Which domains are assessed by the CPC exam?

• A. Airway management; pharmacology; physiology and pathophysiology; anesthesia equipment, technology, safety
• B. Airway management; pharmacology; anatomy; hospital operations
• C. Pharmacology; ethics; physiology; patient education
• D. Pharmacology; microbiology; immunology; statistics

Answer: (A)

The CPC exam tests knowledge that underpins safe and effective anesthesia practice across four core areas. These domains—airway management, pharmacology, physiology and pathophysiology, and anesthesia equipment, technology, safety—cover the practical decisions and protections a provider must routinely handle: securing and maintaining the airway, selecting and dosing medications, understanding how body systems respond to anesthesia and disease, and using monitors, devices, and safety protocols to prevent harm. The other topics listed, such as ethics, patient education, microbiology, immunology, statistics, anatomy, and hospital operations, are not the primary domains assessed by the CPC exam.