How I Studied for the NBCOT® Exam

Before I go into how I studied and outline my study schedule, I need you all to know that studying is a very personal thing and only you know how you need to study!!! It is definitely helpful to use a pre-made study guide to help you get started, but please consider all your options before you dedicate your very valuable study time and financial resources to using my guide or any guide you find. What worked for me may not work for you, so weigh your options, get different perspectives, and do your research!

With that being said, I got the bones of a good 4-week study outline from a classmate of mine and went from there!

Resources I Used:

1. TherapyEd 9th Edition
2. TrueLearn
3. OT Miri Youtube videos
4. OT Exam Prepper podcast

Time Spent Studying:

3-6 hours per day, 6 days per week, 4 weeks

Playlists I listened to while studying:

Apple Music

Spotify

Study Strategy:

• Read one topic per day
• Watch related videos or listen to related podcasts
• Make flashcards for topics I needed further review on and lightly review flashcards every day
  • More intense flashcard study 1-2 weeks before exam
• Take 20-30 practice questions daily and review rationale
• 1 practice test at the start of every week (except first week)
  • Set up your environment as close to the actual testing environment as possible
  • Wear a mask – because you will need to wear a mask during the actual exam
  • Take it within the actual testing time and include breaks similar to those you would be allowed to take during the test
• Review practice test questions in the days after taking the practice test

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4 Week Study Schedule

Day 1

• TrueLearn: 100 Questions + review
• OT Exam Prepper Podcast: Episode 8

Day 2

• TherapyEd: Chapter 9
• TrueLearn: 20 Questions

Day 3

• TherapyEd: Chapter 4
• TrueLearn: 20 Questions
• OT Miri: Ethics

Day 4

• TherapyEd: Chapter 5 – Review charts only + pgs 374-376
• TrueLearn: 20 Questions
• OT Miri:
  • Scissor Skills
  • Pediatric Assessments
  • Sensory Assessments
  • Beery VMI
  • Motor vs Visual Motor

Day 5

• TherapyEd: Chapter 5
• TrueLearn: 20 Questions
• OT Miri:
  • Infant Reflexes
  • Developmental Milestones
  • Infant Feeding
• OT Exam Prepper Podcast: Episode 6

Day 6

• TherapyEd: Chapter 11 + pgs 190-198
• TrueLearn: 20 Questions
• OT Miri:
  • Joint Range of Motion
• OT Exam Prepper Podcast: Episode 12

Day 7

Rest

Day 8

• TherapyEd: Practice Exam A

Day 9

• TherapyEd: Chapter 11 + pgs 178-190
• TrueLearn: 20 Questions
• OT Miri:
  • Median, Ulnar, Radial Nerve Injuries
  • The (Ulnar) Claw vs The (Median) Hand of Benediction
  • Flexor Tendon – Dorsal Block Splint – Early Passive Mobilization
  • Extensor Tendon Injuries and Intervention
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Tendon Gliding Dance
  • de Quervain’s Syndrome
• OT Exam Prepper Podcast: Episodes 4 and 7
• Review TherapyEd Practice Exam A Rationales

Day 10

• TherapyEd: pgs 360-374 + pgs 222-239
• TrueLearn: 20 Questions
• OT Miri:
  • Allen Cognitive Levels
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Riesberg’s 7 Stages of Dementia
• OT Exam Prepper Podcast: Episodes 3, 5, 9
• Review TherapyEd Practice Exam A Rationales

Day 11

• TherapyEd: pgs 206-222 + Chapter 13
• TrueLearn: 20 Questions
• OT Miri:
  • Ranchos Los Amigos Level of Cognitive Functioning
  • Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation
  • Myotomes (C1-T1)
  • Myotome Dance (L2-S2)
  • SCI C1-C8
  • Apraxia
  • Aphasia
• Review TherapyEd Practice Exam A Rationales

Day 12

• TherapyEd: Chapter 8
• TrueLearn: 20 Questions
• OT Miri:
  • Cardiac Rehab
• OT Exam Prepper Podcast: Episode 1
• Review TherapyEd Practice Exam A Rationales

Day 13

• TherapyEd: Chapter 15
• TrueLearn: 20 Questions
• Review TherapyEd Practice Exam A Rationales

Day 14

Rest

Day 15

• TherapyEd: Practice Test B

Day 16

• TherapyEd: Chapter 9 + pgs 199-200
• TrueLearn: 20 Questions
• OT Miri:
  • Burn Classification
  • Burn Rehabilitation
• OT Prepper Podcast: Episodes 10 + 11
• Review TherapyEd Practice Exam B Rationales
• Flashcards

Day 17

• TherapyEd: pgs 458-466 + 488-490
• TrueLearn: 20 Questions
• Review TherapyEd Practice Exam B Rationales
• Flashcards

Day 18

• TherapyEd: Chapter 16
• TrueLearn: 30 Questions
• Review TherapyEd Practice Exam B Rationales
• Flashcards

Day 19

• TherapyEd: pgs 466-472 + 155-173
• TrueLearn: 30 Questions
• Review TherapyEd Practice Exam B Rationales
• Flashcards

Day 20

Rest

Day 21

• TherapyEd: Practice Exam C

Day 22

• TherapyEd: pgs 473-487
• TrueLearn: 30 Questions
• Review TherapyEd Practice Exam C Rationales
• Flashcards

Day 23

• TherapyEd: Chapter 10
• OT Miri:
  • Top-Down vs Bottom-Up
  • Activity Groups
  • Developmental Groups
• OT Exam Prepper Podcast: Episodes 2 + 13
• Review TherapyEd Practice Exam C Rationales
• Flashcards

Day 24

• TherapyEd: Chapter 14
• OT Exam Prepper Podcast: Episodes 2 + 13
• Review TherapyEd Practice Exam C Rationales
• Flashcards

Day 25

• TrueLearn: 40 Questions
• OT Miri:
  • Theories and Frames of Reference
• Review TherapyEd Practice Exam C Rationales
• Flashcards

Day 26

• Review
• Reread Notes
• TrueLearn: 100 Questions + Review
• Flashcards
• Review TherapyEd Practice Exam C Rationales

Day 27

• Review
• Reread Notes
• TrueLearn: 100 Questions + Review
• Flashcards
• Review TherapyEd Practice Exam C Rationales

Day 28

• Review
• Reread Notes
• TrueLearn: 50 Questions + Review
• Flashcards

Day 29

REST

Exam Day!