Aging is normal in any society and America too has its aging population that is growing quite fast. Experts had already forecasted that between 2000 and 2050 there would be a 135% increase in the population of aging people. Since this age group of the population needs to pass. So, assist the occupational therapists (OT) the most, the prospects of OT as a career is very bright. Therefore, it is natural that there is a surge in the number of people pursuing a career in occupational therapy (OT). There is good demand for occupational therapists and occupational therapist assistants (OTAs).
Although the aged people are in most need of assistance to pass from occupational therapists. People of all ages benefit from their support. Occupational therapists help them maintain and improve movements and skills that help them keep going in daily life by overcoming the difficulties arising from conditions of pain and disability. With help from OTs, people regain confidence in performing their day to day activities that also take care of their well-being.
Demand for OTs and OTAs
The demand for occupational therapists is on the rise. So, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2014 and 2024 it is likely to go up by 27%. Once again it needs to mention that the aging population is the main but not the only contributor to the increase in demand. Mostly, occupational therapists work in hospitals and occupational therapy offices with a focus on delivering rehabilitation services to the elderly suffering from some kinds of disability. It is also resulting from arthritis, stroke, Alzheimer’s and other types of disabilities that affect them in the long-term. To meet the increasing demand for occupational therapists, more and more people are pursuing careers in OT or OTA.
To take up a career in occupational therapy one must pass either of the exams conducted by NBCOT (National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy) and COTA(Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant), the former being a required qualification for occupational therapists and the latter required for becoming a licensed occupational therapy assistant. Passing the exam is necessary to obtain the required license or certification for practising the trade and start earning.
Passing the exam
Students taking NBCOT or COTA exams with the desire of passing in a single attempt find it quite difficult because the exams are not easy to crack, and may require several attempts but without any guarantee of passing. In fact, there is considerable fear psychosis associated with the exams that have earned a reputation for being extremely hard to pass. However, this should not discourage students because there are ways of passing the exam even in the first attempt that we will discuss later but before that let us understand why the exams are difficult.
Test Anxiety
Like any other professional exams, there is test anxiety attached to NBCOT and COTA that arises from a variety of reasons. There is always a feeling of unpreparedness that dents the confidence of students and later translates into fear. It happens because it is not easy to gauge the depth and dimension of the course to get a sense of what is on the line. Often, there is some self-doubt that keeps snowballing, and as you start overthinking about exams, in no time, it becomes just overwhelming. When you add these problems to the perceived difficulty of the NBCOT exam, it is easy to understand how the bogged mind affects your score negatively.
Huge syllabus
The exam would remind you of some instances when you might have bitten more than you can chew, and you know how hard it can be to manage things. Almost something similar happens with NBCOT exam that covers a wide range of topics related to occupational therapy like the processes of therapy, human development, standards and practices and various approaches in evaluating and treating different conditions. The entire stuff, encapsulated in 170 questions (multiple choice) and three clinical simulations are just enough to bewilder any student about how to come to terms with it.
Preparation holds the key
It is normal that every student would do their best to prepare well, but it is very important to ensure proper guidance and coaching to pass the exam in a single sitting. The best way to prepare is to learn from experts by enrolling with an online course. Experts, who have gone through the rigours of the exams and have the first-hand experience about the predicament of students, conduct the course for preparing students in the best way to get the right results.
The course takes care of the test anxiety by engaging students in constant practice even by going through the same practice material repeatedly that makes them confident. By simulating the actual testing conditions, the course gives students a feel of the real thing so that they are comfortable when sitting for the exam. It makes them ready for taking the test in their stride without ever feeling anxious about it.
Hold over the syllabus
Undoubtedly the syllabus for NBCOT or COTA is huge, but with the expert guidance of the coaches, you can get hold of things easily that allays your fears of the unknown. Although it is not possible to predict the questions, students who receive proper coaching would become so much familiar with the subject and varied topics that they would hardly be at a loss. The online course for training students is so well organized and broken into modules that it becomes easy for them to handle the massive course with good understanding. The practice questions cover a wide range of topics and repeated so many times that nothing would seem unknown even though the extent of knowledge on every topic might not be the same.
Besides making the course exhaustive but manageable, the use of audios, videos, and charts that are easy to understand together with the option of one-to-one interaction with teachers, enrich the learning experience and makes it interesting that translates into success.