Study Tips for the NBCOT OTR Exam
As the excitement of graduation slowly settles, the realization of opening up the textbooks and committing to the long study hours again can feel daunting. Preparing for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) exam is a significant stepping stone in our professional careers. To make the study process easier, I have provided some effective strategies that helped me stay focused and confident while in the midst of studying:
1. Understand the Exam Format
Before you begin studying, take time to review the exam's structure. It is a 1-day, 4-hour, 180-question exam that includes multiple-choice and multiple-select scenario-based questions that test both content knowledge and clinical reasoning. Understanding the format and timing helps you study more effectively and reduces uncertainty on exam day.
2. Build a Realistic Study Plan
Create a timeline based on the number of weeks or months you plan to study before your exam. Spread out the material and set weekly goals so you cover all content areas without rushing through key concepts. Allow for some flexibility, but hold yourself accountable if you miss your daily or weekly targets. Schedule each topic like a “meeting,” and if you miss it, reschedule it for another time/day.
3. Use Practice Questions to Guide Your Review
Practice questions can reveal which areas you’re confident in and which need further studying. Review answer explanations carefully, even for questions you’ve answered correctly, to deepen your understanding and reinforce concepts. This may feel challenging and overwhelming at the start, but don’t get discouraged. As you continue to go through questions consistently, the material will become more familiar, and the process will feel easier. Patience and persistence are key to building confidence and mastery.
4. Simulate Test Conditions
Take a few full-length, timed practice exams under conditions that mimic the real exam. This helps with pacing, focus, and stamina, which are essential on exam day. It also helps reduce test anxiety by building familiarity with the testing experience. Shut your phone off, move to a quiet place with limited distractions, and prepare to spend the full 4 hours on a practice test.
5. Diversify Your Study Tools
Engage with the material in different ways through flashcards, outlines, study groups, or audio/visual resources. Utilizing multiple formats keeps studying more interesting and helps reinforce learning from different angles. Combining visual and auditory input can strengthen understanding and boost confidence in your knowledge. Don’t be afraid to mix up your study methods and see what works!
Believe in Yourself and Your Knowledge
It’s easy to get inside your head when preparing for the NBCOT exam, especially in the final weeks and days leading up to it. One poor practice exam score or bad study day does not define your knowledge or abilities as a student and future practitioner. Have confidence in yourself and your ability to dissect each question to pull out the relevant information. Lean on your support system, but remain your own biggest fan!
A Helpful Resource: AOTA NBCOT Exam Prep Tool
One resource I’ve found especially useful while studying for the NBCOT exam is the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) NBCOT Exam Prep Tool. It aligns with the latest exam content and offers structured and adaptive study plans. The adaptive option begins with an assessment and tailors your study based on performance, which has helped me focus on weaker areas and manage my time more effectively.
The tool includes timed and untimed practice exams, downloadable thorough content outlines, flashcards, and detailed answer rationales that explain both correct and incorrect choices. It also tracks your confidence level with each question, helping identify patterns in your understanding. This tool has provided a solid, well-organized foundation for my preparation. It has been a key component of my study repertoire.
Seeing all your textbooks and study materials in front of you may seem extremely overwhelming. But taking one chapter, one topic, and some days, even one page at a time is essential. Take a deep breath and remember all the hard work that brought you here!
Emily Olsen is a recent OTD graduate of the New York Institute of Technology. She is hard at work studying for the NBCOT exam while working as the Senior Editor for The OT Student Pulse! She is excited to start her new job as a pediatric therapist at a special education preschool in Queens.