Waiting for Your NBCOT® Test Results
Waiting for your NBCOT® test results and finding out you failed the NBCOT® exam is understandably disheartening. All your hard work and the money you invested into passing the NBCOT® exam, and you have not been able to achieve your goal. You may be feeling discouraged at this point and probably focusing on “I failed the NBCOT® exam!”.
However, it is important to reframe what you’re thinking, changing “I failed the NBCOT® exam” to “I failed the NBCOT® exam this time!”. It is important to remember that failing the NBCOT® exam, no matter how many times, does not define who you are nor what kind of an occupational therapist/occupational therapy assistant you will become.
You have already achieved so much, successfully completing your schoolwork and fieldwork. This is just one more hurdle you need to overcome, so take a deep breath and take action.
How Many Times Can You Take the NBCOT® Exam?
You may be wondering how many times you can take the NBCOT® exam. Well, there is no limit. If you fail the NBCOT® exam, you are able to retake the exam as many times as you want. However, knowing: “How long do you have to wait to retake the NBCOT® exam” is important because the waiting period depends on how many attempts you have previously taken.
The specific waiting periods are as follows:
- Second or third attempt: 30 days from the date of the last exam administration
- Fourth through sixth attempt: 60 days from the date of the last exam administration
- Seventh attempt or higher: Six months from the date of the last exam administration
Retaking the NBCOT® Exam
The NBCOT® retake process is quite straightforward; you just need to submit a new exam application. To do this, log in to your existing “MyNBCOT” account and follow the steps to reapply.
After eligibility is approved, you will receive a new ATT letter with a new 90-day testing eligibility period. The eligibility will begin no sooner than the applicable waiting period from your previous test date. After receiving the ATT letter, you should schedule your exam directly with Pearson VUE as instructed in the ATT letter.
If you were granted testing accommodations for this NBCOT® exam, remember to reapply when submitting your new application. All of this information can be found in the Testing Accommodations Handbook on the NBCOT® official website
Preparing for the NBCOT® Exam
Even though you may be discouraged and cannot possibly imagine sitting through the 4-hour NBCOT® exam again, you must find resilience and put your failure behind you.
There is no doubt, the NBCOT® exam is hard to pass and there is a good reason for this. As stated on their website, “NBCOT acknowledges that the primary purpose of the NBCOT certification exam is to protect the public interest by certifying only those candidates who have the necessary knowledge of occupational therapy to practice.”
There are various reasons why you may have failed the NBCOT® exam. Perhaps your study skills were not effective, you had poor test-taking skills, you didn’t have strategies to break down questions, or perhaps you second-guessed yourself and changed your answers during the exam.
Either way, there is most likely a better way you could have prepared for the occupational therapy certification exam. Allow yourself to take a day or two to reflect on your study strategies and initial preparation and then decide how to proceed.
Reviewing Your NBCOT® Exam Performance
To move forward, determine in which domains you performed poorly. This will help guide you when formulating a study plan. The NBCOT® exam pass rate is based on the total number of items you answered correctly.
Your overall performance is reported on a standardized scale ranging from 300 to 600. To pass the exam, your score must equal or exceed the passing score of 450. NBCOT® provides performance feedback to students who do not achieve a passing score on the exam.
This performance feedback includes a domain-level performance chart to help you identify your areas of relative strength and weakness. Information about the appropriate interpretation and use of domain scores accompanies this section of the report.
Take the time to look this over and understand which domains you have struggled with. Also, acknowledge your score and determine how many points you were off from a passing score of 450. Whether you are 50 points away from passing or off by only 5 points, you are encouraged to look back on your preparation for the exam and determine what you can do better for the next time.
Investing in the Right Study Tools
The NBCOT® exam requires you to invest in the right study tools. Perhaps, it is time you sign up for an online course. PasstheOT.com has a 90% pass rate, offering the most effective, efficient, and affordable test prep for the NBCOT® exam.
PasstheOT.com offers 1:1 tutoring sessions, practice tests, study guides, and much more. These are all resources needed to successfully pass the NBCOT® exam and become a registered occupational therapist.
Do not stress about passing the NBCOT® exam and sign up now at passtheOT.com.
Candidates who fail the exam may apply to retake the exam. There are, however, specific waiting periods depending on how many attempts you have previously taken.
The following waiting periods apply to all exams:
- Second or third attempt: 30 days from date of last exam administration
- Fourth through sixth attempt: 60 days from date of last exam administration
- Seventh attempt or higher: six months from date of last exam administration
There is no limit on the number of attempts you can take.
Failing the NBCOT exam can be discouraging, but each attempt provides valuable insights into areas for improvement. Take time to review your score report, identify weak areas, and consider adjusting your study approach. Tutoring, study groups, and new study materials can make a significant difference.
The NBCOT exam is challenging, as it is designed to ensure that candidates have the knowledge and skills necessary for effective occupational therapy practice. Preparation is key, and using structured study programs and practice exams can help improve your chances of passing.
The NBCOT exam is scored on a scale from 300 to 600, with a passing score of 450. Your score report will break down your performance by content area, which can help you identify areas to focus on for your retake.
Yes, many candidates who fail by a small margin succeed on their next attempt. It can be helpful to focus on specific content areas where your performance was weaker. Using targeted study guides and taking practice exams can help close these knowledge gaps.
You will need to submit a new exam application in order to retest. To do this, log in to your existing “MyNBCOT” account and follow the steps to reapply. After eligibility is approved, you will receive a new ATT letter with a new 90-day testing eligibility period. The eligibility will begin no sooner than the applicable waiting period from your previous test date. After receiving the ATT letter, you should schedule your exam directly with Pearson VUE as instructed in the ATT letter.
You can access the official NBCOT Certification Exam Handbook, which includes comprehensive details about the exam structure, application process, retake policies, accommodations, and scoring. Download it directly from the NBCOT website here:
Download the Certification Exam Handbook (PDF)
