National Board Certification
National Certification Exam
Once you complete your professional and graduate coursework and required fieldwork hours, you will:
- Receive your Master of Science degree in OT
- Become eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam* (Visit www.nbcot.org for exam dates.)
Upon passing the NBCOT exam, you are:
- Given the designation "Occupational Therapist, Registered" (OTR)
- Eligible for licensure and practice in most states
Please note that many states require initial credentialing by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT) as a part of licensing eligibility. While information regarding testing will be provided prior to graduation, the student is responsible for completing all necessary paperwork, arranging all testing, and payment of any and all fees relative to the NBCOT examination. Study guides, examinations and seminars are available through the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT) and other groups, however, the Program does not recommend any specific one. Students are responsible to seek out study aids and resources as necessary and will be expected to incur any and all costs related to such resources.
*A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. There is a pre-qualification process for people who have had a felony to be screened before going into an OT program to see if there are obstacles to being certified. There is a fee for the process. Interested parties can contact NBCOT and ask for the Investigations Program Manager.
Alvernia University NBCOT Certification Results:
For the three most recent calendar years (2010, 2009, and 2008), the performance of the graduates of the occupational therapy program on the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification examination was as follows:| Total number of graduates during time period: | 53 |
| Total number of first-time test takers of the NBCOT certification exam: | 54 |
| Total number first-time test takers who passed the NBCOT certification exam: | 33 |
| First time test taker percentage pass rate: | 61.1% |
Click here to see additional information about our pass rates.
