{"id":56619,"date":"2019-11-05T19:44:16","date_gmt":"2019-11-05T19:44:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=56619"},"modified":"2026-03-14T16:19:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T21:19:21","slug":"nbcot-cota-practice-test","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/nbcot-cota-practice-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Occupational Therapy Assistant Practice&nbsp;Test"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) administers the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) exam for individuals pursuing a certification as a registered occupational therapy assistant in the United States.<\/p>\n<p>Click \u201cStart Test\u201d above to take a free Occupational Therapy Assistant practice test!<\/p>\n<div class=\"buttonlinks\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/studyguides\/nbcot\/\" class=\"class_names\" style=\"color:black;\" onclick=\"_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Guide Button', 'Guide Click', 'OTA Guide Click']);\">Occupational Therapy Assistant Study Guide<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flashcardsecrets.com\/nbcot\/\" class=\"class_names\" style=\"color:black;\" onclick=\"_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Flashcard Button', 'Flashcard Button Click', 'OTA Flashcard Click']);\">Occupational Therapy Assistant Flashcards<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Exam_Eligibility\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Exam Eligibility<\/h2>\n<p>To be eligible for the COTA exam, you must hold an occupational therapy degree from an ACOTE\u00ae-accredited OTA program.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"COTA_Exam_Outline\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>COTA Exam Outline<\/h2>\n<p>The Occupational Therapy Assistant exam contains 190 questions and has a time limit of 4 hours.<\/p>\n<p>There are two types of questions that appear on the COTA exam:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Multiple-choice:<\/strong> You must select one correct answer from a list of 3-4 answer choices.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Multi-select:<\/strong> You must select three correct answers from a list of 6 answer choices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The exam is split into three content domains:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Occupational-Therapy-Assistant-Exam-Outline-01.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-210931\" role=\"img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Occupational-Therapy-Assistant-Exam-Outline-01.svg\" alt=\"exam outline for the COTA exam\" width=\"490\" height=\"364\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<strong>1. Collaborate and Gather Information (27%)<\/strong><br \/>\nFive tasks are contained in this domain. The main goal of these tasks is to assist the OTR to gather knowledge about the variables that affect occupational performance over the course of occupational therapy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Select and Implement Interventions (55%)<\/strong><br \/>\nThis domain is divided into six tasks. You must implement interventions to support client participation throughout the occupational therapy process.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Uphold Professional Standards and Responsibilities (18%)<\/strong><br \/>\nThere are only four tasks in this domain. You must uphold professional standards and responsibilities by applying interventions that promote quality practice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sg-box-title\">Check Out Mometrix's Occupational Therapy Assistant Study Guide<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get practice questions, video tutorials, and detailed study lessons<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"sg-box-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/studyguides\/nbcot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get Your Study Guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/studyguides\/nbcot\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"184\" height=\"238\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ota.jpg\" alt=\" Study Guide\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Registration\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Registration<\/h2>\n<p>To register for the COTA exam, you must first create an online MyNBCOT account. Through this account, you can submit an application and the $540 examination fee.<\/p>\n<p>Once your application has been approved, you will receive an email with your authorization to test (ATT) and information about how to schedule your exam appointment. You must take the exam within three months of receiving your ATT.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"Test_Day\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Test Day<\/h2>\n<p>You should arrive at the testing center 15-30 minutes before the scheduled appointment time. Once you arrive, you will be asked to show two forms of valid identification, one of which must contain your photo. Your palm vein will then be biometrically scanned, and a photograph will be taken of you. This photograph will appear in the corner of your testing screen throughout your exam.<\/p>\n<p>You will then be asked to leave all personal items in a secure locker outside the testing area. This includes any electronics, books, notes, jewelry, phone, and food items.<\/p>\n<p>Once the examination begins, you will be allowed to take breaks as needed; however, the timer will not be stopped during your breaks.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"How_the_Exam_is_Scored\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>How the Exam is Scored<\/h2>\n<p>The Occupational Therapy Assistant exam is scored using a criterion-referenced scaling system. This system takes your raw score, which is the number of questions you answered correctly, and converts it to a numerical score on a scale of 300 to 600. You must achieve a score of at least 450 to pass.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-box-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sg-box-title\">Check Out Mometrix's Occupational Therapy Assistant<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get complex  subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"sg-box-button blue-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flashcardsecrets.com\/nbcot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get Your Flashcards<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flashcardsecrets.com\/nbcot\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"238\" height=\"184\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/nbcotcotaflash.jpg\" alt=\" Flashcards\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"How_to_Study\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>How to Study<\/h2>\n<h3><span id=\"How_to_Study_Effectively\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>How to Study Effectively<\/h3>\n<p>Your success on COTA test day depends not only on how many hours you put into preparing but also on whether you prepared the right way. It\u2019s good to check along the way to see whether your studying is paying off. One of the most effective ways to do this is by taking COTA practice tests to evaluate your progress. Practice tests are useful because they show exactly where you need to improve. Every time you take a free COTA exam practice test, pay special attention to these three groups of questions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The questions you got wrong<\/li>\n<li>The ones you had to guess on, even if you guessed right<\/li>\n<li>The ones you found difficult or slow to work through<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This will show you exactly what your weak areas are and where you need to devote more study time. Ask yourself why each of these questions gave you trouble. Was it because you didn\u2019t understand the material? Was it because you didn\u2019t remember the vocabulary? Do you need more repetitions on this type of question to build speed and confidence? Dig into those questions and figure out how you can strengthen your weak areas as you go back to review the material.