PLEASE NOTE: This tip sheet does not replace the current edition of the NBCOT^® Candidate Handbook; it simply highlights some of the information included in the handbook.

GENERAL TIPS:

1. It is the examination candidate’s responsibility to register properly for the certification examination for OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST REGISTERED OTR^® (OTR) or CERTIFIED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT COTA^® (COTA).

2. Read the NBCOT^® Candidate Handbook for the examination you are planning to take. Candidates must attest that they have read and understand the NBCOT^® Candidate Handbook when they sign their application or submit it online.

3. Be sure to mail materials to the correct address or it will delay processing.

4. Examination applications are not complete until all fees have been paid and all required documentation (e.g., official transcript or NBCOT^® Academic Credential Verification Form (ACVF), fieldwork verification (if necessary), special accommodations forms and documentation) is received and complete. Check the NBCOT^® Candidate Handbook to determine if you are graduating from a program that requires the submission of verification of the completion of fieldwork.

5. Prometric Test Centers are listed on its Web site – www.prometric.com. You may not proceed to contact Prometric to schedule your examination until you have received an Authorization to Test (ATT) Letter from NBCOT^®. Prometric cannot schedule you until it is notified that NBCOT^® has approved you to schedule your examination.

6. The examination applicant is responsible for tracking the completion status of his or her own application. (Even if the candidate submits a paper application, the candidate can check application status online.)

7. Do not submit your examination application until you have completed your fieldwork, and been cleared for graduation or awarded the degree/certificate.

ONLINE APPLICATION:

8.In order to use the online examination application successfully you will need:

• your Social Security Number
• your student identification number (assigned by your college/university)
• if international, your identification number assigned to you by NBCOT^® when approved to examine
• a valid (working) e-mail address
• internet browser: Internet Explorer 5.0 and higher or Netscape 6 and higher
• to be prepared to complete the application in one sitting; pages cannot be saved
• to be connected to a printer
• your MasterCard or Visa credit card number if paying online by credit card

9. The NBCOT^® Candidate Handbook is available at this Web site. The handbook may be downloaded. You may save it as a file on your hard drive or you may print it out. The processing of the online application is faster than the processing of the paper application and reduces the likelihood of errors and having an incomplete application returned to the applicant. Fees may be paid by credit card either online or by mail with written authorization to charge the card.

10. If you apply online you should be sure that your computer is connected to a printer. Print the “receipt” page of the online application verifying that you have submitted the application and keep it for your records. If there are any questions about whether or not you have submitted an application online, you will need to produce the printed receipt.

11. If there are any questions about how to complete the online application, please contact NBCOT^® at
(301) 990-7979 or by e-mail at onlineexamapp@nbcot.org.

12. Online applicants will be notified by e-mail of the receipt of the application. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement, there may be a problem with the online submission of your application. You should go back online to check the status of your application. NBCOT^® will be communicating with candidates via e-mail. A valid (working) e-mail address is required.

13. Online applicants may return online to check the status of their application. You can make some corrections and updates to your application up until your Authorization to Test (ATT) Letter is generated. Once the ATT Letter is generated, you can make NO changes to the application.

14.Be very careful when completing the online application to select the appropriate information from the drop down boxes and to place your checkmarks in the appropriate boxes. Once submitted, there are certain areas of the application that cannot be changed and for which there are no refunds. For example, there are no refunds for errors made in selecting a score transfer to a regulatory board.

PAPER APPLICATION:

15. A hard copy of the NBCOT^® Candidate Handbook and application can be obtained only from NBCOT^® Candidate Handbook, 12 S. Summit Avenue, Suite 100, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150. Enclose a self-addressed adhesive mailing label with your written request.

16. Paper applications and fees are sent to NBCOT, Attn: Certification Examination, P.O. Box 64971, Baltimore, MD 21264.

17. It is recommended that the paper application and any supporting documentation be sent via traceable mail (e.g., certified mail) in order to ensure that it has been delivered and received by NBCOT^®.

18. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant unprocessed, and will result in a delay in your application processing.

19. In processing the paper application, NBCOT^® will post the application information to its online application tool. If you have provided a valid e-mail address and password on your paper application you may go online, using your e-mail address and password, to check the status of your application and amend the application where modifiable up until the ATT Letter is generated. See details above on the online application.

OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT/NBCOT ACADEMIC CREDENTIAL VERIFICATION FORM:

20. Applicants are not to submit the official final transcript or the Academic Credential Verification Form until the examination application has been submitted to NBCOT^®. Such documents submitted in the absence of an application on file cannot be retained. Applicants must make sure that the official final transcript reports all of the required information (described in the NBCOT^® Candidate Handbook).

21. Be sure that the official final transcript or Academic Credential Verification Form (ACVF) is sent directly from the registrar’s office in a sealed envelope to NBCOT, Attn: Transcript Processing, 12 S. Summit Avenue, Suite 100, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150.

22. If fieldwork is completed after the degree has been awarded, fieldwork completion must be verified to NBCOT^® by the education program director. Candidates should check with their program director to be sure that NBCOT^® has been notified that fieldwork has been completed. A list of OT and OTA programs appear in the NBCOT^® Candidate Handbook. Examination registration is not complete until the successful completion of fieldwork has been verified.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS FOR CANDIDATES WITH DISABILITIES:

23. If a special accommodation is requested for a candidate with a documented disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), submit the Application for Special Accommodations for Candidates with Disabilities and the Confirmation of Accommodation History Form (if you had accommodations during OT education) , to NBCOT, Attn. Special Accommodations, 12 S. Summit Avenue, Suite 100, Gaithersburg MD 20877-4150. If you have requested special accommodations, your application processing is not complete until the special accommodations application and any required supporting documentation is received. You cannot receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) Letter until a decision has been reached about your accommodation request. Do not submit your special accommodations application and documentation until you have submitted your examination application.

24. Read the NBCOT^® Candidate Handbook for detailed information on the required documentation for a special accommodation.

25. The professional you select to complete your special accommodations application and make testing recommendations must have professional training appropriate to diagnose and treat your disability. You should consult with this professional and come to agreement as to the requested accommodations.

26. The professional should have current knowledge of your documented disability and its impact on major life activity and its impact on your ability to test under standard testing conditions.

27. Documentation submitted with your special accommodations application should be no more than five (5) years old if you have a documented learning disability and no more than three (3) years old for a documented mental disorder or other disability.

AUTHORIZATION TO TEST (ATT) LETTER:

28. When the application process is complete, an Authorization to Test (ATT) Letter will be sent to you (by-email if you have applied online or provided an e-mail address). You may then proceed to contact Prometric and schedule your test date location at a Prometric Test Center.

FILING AN EXAMINATION COMPLAINT:

29. A candidate has 24 hours from the date he/she took the certification examination to identify in writing and send to NBCOT^® by certified mail, any complaint or details about any problem experienced that is related to the certification examination administration.

SCORE REPORT:

30. If a candidate wants the examination score reported to a state/jurisdiction that accepts NBCOT^® score reports the candidate must indicate the state/jurisdiction on the examination application and provide the required fee. Scores are reported only if there is a request for a score transfer and the fee is paid. If you wish to have a score reported after you have received your ATT Letter or after you have received your score report, please use the form in the NBCOT^® Candidate Handbook to make that request and send it with the proper fee to NBCOT^®.

31. The candidate is responsible for confirming whether a state/jurisdiction accepts NBCOT^® score reports. (A few states will not accept or do not want the “score” from the NBCOT^® examination.)

32. If a candidate plans to work in a state/jurisdiction requiring licensure, the candidate must obtain licensure information directly from that state/jurisdiction, as rules vary from state to state. NBCOT^® cannot provide information on individual jurisdiction requirements for licensure.

CONFIRMATION OF EXAMINATION ELIGIBILITY FOR STATES/JURISDICTIONS:

33. In order to confirm examination eligibility for states/jurisdictions or an employer, all required application-related documentation (e.g., final transcript or ACVF) and fees must be received by NBCOT^® and must be in order.

34. The fee for each notice appears in the NBCOT^® Candidate Handbook. A copy of the notice is sent to the candidate.

35. You should check directly with the regulatory board/jurisdiction to determine whether it will accept or require the Confirmation of Examination Registration and Eligibility to Examine Notice. If you request the notice and it is later determined that the jurisdiction does not require the notice, you will not be refunded the fee paid for the notice.