NBCOT ® Certification Update An overview of certification related information for students and educators.

Topics  About NBCOT ®  Certification Examination Overview  Submitting Your Application  Useful Tools  Certification Renewal  Contact NBCOT ®

NBCOT ®  Initially incorporated in 1988 as the American Occupational Therapy Association Certification Board.  1996 changed to the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.  Governed by a Board of Directors comprised of occupational therapists (OTR ® ), occupational therapy assistants (COTA ® ), and public or consumer members.

NBCOT ®  47 regulatory jurisdictions rely on NBCOT ® certification for licensure of Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants.  Organizationally, NBCOT ® is accredited by the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA); American National Standards Institute (ANSI); and U.S. Department of Labor’s National Skills Standards Board.

NBCOT ® Our Mission Serving the Public Interest

Who Are NBCOT ® ’s Public?  Candidates  Certificants  Occupational Therapy Education Program Directors  State and Regulatory Entities  Occupational Therapy Community at Large  Those who receive occupational therapy services provided by an OTR ® or COTA ®

How Does NBCOT ® Serve the Public Interest?  By developing and implementing certification standards.  By developing and administering a valid and reliable certification examination for OTR ® and COTA ® candidates.  By establishing and enforcing a Certificant/Candidate Code of Professional Conduct.

How Does NBCOT ® Serve the Public Interest?  By ensuring that practitioners who identify themselves to the “public” as being an OTR ® or COTA ® are eligible to do so.  By conducting research on what are the elements of entry-level and ongoing practice.

How Does NBCOT ® Serve the Public Interest?  By ensuring that NBCOT ® ’s program, products, and services are: –In compliance with applicable state and federal regulations, laws and statues; and –Consistent with credentialing industry standards.

Certification Examination Overview  Practice Analysis  Examination Development

Practice Analysis Study  For the purpose of 2003 study, entry- level means an OTR ® or COTA ® certificant who has been initially certified for 3 years or less.

Practice Analysis  A detailed description of practice.  To ensure that representative linkage of test content to practice – providing evidence of the examination’s job relatedness or content validity.

Practice Analysis… A profession’s practice is described in terms of:  Domains - broadly define the major performance components of the profession.  Tasks - describe activities that are performed in each domain. (Things practitioners do).  Knowledge and Skill Statements - describe information required to perform each task competently.

OTR ® Test Blueprint Domain – OTR ® Examination2003 Evaluate 1. Evaluate the individual/group to determine needs and priorities for occupation-based interventions. 25% intervention plan 2. Develop intervention plan that addresses the occupational needs of individuals/groups. 21% Implementinterventions 3. Implement occupationally meaningful interventions with individuals/groups that support participation on relevant environments. 41% OT services populations 4. Provide OT services that address the occupational performance needs of populations. 6% Manage, organize, and promote OT services 5. Manage, organize, and promote OT services. 7%

COTA ® Test Blueprint Domain – COTA ® Examination2003 Evaluate 1. Evaluate the individual/group to determine needs and priorities for occupation-based interventions. 12% intervention plan 2. Develop intervention plan that addresses the occupational needs of individuals/groups. 22% Implementinterventions 3. Implement occupationally meaningful interventions with individuals/groups that support participation on relevant environments. 50% OT services populations 4. Provide OT services that address the occupational performance needs of populations. 9% Manage, organize, and promote OT services 5. Manage, organize, and promote OT services. 7%

How are the results used?  The outcomes of the Practice Analysis Study are used to construct NBCOT ® ’s entry-level certification examinations.

Implementation of 2003 Study  Effective January 1, 2005, certification examinations’ content will be based on the test examination blueprints of

Examination Development  Certification examinations are developed based on a percentage of items within each of 5 domain areas: –Evaluation –Intervention Planning –Implementing Interventions –Occupational Therapy Services for Populations –Manage, Organize & Promote Occupational Therapy Services

Examination Development  Items are written at the entry-level to determine minimal competency of candidates –By occupational therapy practitioners & educators. –Represent various practice areas. –Diverse geographical areas.  Require a synthesis of information –Combining practical application with textbook knowledge.

Examination Development  200 multiple choice items –170 statistically reliable items Scored for pass/fail. Pre-equated using IRT statistics. –30 pre-test items Not scored for pass/fail status. Collecting statistics for future use on the examination.

