All About the NBCOT!

While I'm job-hunting, I realized that the completing the NBCOT certification and licensure (for New York State) were two separate processes, which got a bit confusing. Thus, I decided to share the steps I took to complete the application to take the exam AND registration to obtain the license. At the time of writing, the information I provided below is accurate, and I did not encounter any problems. I hope you will find the information helpful and that everything goes smoothly for you as well.

Successfully completed your final fieldwork? Check.

Successfully completed all your coursework? Check.

Graduated? Check.

Congratulations on completing your OT program, which is a big accomplishment! There's one BIG final step to take. 
This is the goal you've been working towards: taking AND passing the NBCOT exam!

1. Licensure Process (NB: for New York state only)

    - Downloaded and printed out Form 1 and TWO copies of Form 2 from http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/ot/

    - Obtained a passport-sized photo of myself

    - Had Form 1 notarized by teller at my bank

    - Initial Registration Fee: Check was made payable to New York State Education Department

    - Notarized Form 1, passport photo, AND initial registration fee were mailed out to: 

                                New York State Education Department

                                Office of the Professions

                                P.O. Box 22063

                                Albany, NY 12201 

    - Completed TWO copies of Form 2 and submitted both to my program (in person) to have them fill out the rest and mail out

    - Included with one Form 2, one envelope was addressed to:

                                 New York State Education Department

                                 Office of the Professions

                                 Division of Professional Licensing Services

                                 Occupational Therapy Unit

                                 89 Washington Avenue

                                 Albany, NY 12234                                                     

2. Certification Process:

    - Downloaded the Academic Credential Verification Form (ACVF) from www.nbcot.org since I planned on taking the exam before my official graduation date (as stated on my diploma)

    - Submitted the ACVF to my program (in person) for them to complete and mail out

    - Submitted my NBCOT Certification Exam application on www.nbcot.org
    - Online Exam Application Fee plus NY Initial Score Report: Check was made payable to NBCOT
    - Printed receipt and check were both mailed out to:
                                  National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
                                  Attn: Certification Examination
                                  12 South Summit Avenue, Suite 100
                                  Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150

    - Printed my Authorization to Test (ATT) letter that was sent to me via e-mail
    - Selected my testing location and scheduled day and time to take the exam on www.prometric.com

3. FINAL Official Transcripts (ordered after official graduation date)
    - Transcripts were ordered electronically through my student online account 

    - One paper transcript was sent to:

                                  NYSED Office of the Professions

                                  Division of Professional Licensing Services

                                  Occupational Therapy Unit

                                  89 Washington Avenue

                                  Albany, NY 12234
                                  518-474-3817 x270

    - One e-transcript was sent to NBCOT via e-mail: transcripts@nbcot.org

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Preparing for the Exam:

It is really up to you to decide the length of time you want to spend preparing for the exam. Everyone is different. Some are comfortable taking it soon after they graduate or successfully complete their final fieldwork. Others may spend a month or more preparing for it. (I took TWO months, but it was worth taking the extra time to study!)

I highly recommend that you attend a review course that may be offered by your program, possibly for free or at a discount rate. I used Rita Fleming-Castaldy's National Occupational Therapy Certification Exam: Review and Study Guide (6th Edition) and attended TherapyEd's NBCOT Preparation Course. For more information, go to http://www.therapyed.com/nbcot.htm#otreg

This helped structure my study time and target some areas that I needed to focus on.

Another helpful resource is AOTA's NBCOT Online Exam Prep (used after I took the NBCOT and before I found out that I passed). It has over 900 practice questions and 77 Clinical Simulation scenarios. One con is the price tag, but it is REALLY useful and can help you target your weaker areas. For more information, go to http://nbcotexamprep.aota.org/

What really made the difference is creating my own study guide. Also, redoing the practice questions and spending time to understand why I answered questions incorrectly helped tremendously. Don't forget to review class notes and/or textbooks when necessary.

Stay focused, but remember to make time for yourself! :)

***************************************************************************

On the Day of the Exam

1. Get a good night's sleep and eat well.

2. Bring a printed copy of your ATT letter and 2 forms of government-issued ID's with you.

3. Arrive early to your testing site because the signing in process can take a while.

4. Don't bring a lot of stuff. Everything goes into the locker except your 2 ID's and locker key.

5. You will be fingerprinted (electronically), have a metal detector scanned and your clothing checked to ensure you don't have any "illegal" items on you. You will sign and write the time in a log book.

