08/31/2026
First: make a realistic study plan.
Don’t just say, “I’m going to study more.” Put it on your calendar. Break the material into weekly or monthly topics, and build studying around your work, family, social life—and time to rest.
Second: know how you learn best.
Some therapists handwrote notes, made charts and anatomy diagrams, or drew out the brachial plexus. Others recorded themselves reading their notes and listened while walking. Find what works for you and lean into it.
Third: don’t study in isolation.
Find a study buddy or group. Talk through difficult concepts, ask questions, and use each other for accountability. And immerse yourself in hand therapy—learn from your colleagues, videos, podcasts, courses, and the patients you see every day.
Fourth: know your blind spots.
Pay extra attention to diagnoses or topics you don’t see regularly in your own practice.
And finally: practice questions. Lots of them.
Take practice exams, get comfortable with the question format, and don’t just check whether you were right or wrong—go back and understand why.
Studying for the CHT exam can feel overwhelming, so give yourself time, expect some mental fatigue, and keep going.
You don’t have to know everything today. You just need a plan to keep learning.
