152,437
Certified OTRs
As of July 27, 2022.
60,086
Certified COTAs
As of July 27, 2022.
Are You Due to Renew Your Certification in 2023?
Earn units through the Navigator, included at no additional cost with your certification. New tools continue to be released each year.
“The Navigator is awesome! I was so grateful for the ability to do it online and at my own pace.”
– Joanne, OTR
“Excellent and fun way to obtain CAU credits! I am very happy all the states I am licensed in accept the Navigator credits. It makes working as a traveling COTA that much easier.”
– Jaimie, COTA
Practice Statistics
Practice Location
(Percentages of Certificants)
Primary Area of Practice
(Percentages of OTRs and COTAs)
Primary Workplace Setting*
(Percentages of OTRs and COTAs)
*For those listed at 0%, it is important to note that there are certificants practicing in these areas, but it is at 0.5% or lower.
Summary of Certification Activities
OTR Certification Activities:
New Graduate Testing
New Graduate Testing
The table below shows information about the pass rates for new graduates, defined as candidates who test within one year of their graduation date.
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALL NEW GRADUATES* | |||
| Total Candidates | 8,705 | 7,654 | 7,927 |
| Pass Rate | 98% | 97% | 98% |
| FIRST-TIME NEW GRADUATES** | |||
| Total Candidates | 8,810 | 7,574 | 7,878 |
| Pass Rate | 81% | 84% | 82% |
COTA Certification Activities:
New Graduate Testing
New Graduate Testing
The table below shows information about the pass rates for new graduates, defined as candidates who test within one year of their graduation date.
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALL NEW GRADUATES* | |||
| Total Candidates | 4,407 | 3,524 | 4,665 |
| Pass Rate | 92% | 84% | 89% |
| FIRST-TIME NEW GRADUATES** | |||
| Total Candidates | 4,601 | 3,292 | 4,667 |
| Pass Rate | 75% | 79% | 75% |
* The total number of candidates who tested within one year of their graduation date and the percentage who passed the exam, regardless of the number of attempts.
** The total number of candidates who tested within one year of their graduation date and the percentage who passed the exam on their first attempt.
OTR Certification Activities:
Total Number of Exams Administered
Total Number of Exams Administered
These numbers represent the number of exam administrations in each year, not the number of people tested (i.e., the numbers below include multiple testing attempts by a single individual).
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 11,657 | 9,726 | 10,697 |
COTA Certification Activities:
Total Number of Exams Administered
Total Number of Exams Administered
These numbers represent the number of exam administrations in each year, not the number of people tested (i.e., the numbers below include multiple testing attempts by a single individual).
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 6,672 | 4,798 | 7,177 |
Holding OT Certificants to the Highest Standards
NBCOT has a responsibility to promote standards of professional conduct in occupational therapy practice. Certificants must notify NBCOT of any criminal, legal, or other disciplinary matters within 60 days of such instance.
In 2019, NBCOT reviewed 153 disciplinary cases about OT and OTA practitioners, which is consistent with the 2018 caseload. Sanctions were brought against certificants in 22 cases, which violated Principles 2, 3, 5, and 6 of the NBCOT Code of Conduct.
Review the code of conduct. You attest to abide by it when you are initially certified and when you renew. Employers, colleagues, regulators, or the public can verify your certification at any time on NBCOT’s website, which displays your certification date, renewal date, and status with NBCOT.
Reported Behaviors from State Licensing Boards
(Percentages of Certificants)