MINNESOTA OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION
NBCOT TEST STUDY
Conference 2012
This session is not sponsored by the NBCOT. This is a session presenting the test experience as
portrayed through recently graduated occupational therapists’ narratives.
Timeline for applying to the NBCOT test
1. Graduate or complete all requirements for your OT program
A.If you have not graduated, you may request a letter from your program director stating you
have completed requirements. Send this letter to the address below:
NBCOT, Inc.; Attn: Qualifications and Compliance Review
12 South Summit Avenue, Suite 100 Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150
2. Use a transcript website such as http://www.studentclearinghouse.org/
To request that your school send your FINAL transcript to:
NBCOT, Inc.; Attn: Qualifications and Compliance Review
12 South Summit Avenue, Suite 100 Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150
You can request that the transcript be sent “when degree is awarded.”
a. Cost: Dependent on your school’s fee for transcripts.
b. Estimated time of school’s response: 2-6 weeks after final grades have been submitted.
3. Apply for your Approval To Test (ATT) Letter at: https://secure.nbcot.org/nbcot/login/login.aspx
a. Or fill out a paper application printed from:
http://www.nbcot.org/pdf/Certification-ExamApplication.pdf?phpMyAdmin=3710605fd34365e380b9ab41a5078545
You can request scores be submitted to your school (free) and to your state ($40). Check out the
website of the state where you wish to practice. Some states request a letter of certification
instead of basic scores for licensure. MN requires a letter for certification and its website is:
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpsc/hop/otp/index.html
b. Cost: $500 online, $540 paper
c. Estimated time of NBCOT response: 2-6 weeks after all materials are submitted.
4. When you receive your ATT letter (by email or mail) you will be given a code to enter when applying
for a test time at www.prometric.com. You will not need to submit any payment when applying
for a test time because you have already paid with your ATT letter application. ATT letters
have an expiration date and a test must be schedule before that date. Do not apply for an ATT
letter if you do not plan to take the test within three months.
5. Apply for a test time. More than one testing site with different times may be available.
6. On test day, arrive 30 minutes before your test time. Bring a snack and water, it will be placed in a
locker outside the test room. You will not receive your score on the test day. You can check for a
pass/fail announcement the day after the following NBCOT score day which occurs every two
weeks, see www.nbcot.org. It is highly recommended that you read through the NBCOT test
handbook which can be found online and details this process in depth.
NBCOT study tools:
Collect and organize info as you get it
Facebook page with weekly sample test questions for OTR and COTA:
www.facebook.com/NBCOTCertification
NBCOT Exam Handbook: http://www.nbcot.org/
OT Advantage is an AOTA Approved Provider for continuing education. http://otadvantage.com/
http://occupational-therapy.advanceweb.com/Features/Articles/Taking-the-NBCOT-Exam.aspx
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