Transcript NBCOT Certification Update

®
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.
Profession
Domain
Domain
Domain
Task
Task
Task
Task
Task
Task
Know le dge
Know le dge
Know le dge
Know le dge
Know le dge
Know le dge
®
OTR
Test Blueprint
Domain – OTR® Examination
1. Evaluate the individual/group to determine needs and
priorities for occupation-based interventions.
2003
25%
2. Develop intervention plan that addresses the occupational
needs of individuals/groups.
21%
3. Implement occupationally meaningful interventions with
individuals/groups that support participation on relevant
environments.
41%
4. Provide OT services that address the occupational
performance needs of populations.
6%
5. Manage, organize, and promote OT services.
7%
®
COTA
Test Blueprint
Domain – COTA® Examination
2003
1. Evaluate the individual/group to determine needs and
priorities for occupation-based interventions.
12%
2. Develop intervention plan that addresses the
occupational needs of individuals/groups.
22%
3. Implement occupationally meaningful interventions
with individuals/groups that support participation on
relevant environments.
50%
4. Provide OT services that address the occupational
performance needs of populations.
9%
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 e-mail (or mailed in
hard copy if it cannot be e-mailed).
– 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 www.nbcot.org.
 After all required materials have been received
and evaluated, the candidate’s Authorization To
Test (ATT) letter will be sent to the candidate by
e-mail or by snail mail.
Submitting Your Application
Candidates who submit their application online should:
• Have access to the Internet.
• Have a valid e-mail 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 e-mail 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® e-mail with attachments.
Candidates who are using one of these providers,
should change their system’s filter to allow e-mails
coming from www.nbcot.org 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 2002.
Class of 2002
39,000 certificants in the renewal class
33,150 renewed (85%)
Class of 2003
16,146 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:
http://www.nbcot.org
 By Telephone: 301-990-7979
 By Mail:
NBCOT®
800 South Frederick Ave., #200
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Thank You