Application Facts  96% of all exam candidates registering to take the exam online.  Authorization To Test (ATT) letter. –Sent electronically by (or mailed in hard copy if it cannot be ed). –Is active for 90-days. –Provides instruction on contacting Prometric Testing Center and scheduling the exam.

Submitting Your Application  Candidates can submit their applications in one of two ways: Online using the Internet or by paper.  The online application can be accessed at NBCOT ® ’s home page  After all required materials have been received and evaluated, the candidate’s Authorization To Test (ATT) letter will be sent to the candidate by or by snail mail.

Submitting Your Application Candidates who submit their application online should: Have access to the Internet. Have a valid address. Have Internet Explorer 5.0 and higher or Netscape 6.0 and higher. All versions (4.0 and higher) will work, but some versions of Netscape 4.7 have been problematic. Have a computer connected to a printer in order to print the “Application Receipt” or invoice. If you are paying by check, printing your “Application Invoice” to mail with your payment will prevent delays in application processing.

Submitting Your Application Candidates should not have their Transcripts or ACVF Forms (Academic Credential Verification Form) sent to NBCOT ® until they have submitted their application. Please note, candidates are permitted to take the certification examination with an ACVF on file with NBCOT ®, but an official transcript must be received before certification can be granted.

Application Processing Problems  The candidate is no longer using the address that was used to submit the application.  The candidate accessed the Internet at a public facility, like a library, that is configured to “Send Only” and not receive mail.  We have learned that some ISP’s (Internet Service Providers), particularly the free ones like HOTMAIL, are filtering NBCOT ® with attachments. Candidates who are using one of these providers, should change their system’s filter to allow s coming from domain.

Application Processing Problems  A candidate does not request early determination character background reviewed prior to applying for the certification examination to determine eligibility to take the examination because of previous conditions such as: Felony charge or conviction Encumbrance of professional license Negligence, malpractice or willful intentional misconduct  Outstanding/unresolved payment issues.  Special accommodation delays.

Examination Administration  Prometric Testing Center –350 testing sites throughout the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and Guam. –Testing available six days per week. –Some sites have evening hours. –Generally, candidates are able to schedule their examination at a center on the date and time of their choice.

Useful Tools from NBCOT ®  Certification Examination Study Guides.  Web-based Practice Examinations.  NEW PRODUCT – Web-based content examinations provides feedback basis for correct and incorrect answers (Summer 2004).

Study Guide Outline  Section 1 – Overview of Adult Learning  Section 2 – Effective Study Habits  Section 3 – General Test Taking Strategies  Section 4 – Specifics of NBCOT ® Examinations  Section 5 – Practice Examination with Answers and Rationale

Practice Examinations  Accessible by the Internet.  Composed of 75 questions.  Questions previously were used on certification examination.  Predictive value has been determined to success on the OTR ® certification examination (92%) new graduate test takers.

Practice Area Content Examinations  35 questions related to specific content.  If candidate chooses incorrect answer, they are provided with rationale of why answer is incorrect, and told the right answer with justification of why this is correct.  Content areas are: –Physical Disabilities –Mental Health –Pediatrics

Certification Renewal Phase II of the Certification Renewal requirement became effective in Class of ,000 certificants in the renewal class 33,150 renewed (85%) Class of ,146 certificants in the renewal class 13,548 renewed (85%)

Did You Know… 11 states currently do not have continuing education requirement for license renewal. –Geographically, 22% of the United States. –A combined total of 40% of the OTR ® and COTA ® population are not required to engage in continuing education activities for licensure renewal.

Initial Certification  Beginning in 2004, new certificants will receive Certification Renewal information including professional development materials. Prior to completion of the initial three-year cycle, 36 Professional Development Units (PDUs) are needed to renew their OTR ® or COTA ® certification status.

Why Renew Your Certification?  Recognition of YOUR ongoing commitment to professional development.  Signifies to the Public – patients, clients, employers, and your peers that your status as an Occupational Therapist or Occupational Therapy Assistant is recognized nationally.  Enhance employment opportunities and growth.  Enhances the publics’ understanding on and reliance about Occupational Therapy professionals.

For Additional Information Online at:   By Telephone:  By Mail: NBCOT ® 800 South Frederick Ave., #200 Gaithersburg, MD 20877

Thank You