6. They will provide you with two dry-erase boards and dry-erase markers. Do use them!

7. Make sure you are comfortable and complete the tutorial so you know what to do.

8. Take 2-3 quick water/bathroom breaks, but remember that the clock doesn't stop. As you leave, your fingerprint is checked and you sign out. When you return, fingerprint is checked, you are scanned and clothing checked, and you sign in.

9. Be VERY careful with the Clinical Simulation section because you can't change your answer choices. Also, don't select answer choices that you're unsure of since you WILL be penalized for choosing the wrong action. 

10. Budget your time wisely and do your best not to overthink it. You can go back to tackle the tough multiple-choice (MC) questions. Also, you may use the remaining time to review your answers.

11. Feeling tired and/or feeling that you don't know or remember anything is perfectly normal after spending 4 hours taking an intense exam. Relax because you did your best... and you earned it!

**Remember, you've come this far and successfully completed the OT program. Thus, you have what it takes to pass the exam. The most important thing is that you effectively and efficiently use your time to prepare for it. 
Good Luck! You got this!** 

***It you didn't pass the exam the first time: it's okay to feel upset, but you shouldn't be discouraged. This is the opportunity to focus on areas that you can improve on and retake the exam. There's no shame. Keep your head up and remember that you worked too hard to give up at this point!***

What to Expect in OT School

After waiting a couple of months to hear back from the schools you have applied to, you should have heard back from most of them. Got accepted? To at least one or more programs? You may have had a tough time deciding whether to accept, decline, or defer... but you finally made your choice. Congratulations!! All your hard work paid off.

Now that you have a little more time to relax and catch your breath, you are now thinking about what life would be like as an OT student. This is a brief survival guide based on my experiences... that could help you succeed when you begin graduate school career.

Reminders:  
- Fees: make sure all fees (i.e., deposit) are paid before you are enrolled
- Financial Aid: make sure all forms are filled out and are submitted on a timely basis
- Health/Immunizations: all health forms should be completed and up-to-date 
- Transcripts: all transcripts should be mailed from your school(s) to your program once you complete your course(s)

Before the program begins:
Open House: It is not required to attend Open House, but this is a good opportunity to meet some of the program's faculty and prospective classmates
My experience: I did attend Open House. My parents were kind enough to drive me, but we ended up getting lost... and I was half-an-hour late. Oh well!

Living Arrangements:  
- Commuters: Familiarize yourself with the public transportation routes and get a feel of how long it would take for you to travel during rush hour and off hours. This also applies to those of you who choose to drive, but you may have to decide whether you should pay for a parking spot or try your luck and find parking on your own.
- Dorm/Campus Housing: This is the ideal setting because it is usually close near where you'll take classes... and you'll have more time to study, sleep, and socialize with other students on campus. However, convenience does come at a cost. It would be wise to have a budget.
- Housing: If you decide not to get campus housing or you were unable to, you may be on your own in your search for an apartment. Give yourself plenty of time to find something that suits you, but do ask around. There will be other people who are in the same boat as you are. Consider cost, distance, and other factors. Again, have a clear budget!
My experience: I am a commuter, so I save on housing costs. However, it takes me an hour to get to and from school... No, I don't enjoy it at all.

Books: You may already know what your schedule would be like for the first semester, so there is a good chance that you can find out if you can get the names of the required textbooks you will need for the first semester.
Tip: Books are very expensive... so try to purchase them online as early as possible. If you can, get used copies that are in good condition.
Experience: I saved a good deal on my books by searching on DealOz and buying most of them from websites such as Amazon, textbooks.com.

Orientation: This may take one or more full days. You will be overloaded with information about the program, the courses you would be taking, financial aid, what is expected of you, etc. etc. etc. Also, you probably will be handed your new ID, lots of paperwork (i.e., schedule, student handbook, program's bulletin, etc.). Well, you and your classmates may be divided into groups and do an activity and get to know each other.
Tip: Be well rested. Even though there may be food, bring water and snacks. Also, carry a backpack or bring extra bags for all the extra stuff! Yeah... be open to just about anything!
Experience: Orientation took two full days. Honestly I only remember being exhausted! However, I met some students who were already enrolled in the program.

Coming Soon: Tips to Survive OT School!