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Answer_Explanations\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Answer Explanations<\/h3>\n<p>Additionally, many COTA practice tests have a section explaining the answer choices. It can be tempting to read the explanation and think that you now have a good understanding of the concept. However, an explanation likely only covers part of the question\u2019s broader context. Even if the explanation makes sense, go back and investigate every concept related to the question until you\u2019re positive you have a thorough understanding.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Comprehend_Each_Topic\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Comprehend Each Topic<\/h3>\n<p>As you go along, keep in mind that the COTA practice test is just that: practice. Memorizing these questions and answers will not be very helpful on the actual test because it is unlikely to have any of the same exact questions. If you only know the right answers to the sample questions, you won\u2019t be prepared for the real thing. Study the concepts until you understand them fully, and then you\u2019ll be able to answer any question that shows up on the test.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Strategy_for_COTA_Practice\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Strategy for COTA Practice<\/h3>\n<p>When you\u2019re ready to start taking practice tests, follow this strategy:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\"><strong>Remove Limitations.<\/strong> Take the first test with no time constraints and with your notes and COTA study guide handy. Take your time and focus on applying the strategies you\u2019ve learned.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\"><strong>Time Yourself.<\/strong> Take the second practice test \u201copen book\u201d as well, but set a timer and practice pacing yourself to finish in time.<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\"><strong>Simulate Test Day.<\/strong> Take any other practice tests as if it were test day. Set a timer and put away your study materials. Sit at a table or desk in a quiet room, imagine yourself at the testing center, and answer questions as quickly and accurately as possible.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Keep Practicing.<\/strong> Keep taking practice tests on a regular basis until you run out of practice tests or it\u2019s time for the actual test. Your mind will be ready for the schedule and stress of test day, and you\u2019ll be able to focus on recalling the material you\u2019ve learned.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"pt-page\"><span id=\"FAQs\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>FAQs<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-list\">\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">How many questions are on the NBCOT COTA exam<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>There are 190 questions on the exam.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">How long is the NBCOT COTA exam?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>The time limit for the exam is 4 hours.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">What is the passing score for the NBCOT COTA exam?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>To pass the exam, you must achieve a scaled score of at least 450.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">How much does the NBCOT COTA exam cost?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>The examination fee is $540.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><div itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"author\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" class=\"author-bio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"image\" class=\"author-image\" height=\"127\" width=\"127\" alt=\"Headshot of Mometrix associate Peter Rench.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Peter-Rench-scaled.webp\"><div class=\"author-text\"><p class=\"author-name\">By <span itemprop=\"name\">Peter Rench<\/span><\/p><div class=\"author-desc\"><p>Peter Rench joined Mometrix in 2009 and serves as Vice President of Product Development, responsible for overseeing all new product development and quality improvements. Mr. Rench, a National Merit Scholar, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in mathematics from Texas A&amp;M University.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"editor\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" class=\"author-bio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" itemprop=\"image\" class=\"author-image\" height=\"127\" width=\"127\" alt=\"Aaron Lanni profile pic\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/image_2024-12-11_124906662.png\"><div class=\"author-text\"><p class=\"author-name\">Edited by <span itemprop=\"name\">Aaron Lanni<\/span><\/p><div class=\"author-desc\"><p>Aaron is the content manager and lead editor for Mometrix Academy. He regularly produces, updates, proofreads, and edits content to ensure it meets Mometrix\u2019s quality and accessibility standards.<\/p>\n<\/div><p class=\"alignright author-desc author-link\"><a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/editorial-guidelines\/\">Learn more about our editorial guidelines<\/a> \u2192<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/\">Mometrix Academy &#8211; Home<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"disclaimer\">Mometrix Test Preparation is not affiliated with or endorsed by any official testing organization. All organizational and test names are trademarks of their respective owners.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) administers the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) exam for individuals pursuing a certification as a registered occupational therapy assistant in the United States. Click \u201cStart Test\u201d above to take a free Occupational Therapy Assistant practice test! Exam Eligibility To be eligible for the COTA exam, you &#8230; <a title=\"Occupational Therapy Assistant Practice&nbsp;Test\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/nbcot-cota-practice-test\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Occupational Therapy Assistant Practice&nbsp;Test\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":203441,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-56619","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-medical-professional","7":"page_type-exam-overview","8":"page_domain-nbcot-cota"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/56619","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56619"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/56619\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":284173,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/56619\/revisions\/284173"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/203441"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}