COTA® and OTR® Exam Candidates, do not forget about the upcoming blackout period for the NBCOT® Certification Exam. Even if you are not preparing for your exam this December, but know you graduate next December, this is an important article to read.
If you are planning on taking your exam soon, or are trying to decide when to take the exam, consider your potential testing date in accordance with the scoring schedule NBCOT® has posted on their website. During the month of December you may be pressed for time with finishing up your curriculum, taking part in the holiday spirit, and feverishly preparing for your exam. This year there is an approximate 2 week period NBCOT® will not be administering tests through Prometric testing centers. Be sure to visit the NBCOT® website for details.
In the meantime, here are some tips to help you prepare:
- Remember you cannot cram! Therefore, try not to take your exam without preparing adequately ahead of time. This is a high-stakes exam with consequences. Meaning, you pass and you become a practitioner, you fail and you do not become a practitioner. Save money and anxiety by preparing, using appropriate measures to determine your readiness for the exam, and devoting time each day to studying.
- Taking your exam in January is a good step if you have just graduated. Remember not to let the holidays detract from your studying though. With each great step, comes some type of sacrifice. Therefore, we all know the holidays are upon us. If you have a party to attend or host, manage your study time accordingly. The days of the party can be an off day for studying, while you plan your other days during the week to fulfill with a satisfactory amount of review.
- Gather your study materials! If you plan to take a preparatory course, look at the course dates offered and determine which ones will complement your study plan best. It may be a good idea to take a course within the first 2 weeks of your studies because you do not want to take it toward the end and realize you have more areas to review and become overwhelmed.
- Find the balance between graduation, the holidays, and studies. Be your own therapist and assess your needs before taking the NBCOT® Exam! There are certain expected events, like the holidays, and unexpected ones. The best mindset is to plan ahead, manage your time wisely, and most of all, stick to it!
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