In documentation, what does DAP stand for?

• A. Date, Analysis, Plan
• B. Date, Assessment, Plan
• C. Diagnostic, Assessment, Plan
• D. Data, Assessment, Procedure

Answer: (B)

DAP notes are built around three parts: Date, Assessment, Plan. The first element captures when the session occurred, ensuring the record is time-stamped and traceable. The middle part is the clinician’s Assessment—your interpretation of the data from the session, including observations, progress toward goals, and clinical judgment. The final part, Plan, lays out what will happen next—treatment steps, changes to goals or interventions, and any referrals or follow-up.

So, the best match among the options is the one that uses Date, Assessment, Plan, because it aligns with that three-part structure: timing, interpretation, and future actions. The other options alter one component—Analysis instead of Assessment, Diagnostic instead of Data/Date, or Procedure instead of Plan—so they don’t fit the common DAP framework.