Dreaded by many occupational therapists, the National Board Certification for Occupational Therapy examinations is an assessment of all OTs before becoming certified and registered professionals. 

Collaboratively, the Occupational Therapist Registered, and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant work together. The OTR is accountable for client evaluation, therapeutic interventions planning, and completion of discharge documents. The COTA, on the other hand, enforces therapeutic interventions and documenting them, and produce feedbacks to the OTR about the progress made by the client during the treatment.

In an occupational therapist’s journey, studying for the  NBCOT® exam was one of the most strenuous and exhaustive tasks, dealing with fear and anxiety at the same time. The NBCOT® exam covers complex contents, and the students can often feel overwhelmed about the number of subjects they need to learn, making the idea of passing seem impossible.  Administered via computer, the test of the NBCOT® is a marathon of 4 hours of testing. Breaks are permitted, and applicants will be at the center for a total of just over 5 hours. 

The coverage of the exam divided into four areas:

- Evaluation and Assessment covers 17% of the test,  acquiring information on factors affecting the performance of the job

- Analysis and Interpretation covers 28% of the exam requiring you to formulate client needs and priorities conclusion to develop and monitor an occupational therapy plan

- Intervention Management includes the most substantial part of the test of 45% that needs you to select interventions for managing a client-centered project throughout the process

- Competency and Practice Management covers 10% of the exam is about managing and directing services of occupational therapy to promote quality in practice.

Study prep and useful study guides are available online that can help you review for the upcoming tests.  Pass the OT website helped over 2000 students pass the  NBCOT® exam while offering most extensive exam courses and one-on-one personal tutoring through Skype or phones. Pass the OT proudly acclaim their dedicated and passionate lecturers; each one of them is helping the students pass the occupational therapy exams.

Studying for the NBCOT® Examinations

Leaving enough time to research and prepare for the upcoming examination is essential to achieve the ideal results of the tests.

Use tools for preparation

Study guides for the examinations help you practice for the test. Pick the guides that have certain pieces of information and if possible, most up to date ones. You can also use previous NBCOT® test questions that have been retired, they are the right questions to exercise and that you have little idea about what kind of questions asked about this kind of test.

Read about the  NBCOT® blueprint; it outlines the percentage of examination questions in each of the four domains. Sample exam questions posted by the NBCOT® on their Facebook page is available every week, and answers with rationale are available and published every Friday. 

Make an exam study schedule

Developing a clear, extensive plan at the beginning of your preparation that highlights areas of focus is also a must. Avoid procrastinating, lay out the precise weeks each content and topics you will study. Get a study group if that can motivate you to work, they can give you the positive peer pressure you need to keep up with your goals. Study until you feel you’re well prepared and ready.

Keeping a positive mindset

A positive mind can lead to more productive outcomes. As hard as it is to stay positive for the national exam, chin up and welcome these exams with positive thoughts. Do not overthink. It’s completely normal to feel pretty anxious about what is to arrive. Get yourself enough sleep, eat healthy foods regularly as it will help you stay focused, and have a positive mindset. You may feel guilty to treat yourself at this hectic moment instead of studying, but believe that it can save you from burning out. 

Study according to your learning style

Every student learns differently, having their preferences and way that they can benefit. The learning style of an individual pertains to the student’s advantageous way of absorbing, understanding, and processing pieces of information. You can be more productive in studying by knowing your learning and thinking process. Whether physical or spatial learner, you can also be a learner that gains best by hearing, or reading and writing learner. Whatever learning style you practice, there is no right or wrong for as long as you are learning from it.