Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR) and Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) are the certifications offered by National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). NBCOT is a member of Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE). These certifications are different from the occupational therapy certifications in specialized areas such as pediatrics, mental health etc.
Eligibility-
The applicant must have completed an occupational therapy program or entry level post baccalaureate occupational therapy program recognized by NBCOT. He/she must have completed all the required fieldwork and received an eligibility confirmation from his/her school registrar. If an applicant has pursued the occupational therapy education from outside United States, he/she requires passing English language proficiency examination as well, and needs satisfying requirements of Occupational Therapist Eligibility Determination (OTED).
Test Overview-
The content of OTR exam is breakdown as- Information gathering pertaining to factors that influence occupational influence (13% of test), Formulation of conclusions related to client needs and priorities for developing a client centered intervention plan (28% of test), Selection and implementation of evidence based interventions for supporting participation in areas of occupation while the continuum of care (39% of test), and Professional standards and responsibilities for promoting quality in practice (20% of test).
The content of COTA exam breakdown as- Information gathering and formulation of conclusions pertaining to client’s needs and priorities for developing client centered intervention plan (33% of test), Selection and implementation of evidence based interventions for supporting participation in areas of occupation while continuum of care (47% of test), and Professional standards and responsibilities for promoting quality in practice (20% of test).
Test Format-
There are 170 multiple choice questions and 3 simulation problems in OTR exam. COTA exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions. These tests are administered on computers. These are criterion referenced exams. The examinee is evaluated based on a predetermined standard instead of, in respect to performance of other examinees.
Marking Scheme-
The raw score is proportional to number of questions attempted correctly. The raw score is converted into a scaled score ranging in between 300 and 600. The passing score is 450. Test scores are made available to test takers in 4 weeks.
Schedule-
A candidate can apply for this test online or by submitting a paper application. If he/she clears the Occupational Therapist Eligibility Determination (OTED), documentation needs to be completed next. An Authorization-To-Test (ATT) letter is issued in 10-15 days from the receipt of required documents by candidate. Then, the applicant can schedule a test appointment with Prometric within 90 days eligibility period. If a candidate fails in a test, these exams can be retaken after a waiting period of 45 days.
Exam fees-
The fees structure is as follow: -
Examination Fees: – $500 (Online application)
Examination Fees: – $540 (Paper application)
Official score transfer request: – $40 per score report
Confirmation of examination registration and Eligibility notice: – $45 per notice
Official COTA study guide: – $60
Official OTR study guide: – $60