checklist to track your progress as you move through our practice question banks.
Below are complete topics detail with latest syllabus and course outline, that will help you good knowledge about exam objectives and topics that you have to prepare. These contents are covered in questions and answers pool of exam.
Exam Code: RPFT
Exam Name: Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist
Number of Questions: 120 multiple-choice questions (100 scored- 20 pretest/unscored).
Time Alloted: 3 hours (180 minutes) to complete the exam
Passing Marks: The NBRC uses a scaled scoring system- with a passing score of 75 (on a scale of 0-100).
- Set Up- Maintain- Calibrate
- Body habitus equipment (for example- stadiometer- body weight scale- caliper)
- Blood gas analyzers
- Spirometers
- Aerosol delivery devices (for example- nebulizers- dosimeters)
- Metered dose or dry powder inhalers
- Valves (for example- directional- demand)
- Gas analyzers (for example- nitrogen- helium- oxygen- methane- CO)
- Body plethysmographs
- Exercise equipment (for example- treadmill- cycle ergometer)
- Field walking test equipment (for example- 6MWT- shuttle walk test)
- ECG monitors
- Gas delivery systems (for example- blenders- flowmeters)
- Pressure measuring devices (for example- manometers- transducers)
- Gas and water absorbers (for example- Drierite®- Nafion™- Perma Pure tubing)
- Emergency management equipment (for example- defibrillator- crash cart)
- Arterial / venous blood collection equipment
- Quality control devices (for example- calibration syringes- manometers- isothermal lung analog)
- Infection control materials / methods (for example- wipes- PPE- sterilization devices- filters)
- Monitors
- pulse oximeters
- blood pressure (for example- manual cuff- automated)
- Troubleshoot
- Body habitus equipment (for example- stadiometer- body weight scale- caliper)
- Blood gas analyzers
- Spirometers
- Aerosol delivery devices (for example- nebulizers- dosimeters)
- Metered dose or dry powder inhalers
- Valves (for example- directional- demand)
- Gas analyzers (for example- nitrogen- helium- oxygen- methane- CO)
- Body plethysmographs
- Exercise equipment (for example- treadmill- cycle ergometer)
- Field walking test equipment (for example- 6MWT- shuttle walk test)
- ECG monitors
- Gas delivery systems (for example- blenders- flowmeters)
- Pressure measuring devices (for example- manometers- transducers)
- Gas and water absorbers (for example- Drierite®- Nafion TM- Perma Pure® tubing)
- Emergency management equipment (for example- defibrillator- crash cart)
- Arterial / venous blood collection equipment
- Quality control devices (for example- calibration syringes- manometers- isothermal lung analog)
- Infection control materials / methods (for example- wipes- PPE- sterilization devices- filters)
- Monitors
- pulse oximeters
- blood pressure (for example- manual cuff- automated)
- Perform Quality Control
- Body habitus equipment (for example- stadiometer- body weight scale- caliper)
- Blood gas analyzers (for example- routine testing- proficiency testing)
- Spirometers
- Aerosol delivery devices (for example- nebulizers- dosimeters)
- Metered dose or dry powder inhalers
- Valves (for example- directional- demand)
- Gas analyzers (for example- nitrogen- helium- oxygen- methane- CO)
- Body plethysmographs
- Exercise equipment (for example- treadmill- cycle ergometer)
- Field walking test equipment (for example- 6MWT- shuttle walk test)
- Select Test Protocols and Equipment
- Body habitus measurements and estimates (for example- height- arm span- ulnar length- weight)
- Spirometry
- standard
- upright / supine
- Inhaled medication delivery (for example- MDI- DPI- nebulizers)
- Blood sample collection (for example- arterial- capillary)
- Sputum sample collection
- Blood gas analysis (for example- pH- PO2- PCO2)
- CO-oximetry / hemoximetry
- Static lung volumes
- gas dilution methods
- body plethysmography
- DLCO
- Instruction for home testing (for example- spirometry- pulse oximetry)
- Patient education (for example- medication delivery- travel- asthma)
- Oxygen assessment / titration at rest and / or exercise
- Exercise testing
- field walking test (for example- 6MWT- shuttle walk test)
- monitored (for example- ECG- blood pressure- SpO2)
- Pulse oximetry
- Airway responsiveness
- bronchodilation studies
- bronchial provocation studies (for example- methacholine- exercise- EVH- mannitol)
- Airways resistance / conductance measurements by plethysmography
- Respiratory muscle strength (for example- MIP- MEP- cough peak flow)
- Patient safety (for example- standard precautions- adverse events / incidents- cross contamination)
- Perform the Procedure
- Body habitus measurements and estimates (for example- height- arm span- ulnar length- weight)
- Spirometry
- standard
- upright / supine
- Inhaled medication delivery (for example- MDI- DPI- nebulizers)
- Blood sample collection (for example- arterial- capillary)
- Sputum sample collection
- Blood gas analysis (for example- pH- PO2- PCO2)
- CO-oximetry / hemoximetry
- Static lung volumes
- gas dilution methods
- body plethysmography
- DLCO
- Instruction for home testing (for example- spirometry- pulse oximetry)
- Patient education (for example- medication delivery- travel- asthma)
- Oxygen assessment / titration at rest and / or exercise
- Exercise testing
- field walking test (for example- 6MWT- shuttle walk test)
