Reviewer: Amy Rae Fatula, M.Ed., COTA/L, ATP, CDP (Penn State DuBois)
Description: This third edition is a welcome update to the established reputation of the previous first (1997) and second (2002) editions. This edition not only offers comprehensive examination preparation in print, but it provides the readers with additional online resources. The text contains a clearly defined table of contents. As an examination review resource, the text opens with a section providing logistical resources and support for preparing for the NBCOT examination. The majority of the text is dedicated to five 200 - question examinations in a format to simulate the style encountered on the NBCOT exam. At the end of each practice examination, there is a section denoted by pages with shaded edges. These sections contain the answers and rationales for each of the 200 questions from the preceding practice examination. The final section of the text includes a bibliography of resources utilized in creating the practice exam items. This list of resources includes websites, textbooks, professional articles, and professional organizations used as justification for answer rationales cited throughout the book. There is an access code located inside the front cover for access to the online components of the text.
Purpose: The title and introduction to the book are clear that the intention of the text is to provide a general review resource that covers the three domains of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam but is also relevant as a resource to support occupational therapy assistants re-entering the field or changing their area of practice. The book's overall objectives are to allow the occupational therapy assistant to review their general knowledge of the field, identify areas of strength and weaknesses in preparation for the NBCOT exam, increase comfort with the style and format of NBCOT exam questions, plan for the actual exam taking process, and reference a comprehensive list of resources referenced throughout the practice examination for further preparation. Based on the book's inclusion of 1,000 questions, as well as the additional online resources, occupational therapy assistants and students can develop comfort and confidence with assessment of their understanding of occupational therapy content and clinical reasoning necessary for successful completion of the NBCOT exam and for future clinical practice.
Audience: This book is intended for use by occupational therapy assistant students, recent graduates, those re-entering the field, or occupational therapy assistants who are shifting their professional practice to a new setting. The focus is on assessing knowledge and reasoning as it relates to practice of occupational therapy by providing the readers with multiple format questions covering all areas of clinical practice. This text can be used as a supplemental resource for an individual preparing for the examination, or it can be incorporated into an occupational therapy assistant program curriculum as a required textbook. Based on a review of the authors' credentials and experience, they are each uniquely qualified to be contributors to this text. Their expertise covers clinical practice as well as years of experience in the realm of academia and fieldwork preparing graduates didactically for passing the NBCOT examination and future clinical practice.
Features: The authors have created a thorough updated occupational therapy assistant NBCOT exam preparation tool that is comprehensive in its content to reflect the current scope of the certification exam. The text provides the readers with an introduction to the exam and the process to prepare. This introduction includes the examination application process, exam content, policies covering the exam day, and study tips. Table 1 includes a study plan covering the three domains of the exam, which allows readers to gauge their mastery of the examination content. The majority of the book is the five 200-question practice exams, which is reflective of the 200-question NBCOT exam. The authors have arranged the examinations into three types: the first measures concentrated success in each of the three NBCOT domains, the second categorizes questions by practice area focus, and exams three through five are randomized questions as they would be presented on the NBCOT exam. As each examination is completed, readers can then refer to the provided answers and rationales to further identify areas of strength and weakness in their knowledge. The examination and rationale pages are clearly identified by the shading provided on the edges of the pages containing the rationales. This is a valuable detail to increase time efficiency when looking between questions and rationales. Not only do the authors provide the answer rationales, but each rationale is accompanied by the reference to a professional resource. These resources are then listed in the comprehensive bibliography pages provided by the authors at the end of the book. The bibliography resources are reflective of current practice and are often utilized in current academic programs. In addition to the hardcopy book, the included online access is customizable to users to best meet their preparation needs.
Assessment: This book continues to create a valued and recognized resource for those seeking to be prepared for the NBCOT examination and clinical practice. The current edition is necessary as the NBCOT examination is continually updated with question formats and domain emphasis. One of the most notable changes in this latest edition of the book is the inclusion of all types of question formats faced on the NBCOT exam. They are the four- and three-choice multiple-choice style as well as six-option multi-response questions. It is essential that any reputable NBCOT examination preparation tool for the occupational therapy assistant include all these styles. This text includes between four and seven six-option questions per practice exam. The addition of the online examination preparation access provided by the authors is essential for the examination candidate to simulate actual NBCOT testing. This online portal is now an industry standard provided by other nationally recognized NBCOT examination preparation programs and books. The flexibility of completing self-assessment using the book and online access makes this resource an exceptional tool for occupational therapy assistants and students.
