What is certification?

The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, or NBCOT, develops and administers the occupational therapy certification exam. This exam is generally taken by recent OT graduates. Passing the test allows you to use the "R" (as in OTR) or the "C" (as in COTA) in your credentials.

Do I need certification?

This depends.

Just about every state that has licensure uses the NBCOT exam as part of its initial licensing process. That means you probably need to take and pass the exam in order to get licensed in your state, which IS a requirement to practice.

Some employers may require current certification from NBCOT as a job requirement. A couple of states require current certification to maintain licensure. But if it is not required by your employer or your state board, then you do not need to recertify to stay in practice.

What is recertification?

Initial NBCOT certification lasts for five years. You become initially certified when you take the test, and after the first five years you must recertify every three years if you want to maintain active certification. This process requires a $50 fee and documentation that you have fulfilled NBCOT's professional development requirements. For more information about these requirements, check out NBCOT's Certification Renewal Handbook (Adobe Acrobat Reader required).

How do I sign up to take the test?

NBCOT now offers its test through Prometric Test Centers, with 300 locations. You must first fill out an application form and submit the test fee, both of which can be done through the NBCOT website . Once your application is processed you will receive an "Authorization to Test" letter that will instruct you to contact Prometric to schedule a testing date and location.

How can I prepare for the test?

A number of publishers and continuing education companies offer test prep manuals or courses for the NBCOT exam.

To search for test prep classes in your area, visit our events calendar . This is a subscriber only service, and you must be a senior student to subscribe.

NBCOT offers an online practice exam on their website.

Several exam review manuals are available for purchase. Most come with free software that can be used in addition to or in conjunction with the sample questions in the manuals. Some currently available manuals* are:

National Occupational Therapy Certification Exam: Review & Study Guide , available from International Education Resources.

The Occupational Therapy Examination Review Guide, 3rd Edition and The COTA Examination Review Guide, 2nd Edition , both available from F.A. Davis.

OT Exam Review Manual, 4th Edition , OT Study Cards in a Box, 2nd Edition and OTA Exam Review Manual, 2nd Edition are all available from SLACK, Incorporated.

*This list is not meant to be comprehensive, and inclusion in this list in no way signifies any type of endorsement of the product.