NBCOT is responsible for the preparation of psychometrically sound and legally defensible occupational therapy certification examinations.  The periodic performance of practice analysis studies assists NBCOT with evaluating the validity of the test specifications that guide content distribution of the credentialing examinations.  The ultimate goal of practice analysis studies is to ensure there is a representative linkage of test content to practice, making certain the credentialing examinations contain meaningful indicators of competence, and providing evidence that supports the examinations' content validity of current occupational therapy practice.

NBCOT conducted practice analysis studies in 2012.  Results of these studies are published in the 2012 Practice Analysis of the Occupational Therapist Registered and the 2012 Practice Analysis of the Occupational Therapy Assistant.  The validated domain, task and knowledge statements in these studies will guide examination construction for OTR and COTA examinations administered from January 2014 onward.

All OTR and COTA examinations administered through December 31, 2013 will reflect content of the 2008 Practice Analysis studies.  The executive summaries of both the 2008 and 2012 practice analysis studies will remain available on the NBCOT website through December 2013.  Click the following links to access the document for the respective year and credential:

2012 Practice Analysis of the Occupational Therapist Registered OTR

2012 Practice Analysis of the Occupational Therapy Assistant COTA

2008 Practice Analysis of the Occupational Therapist Registered OTR

2008 Practice Analysis of the Occupational Therapy Assistant COTA