NBCOT Exam () Detailed Information

NBCOT Certification
The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) administers the examination for Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). The Board is independent from the American Occupational Therapy Association. Upon successfully completing the exam, the graduate will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR).
Eligibility: Students should be aware that a felony conviction might affect their ability to sit for the certification exam. For more information, contact the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. When you apply to write the certification examination with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), you will be asked to answer questions related to the topic of felonies. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to attain state licensure.
For further information contact NBCOT at: www.NBCOT.org
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.
800 S. Frederick Avenue, Suite 200
Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150
(301) 990-7979
The table below presents data on national certification (NBCOT) exam results by graduates of the University of Florida MOT Program.
NBCOT Exam Results by MOT Graduates
Exam Period Number of UF first-time test takers Number of UF first-time test takers who passed the exam Percentage of UF first-time test takers who passed the exam Percentage of UF graduates who passed the exam within 1 year of graduation
For official program performance data on the NBCOT National Certification Exam see: https://secure.NBCOT.org/data/schoolstats.aspx
2013 42 42 100% 100%
2014 47 46 98% 100%
2015 44 44 100% 100%
Total 2013-2015 133 132 99% 100%
Certification Exam Online Tutorials
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant COTA® Exam Tutorial
This tutorial will demonstrate the functionality of the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant COTA exam in the computer-based testing environment. The timer clock for the online tutorial is presented for illustration purposes only. During the test tutorial at the Prometric Testing Center, the tutorial clock will indicate the time you have remaining for the tutorial. The time you are allotted for the tutorial is separate from the actual exam time.
View the COTA exam tutorial.
Occupational Therapist Registered OTR® Exam Tutorial
This tutorial will demonstrate the functionality of the Occupational Therapist Registered OTR exam in the computer-based testing environment. Please note that during the actual OTR exam, the tutorial is presented in two distinct sections. The first tutorial is presented at the start of the clinical simulation section of the exam and the second tutorial is presented at the start of the multiple choice section of the exam.
The timer clock for the online tutorial is presented for illustration purposes only. Candidates are provided ample time to complete each tutorial prior to the start of the actual exam. The time allotted for each tutorial is separate from the actual exam time. During the test tutorial at the Prometric Testing Center, the tutorial clock will indicate the time you have remaining for the tutorial.
- See more at: http://www.NBCOT.org/tutorials#sthash.lIXou8RX.dpuf
Eligibility Confirmation Notice
Certification candidates who wish to have a confirmation notice sent to a regulatory entity, employer, or themselves can select this service when applying online, or order through the MyNBCOT portal. The confirmation notice includes:
Confirmation that the candidate’s examination application and fees have been processed
Confirmation that the candidate’s official final transcript or NBCOT Academic Credential Verification Form (ACVF) is in order
Confirmation that the candidate is approved to schedule his/her test date with Prometric Test Center
The candidate’s examination history—a listing of the candidate’s examination dates from 1997-present
Important Notes:
There is a $40 fee per notice. When a confirmation notice is requested for a third party, the candidate will receive a copy at no charge.
The following states do NOT accept confirmation notices: Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin.
- See more at: http://www.NBCOT.org/eligibility-confirmation#sthash.4CLYC1ry.dpuf
NBCOT Professional Development Plan and Certification Renewal Process
The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT) provides certification for the occupational therapy profession. Keep NBCOT updated with your current contact information. This is your responsibility. NBCOT uses that information to inform you when you need to renew your certification, yet ultimately, it is your responsibility to assure that you are in compliance with NBCOT if you are a COTA or OTR.
Continued certification with NBCOT is voluntary; if you do not renew your certification with them, you cannot use the credentials Occupational Therapist Registered OTR and/or Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant COTA which are owned by NBCOT (not AOTA). OTAC will continue to remain neutral regarding NBCOT’s certification renewal process; however, should you decide to renew your certification, the Professional Development and Continuing Education Chair will continue to be a resource for you.
Missions of NBCOT, and of state regulatory boards (OTAC is not a regulatory board), are to serve the public interest and provide consumer protection. In that light, they are complimentary, supporting one another and making each agency stronger. When NBCOT designed the Professional Development Plan, it was to add value and substance to the earned “C” and “R” credentials. Because OT practitioners practice in such diverse arenas, NBCOT purposefully integrated flexibility into the certification renewal process when they designed it. They created a framework, and within those parameters, YOU are designing your own professional development plan.
Complete NBCOT’s Self-Assessment or AOTA’s Professional Development Tool – PDT. You will identify your strengths and weaknesses, what your professional roles are, and the practice areas related to the delivery of OT service in which you want to become more proficient.
Use your self-assessment to choose activities that will assist you with improving your skills. NBCOT provides an “Activity Checklist,” which is a professional development parameter guideline that lists categories, descriptions of learning and service activities, and professional development unit (PDU) values.
Be involved in continuing education – learn, have fun, network, teach others, relish in opportunities to enhance your professional knowledge and skills, etc…
It is your responsibility to collect, track, and save your PDU information. (Do not expect educational agencies to retain this data.) Required verifiable documentation is listed on NBCOT’s “Activity Checklist.” You must earn 36 PDUs within your 3-year renewal cycle (you can earn more of course; NBCOT requires a minimum of 36).
Auditing is completed via a random selection process. Several of your colleagues have been audited each year, and most have successfully passed through the process. If you are audited, NBCOT will send information on what and how to submit documentation verifying your continuing education; you will also be expected to sign an attestation statement. If you have further questions, first contact NBCOT. You may also contact OTAC’s Professional Development and Continuing Education Chair for suggestions. (Please note that this assistance is a “Member Services” benefit.)