Initial certification is just the beginning of your professional journey with NBCOT. Underpinning our mission to serve the public interest, it is our belief that certification is a lifelong tool for the continuous professional development of the certified occupational therapy practitioner. We are a resource for your professional development throughout your career, offering you the tools you need to advance your competence and prepare for new professional challenges. Certification renewal recognizes that the OTR® or COTA® has met a national standard for professionalism and promotes continued professional development. We believe that continually supporting your practice has long-term benefits for all stakeholders. The certification renewal requirement and tools were developed using NBCOT’s certification renewal practice analysis study, with input from key stakeholder groups, including practitioners, employers, and regulators.

NBCOT certification is granted for a three-year period. If you complete all of the certification renewal requirements by your scheduled renewal date, you will be granted Active in Good Standing certification status for another three-year period. 

Renewal season occurs between January and March annually, regardless of your initial certification date. If you do not renew by your scheduled renewal date, your status will change to Inactive. If your status is Inactive, you cannot use your OTR or COTA credential. 

During the renewal process, you can opt to include a Practice Area of Emphasis (PAE) on your certificate.

The PAE designation recognizes you have completed at least 24 units of your professional development in a specific practice area during your renewal cycle. Please note, recording a Practice Area of Emphasis on the certificate does not connote a specialty certification or advanced practitioner certification.

The Certification Renewal Activities Chart identifies ways to earn Competency Assessment Units (CAU) and Professional Development Units (PDU) toward certification renewal. 

View the Certification Renewal Activities Chart

Our provider registry provides certificants the ability to search for professional development activities in a variety of formats.  You are able to filter your search by course format, practice area, and course level or strength. Sign up for a course today to continue to expand your OT knowledge.

Professional Development Provider Registry

*NBCOT does not review, sanction, or endorse any of the course or program content offered by companies or organizations registered as professional development providers. Certificants are advised to make their own determination on the usefulness of the courses or programs offered by any provider.

Use the Renewal Log to: 

• Enter and track your renewal units
• Upload course verification documents
• Gauge units earned for your next renewal period

Plus, the units you earn through NBCOT Navigator® are automatically added to your log. 

Start adding your units today in your MyNBCOT account.

Fieldwork Supervision Verification

Journal & Textbook Reading Guidelines & Log 

Mentoring Guidelines & Log 

Study Group Form 

Volunteer Guidelines & Log 

Retiring in good standing from NBCOT allows you to use "OTR, Retired" or "COTA, Retired" after your name. It is the perfect end to a great career. 

Log in to your MyNBCOT account and click on the Certification tab to request your Active in Good Standing status to be changed to Retired in Good Standing. You may only request Retired in Good Standing status while your certification is active.

In order to protect the public, certificants and exam applicants must abide by the Practice Standards and Code of Conduct. Certificants must disclose any criminal, legal, or other disciplinary matters within 60 days of such matter by sending an email to professional.conduct@nbcot.org. Those who violate the Code of Conduct are subject to the Procedures for the Enforcement of the NBCOT Code of Conduct.

When renewing certification, certificants must agree to abide by the NBCOT Certificant Attestation.

The NBCOT Code of Conduct enables NBCOT to define and clarify the professional responsibilities for present and future NBCOT certificants. In order to earn and maintain the confidence and respect of recipients of occupational therapy, colleagues, employers, students, and the public, it is vital that NBCOT certificants act in a professional manner consistent with the Practice Standards and responsibilities set forth in the Code of Conduct.

NBCOT Code of Conduct

The NBCOT Practice Standards provide guidelines that can help certificants determine what they should and should not do when providing services to clients. These Standards represent the expectations of NBCOT and may be used to evaluate performance for ongoing professional development and/or disciplinary action. 

OTR Practice Standards 

COTA Practice Standards

The Procedures for the Enforcement of the NBCOT Code of Conduct enable NBCOT to protect the rights of certificants and exam applicants who have violated the Code, and to act fairly in the performance of its responsibilities as a certifying agency to the public.

NBCOT has jurisdiction over all: 

• Individuals who have been certified as an OTR® or COTA®
• Individuals who have applied for certification
• Individuals who have applied for OTED®
• Individuals who have applied for Early Determination Review

This summary is a national resource for consumers of occupational therapy services, the general public, regulatory agencies, and employers.

NBCOT Disciplinary Action Summary

In today's digital world, where we share everything online, NBCOT offers digital badges in addition to paper certificates for OTR and COTA certificants to define and publicize their credentials.

What is an NBCOT digital badge?

Digital badges are dynamic icons that contain certification data specific to the OTR or COTA certificant. They represent a new online standard to verify learning and professional growth and accomplishments across digital and social networks.

Who can access NBCOT digital badges?

Badges are awarded when you do one or more of the following:

• Pass your certification exam
• Renew your certification
• Renew with a Practice Area of Emphasis
• Obtain the maximum number of CAU from the Navigator
• Volunteer with NBCOT

Access and share your badges through your MyNBCOT account.

These resources will help you discover and manage your OT evidence-based research.

• Document strengths in a specific practice area 
• Identify professional growth opportunities 
• Link current skills and abilities to critical job skills and performance plans 
• Assess learning needs prior to re-entering the workforce after a prolonged absence 
• Assess learning needs prior to transitioning to a new practice area 
• Form the framework for a professional development plan 

There is much to gain from volunteering with NBCOT:

• Contribute to activities that support certification.
• Develop social and professional contacts with peers from across the country.
• Achieve personal satisfaction and professional recognition.
• Gain a unique professional development experience.

Volunteer Criteria

• Current OTR or COTA certification
• Three to five years of experience in a specific occupational therapy practice area
• Good writing, reviewing, and editing skills
• Commitment to work within a scheduled timeline
• Ability to work well in teams
• Computer literate
• Willing and able to travel to meetings

Volunteer Application

To complete the application, go to the profile section in your MyNBCOT account and click "Become A Volunteer" in the left navigation menu. Complete all the required fields and upload a current résumé/CV (Word or PDF uploads only).

Notes:

1. There may be additional criteria depending on the nature of the committee work involved.
2. To protect the confidentiality and intellectual property of NBCOT products, perceived or real conflicts of interest may affect committee selection.

Are you an OTR or a COTA who makes a positive impact through everyday OT practice to improve your clients’ overall life satisfaction? Have you developed a new program or intervention that enhances the quality of life for a person or persons? You could be eligible for the new NBCOT Innovation or Impact Award!

Find out more now.