NBCOT®* 6 Week Study Schedule

Congratulations on this pivotal milestone! Having completed both the didactic and clinical portions of an occupational therapy program is an incredible achievement in and of itself, one that takes great determination and resilience. You should be so proud of yourself for making it to this point in the OT journey!

As you prepare for the NBCOT® exam, remember that you already have the necessary tools to accomplish this final step; remain driven, focused, consistent and confident! Studying for the NBCOT® can undoubtedly become quite overwhelming, so I have provided a comprehensive 6-week study schedule that can be used as a reference throughout your review process in hopes to ease test-taking anxiety and provide you with structure as you tackle this final task towards becoming an OTR®!

The following schedule is designed to help you organize and manage your study time efficiently. It is encouraged, however, to modify this study schedule accordingly to ensure it is tailored to meet your individual, unique needs. 

Week 1: Exam Prep & Intro to OT

Monday

• OT Miri Videos: Test taking strategies for the exam, The Passing Mindset, The OT Process, and Top Down vs Bottom Up
• TherapyEd textbook: Chapter 1 – Test Taking Tips
• AOTA: “Read before you start” tab + Study Tips PDF
• TrueLearn (random assortment): 25 questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Tuesday

• OT Miri Videos: Ecology of Human Performance Model, EHP/PEO/MOHO, and Occupational Adaptation Theory
• TherapyEd Textbook: Chapter 2
• AOTA: Practice Essentials PDF
• TrueLearn (random assortment): 25 NEW questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Wednesday

• TherapyEd textbook: Chapter 3
• NBCOT® Study Pack: 50 flashcards
• OT Exam Prepper podcast #8: Study & Testing Strategies
• Review topics and notes from Monday & Tuesday
• TrueLearn (random assortment): 25 NEW questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Thursday

• TherapyEd textbook: Chapter 4
• AOTA: Ethics PDF
• AOTA: Ethics questions
• OT Miri: Code of Ethics
• TrueLearn (specific topic search): Ethics questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Friday

• TherapyEd textbook: Chapter 8
• AOTA: Cardiopulmonary Conditions PDF
• OT Miri: Cardiac Rehab and MET Levels
• TrueLearn (specific topic search): Cardiopulmonary questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Saturday & Sunday – Take the day off

Be sure to take necessary rest breaks where you see fit. Hydrate, exercise, prioritize self-care and still find time to engage in the occupations you enjoy most!

Week 2: Across Practice Areas

Monday

• AOTA: Burns PDF
• AOTA: Burn Rehabilitation questions
• OT Miri videos: Burn Classification, Burn Rehabilitation
• OT Exam Prepper podcast #10 & #11
• TrueLearn (specific topic search): Burn questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Tuesday

• TherapyEd textbook: Chapter 16
• AOTA: Low Vision PDF
• AOTA: Low Vision questions
• TrueLearn (specific topic search): Vision questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Wednesday

• AOTA PDFs: Wheelchairs and Seating Systems, Home Accessibility, and Assistive Technology
• TrueLearn (random assortment): 50 NEW questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Thursday

• TherapyEd textbook: Chapter 15 & 16
• AOTA PDFs: Work Rehab, Community Mobility, and Driving
• AOTA questions
• TrueLearn (random assortment): 35 NEW questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Friday

• AOTA PDFs: Physical Agent Modalities, Cancer, and Wound Healing
• NBCOT® 50 Flashcards
• TrueLearn (random assortment): 35 NEW questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Saturday

• TrueLearn: 100-question practice exam (combination of incorrect and new questions)
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Sunday – Take the day off

Take one day at a time. Weeks 1 & 2 are complete. Keep up the great work!

Week 3: Pediatrics

Monday

• OT Exam Prepper podcast #6: Pediatric Developmental Milestones
• OT Miri Videos: 0-12 Month Review and Scissor Skills Development
• TherapyEd textbook: Chapter 5
• TrueLearn (specific topic search): 35 Pediatric questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Tuesday

• OT Miri video: Infant Reflexes & Infant Feeding Development
• AOTA: Pediatrics Part 1 PDF
• Therapy Ed textbook: continue Chapter 5
• TrueLearn (specific topic search): 35 Pediatric questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Wednesday

• AOTA: Pediatrics Part 2 PDF
• AOTA: Pediatric questions
• OT Miri video: Pediatric Assessments – Developmental
• Review pediatric notes from Monday – Wednesday

Thursday

• OT Miri video: Pediatric Assessments (Sensory, Motor & Visual, Beery VMI vs TVMS)
• Organize and differentiate between popular pediatric assessments
• TrueLearn (specific topic search): Assessment questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Friday

• NBCOT® flashcards: 50-100
• TherapyEd textbook: Chapter 10
• TrueLearn: repeat incorrect questions
  • Go over rationales & compare to original results

Saturday & Sunday – Take the day off

You are half way to the finish line, awesome job!