- monitored (for example- ECG- blood pressure- SpO2)
- Pulse oximetry
- Airway responsiveness
- bronchodilation studies
- bronchial provocation studies (for example- methacholine- exercise- EVH- mannitol)
- Airways resistance / conductance measurements by plethysmography
- Respiratory muscle strength (for example- MIP- MEP- cough peak flow)
- Patient safety (for example- standard precautions- adverse events / incidents- cross contamination)
- Evaluate Validity of Result
- Body habitus measurements and estimates (for example- height- arm span- ulnar length- weight)
- Spirometry
- standard
- upright / supine
- Inhaled medication delivery (for example- MDI- DPI- nebulizers)
- Blood sample collection (for example- arterial- capillary)
- Sputum sample collection
- Blood gas analysis (for example- pH- PO2- PCO2)
- CO-oximetry / hemoximetry
- Static lung volumes
- gas dilution methods
- body plethysmography
- DLCO
- Instruction for home testing (for example- spirometry- pulse oximetry)
- Patient education (for example- medication delivery- travel- asthma)
- Oxygen assessment / titration at rest and / or exercise
- Exercise testing
- field walking test (for example- 6MWT- shuttle walk test)
- monitored (for example- ECG- blood pressure- SpO2)
- Pulse oximetry
- Airway responsiveness
- bronchodilation studies
- bronchial provocation studies (for example- methacholine- exercise- EVH- mannitol)
- Airways resistance / conductance measurements by plethysmography
- Respiratory muscle strength (for example- MIP- MEP- cough peak flow)
- Patient safety (for example- standard precautions- adverse events / incidents- cross contamination)
- Calculate Results- Select Reference Ranges and Data
- Blood gas
- CO-oximetry / hemoximetry
- Spirometry
- standard
- upright / supine comparison
- Static lung volumes
- gas dilution
- body plethysmography
- DLCO
- Home testing (for example- spirometry- pulse oximetry)
- Oxygen assessment / titration at rest and / or exercise
- Exercise test
- field walking test (for example- 6MWT- shuttle walk test)
- monitored (for example- ECG- blood pressure- SpO2)
- Blood pressure monitoring
- ECG analysis (for example- arrhythmia- rate- pattern)
- Pulse oximetry
- Airway responsiveness
- bronchodilation studies
- bronchial provocation studies (for example- methacholine- exercise- EVH- mannitol)
- Airways resistance / conductance measurements by plethysmography
- Respiratory muscle strength (for example- MIP- MEP- cough peak flow)
- Safety data (for example- hand hygiene compliance- event management)
- Quality control procedures (for example- mechanical- biological)
- Serial pulmonary function testing (for example- trending a single patient)
- Clinical history and demographics (for example- age- race- sex- smoking history- medication- clinical indication)
- Laboratory quality management (for example- customer satisfaction- inventory control- standard operating procedures)
- Evaluate Reliability of Results
- Blood gas
- CO-oximetry / hemoximetry
- Spirometry
- standard
- upright / supine comparison
- Static lung volumes
- gas dilution
- body plethysmography
- DLCO
- Home testing (for example- spirometry- pulse oximetry)
- Oxygen assessment / titration at rest and / or exercise
- Exercise test
- field walking test (for example- 6MWT- shuttle walk test)
- monitored (for example- ECG- blood pressure- SpO2)
- Blood pressure monitoring
- ECG analysis (for example- arrhythmia- rate- pattern)
- Pulse oximetry
- Airway responsiveness
- bronchodilation studies
- bronchial provocation studies (for example- methacholine- exercise- EVH- mannitol)
- Airways resistance / conductance measurements by plethysmography
- Respiratory muscle strength (for example- MIP- MEP- cough peak flow)
- Safety data (for example- hand hygiene compliance- event management)
- Quality control procedures (for example- mechanical- biological)
- Serial pulmonary function testing (for example- trending a single patient)
- Clinical history and demographics (for example- age- race- sex- smoking history- medication- clinical indication)
- Laboratory quality management (for example- customer satisfaction- inventory control- standard operating procedures)
- Evaluate Clinical Implications
- Blood gas
- CO-oximetry / hemoximetry
- Spirometry
- standard
- upright / supine comparison
- Static lung volumes
- gas dilution
- body plethysmography
- DLCO
- Home testing (for example- spirometry- pulse oximetry)
- Oxygen assessment / titration at rest and / or exercise
- Exercise test
- field walking test (for example- 6MWT- shuttle walk test)
- monitored (for example- ECG- blood pressure- SpO2)
- Blood pressure monitoring
- ECG analysis (for example- arrhythmia- rate- pattern)
- Pulse oximetry
- Airway responsiveness
- bronchodilation studies
- bronchial provocation studies (for example- methacholine- exercise- EVH- mannitol)
- Airways resistance / conductance measurements by plethysmography
- Respiratory muscle strength (for example- MIP- MEP- cough peak flow)
- Safety data (for example- hand hygiene compliance- event management)
- Quality control procedures (for example- mechanical- biological)
- Serial pulmonary function testing (for example- trending a single patient)
- Clinical history and demographics (for example- age- race- sex- smoking history- medication- clinical indication)
- Laboratory quality management (for example- customer satisfaction- inventory control- standard operating procedures)