Week 4: Musculoskeletal Conditions

Monday

• TherapyEd textbook: Chapter 6
• AOTA: Musculoskeletal conditions
• AOTA: Musculoskeletal conditions questions
• OT Miri videos: Median, Radial, Ulnar Injuries, Extensor Tendon Injuries, and Flexor Tendon Injuries
• OT Exam Prepper podcast #4

Tuesday

• TherapyEd textbook: Chapter 11
• OT Exam Prepper podcast #12
• OT Miri video: Joint ROM
• TrueLearn (specific topic search): Musculoskeletal Conditions questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Wednesday

• AOTA: Hand and UE Conditions PDF
• AOTA: Hand and UE Conditions questions
• OT Miri video: Carpal Tunnel and Claw Hand
• NBCOT® study pack: 50 flashcards
• TrueLearn (specific topic search): Musculoskeletal Conditions questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Thursday

• TherapyEd textbook: Chapter 6
• OT Miri: Tendon gliding
• AOTA: Condition Hand and Upper Extremity questions
• OT Exam Prepper podcast #7
• TrueLearn (specific topic search): Musculoskeletal and splints
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Friday

• Orthopedic special tests and assessments
• TrueLearn: 100-question practice exam (combination of incorrect + new questions)
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Saturday

• NBCOT® Pre-Test (110 questions)

Sunday – Take the day off.

Take time to revisit previously studied topics. ‘Active recall’ is very important to ensure you have truly retained the information. Example: at random points throughout the day, mentally process/repeat learned information by verbally repeating it in your own words; this strengthens overall understanding and promotes more active study techniques.

Week 5: Neurological Conditions

Monday

• OT Miri video: Stroke Overview; Stroke evaluation & treatment
• AOTA: Neurologic Conditions PDF (stroke focus)
• AOTA: Neurologic Conditions questions
• TrueLearn (specific topic search): Neurologic questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Tuesday

• TherapyEd textbook: Chapter 7
• OT Miri video: SCI C1-C8
• OT Exam Prepper podcast #5
• AOTA: continue neurologic conditions (SCI focus)
• TrueLearn (specific topic search): Neurologic questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Wednesday

• TherapyEd textbook: Chapter 12
• OT Miri videos: Apraxia, Aphasia, PNF
• AOTA: Neurologic questions
• TrueLearn (specific topic search): Neurologic questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Thursday

• AOTA: Continue Neurologic Conditions PDF (TBI focus)
• OT Miri video: Ranchos Los Amigos
• OT Exam Prepper podcast #3 and #9
• AOTA: Neurologic questions
• TrueLearn (specific topic search): Neurologic questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Friday

• AOTA: Neurodegernative PDF
• AOTA: Neurodegenerative questions
• OT Miri videos: Alzheimers and Dementia
• TrueLearn (specific topic search): Neurodegenerative Conditions questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Saturday

• TrueLearn: Repeat incorrect questions and review
• Neuro assessments
• Write out Ranchos Los Amigos and Glasgow Coma Scale Based and review

Sunday – Take the day off

Take time to decompress but continue practicing active review strategies to better retain learned information. Fun and creative mnemonics are a great way to memorize those difficult topic areas.

Week 6: Cognition, Mental Health, & Research

Monday

• TherapyEd textbook: Chapter 13
• OT Miri video: Allen Cognitive Levels
• Cognitive assessments
• OT Exam Prepper podcast #2
• NBCOT® Practice Test 1 (110 questions)

Tuesday

• TherapyEd textbook: Chapters 10 and 14
• AOTA: Mental Health Practice PDF
• AOTA: Mental Health questions
• Write out Allen Cognitive Levels
• TrueLearn: 50 NEW questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Wednesday

• NBCOT® Full Exam (180 questions)
• Review all research-related terminology
• TrueLearn (specific topic search): Research questions
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Thursday

• TrueLearn: 100-question practice exam (new questions)
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Friday

• Review weak areas
• TrueLearn: 100-question practice exam (new questions)
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Saturday

• TrueLearn: 100-question practice exam (new questions)
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Sunday

• TrueLearn: Occupational Therapy Retail Assessment (180 questions)
  • Go over TrueLearn results and rationales

Congratulations, you did it!!

Next Steps

This 6-week schedule will allow you to review a wide variety of topics that can be expected to appear on the NBCOT® exam. It may be in your best interest to allow an additional 1-2 weeks before sitting for the NBCOT® exam in order to continue taking practice exams or to revisit weak areas as needed. It is important to note that while the NBCOT® is testing your knowledge in various OT domains, it is also a test of cognitive endurance. Evidently, in addition to studying information, it is just as important to train your brain to quickly and efficiently read through NBCOT® style questions, eliminate ‘wrong’ choices, and identify the BEST answer as quickly as possible.

Day Before the Exam

At this point in your NBCOT® prep journey, you have dedicated a substantial amount of time reviewing material, taking practice exams, and have officially explored all measures. You can now trust that you have done all you can and should reward yourself the day to relax! It is helpful to perform deep breathing techniques, eat healthy, explore self care activities that you enjoy most, and get quality sleep. Prioritizing your physical and mental health will ensure you are in the best condition on the day of the exam.

How to Pace Yourself on Exam Day

• 4:00 – Start exam
• 3:10 – question 45
• 2:20 – question 90
• 1:30 – question 135
• 0:40 – question 180

This time schedule will allow you to take four 3-4 minute breaks during the exam with remaining time to review any flagged questions after exam completion. Aim to answer each question in less than a minute.

I am cheering you on every step of the way, best of luck!

Yours Truly,
Jenna Derleth, OTR/L (@OT_Jenna)

*NBCOT® and OTR® are registered trademarks owned by National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. TrueLearn is not affiliated with or endorsed by National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.