Check out our responses to the most frequently asked questions. If you have a question that is not addressed here, reach out to us at certification@aota.org.
If you hold current AOTA Board or Specialty Certification, your certification remains in good standing until its identified expiration date. The Occupational Therapy Advanced Certification Commission (OTACC) has developed and approved the new requirements for recertification. These requirements apply both to those who obtain initial certification in 2021 and moving forward, and to those who currently hold one of AOTA’s advanced certifications. AOTA will not take away credentials from those who hold current certification.
If you were previously certified (through exam or portfolio), but chose not to maintain your certification through the mechanisms offered by AOTA, you are not eligible to receive reciprocity (‘grandfathering’) into the current certification program. This policy is based on requirements and standards of external accrediting agencies to ensure continuing competence of certificants.
Because the exam content outlines are based on job analyses specific to occupational therapists, OTAs are not eligible to sit for the 3 exams currently in development. AOTA is working to identify and offer other options for OTAs to attain recognition in specialty areas of practice, including the developing Professional Certificate program.
AOTA and OTACC welcome your ideas. Please email certification@aota.org.
Opportunities to participate in exam development will be posted on the certification website and relayed through other AOTA member communications.
AOTA and OTACC are pleased with the progress made in the development of an exam-based advanced certification program, with the first 3 certification exams determined (pediatrics, physical rehabilitation, and gerontology) and in various stages of development.
Developing a new certification exam is a rigorous process that takes multiple years and requires significant financial, volunteer, and staff resources. Careful consideration must be given to determine which specialty areas are best assessed by an exam process and would likely be successful if implemented as exam based. Additional areas for exam and development timelines have not been determined. AOTA and OTACC continuously review data on program performance and assess for future opportunities for exam development.
Advanced Certification is an important avenue to support career development, advancement, and capacity-building. At the same time, AOTA is involved in other association wide professional development initiatives to complement Advanced Certification including a robust Professional Certificate program, a cadre of Fellowship Programs, content from the practice and policy departments, continuing education courses, and on demand content.
Stay tuned—updates regarding the program will be available on the certification website at www.aota.org/certification and in other AOTA member communications.
The Board Certification in Pediatrics (BCP) and Board Certification in Physical Rehabilitation (BCPR) exams are available. The first administration of the Board Certification in Gerontology (BCG) exam has been completed, and the exam is expected to reopen in May 2024.
The Advanced Certification exams consist of 150 single-response, multiple-choice items designed to test the application and analysis of information specific to the certification area.
You have 4 hours to complete the examination.
You should review the exam content outline as well as the Suggested Reference List when preparing for the exam.
Additionally, AOTA offers review courses for the Advanced Certification exams. The comprehensive, asynchronous courses include modules of focused, interactive content designed to guide therapists through a review of foundational material as a means to prepare for the certification examinations.
Board Certification in Pediatrics Review Course
Board Certification in Physical Rehabilitation Review Course
Board Certification in Gerontology Review Course
The Occupational Therapy Advanced Certification Commission will release data on exam pass rates annually.
You must meet the following eligibility requirements before applying for an advanced certification exam.
Certified or licensed by and in good standing with an AOTA-recognized credentialing or regulatory body
A minimum of 3 years as an occupational therapist
A minimum of 3,000 hours of experience in the certification area within the last 5 years
A minimum of 500 hours of experience delivering occupational therapy services to clients in the certification area within the last 5 years
View the full eligibility requirements
Completion of an AOTA-approved fellowship is not required to apply for or take the exam, though those who have completed a fellowship have reduced eligibility criteria. You will be able to indicate if this is applicable in the online application.
Initial certification/Exam Fee: $525 (AOTA members)/$650 (non-members)
BCP and BCPR Exams: The BCP and BCPR exams are offered on a continuous/on-demand schedule. This means that you can apply when you are ready to take the exam (no application deadline). You should plan to submit your application at least 15 business days prior to the date you wish to schedule your exam. Once your application has been approved by AOTA, you will receive information on how to register with PSI Services for an exam date, time, and location. You have 90 days from your date of approval to register and take the exam.
BCG Exam: It is anticipated that the BCG exam will be available for administration on a continuous schedule beginning in May 2024.
A link to each exam application can be found on the exam webpage under the “How to apply" section:
Once your application and payment have been received, your application will be reviewed to determine whether all eligibility requirements have been met. You will receive an email with your outcome status (approved to test, more information needed, or denied) within 10 business days of application submission.
Once you receive notification that you are approved to test, you will have 90 days in which to schedule and take your exam.
Once your application has been reviewed and you receive notification that you are approved to test, you will have 90 days in which to schedule and take your exam.
You can take the exam at any of PSI’s Test Centers located throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. A current list of PSI Test Centers, including addresses and driving directions, is available.
Yes, AOTA and OTACC will provide reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities and will review each candidate’s specific request, nature of the disability, and supporting documentation.
You can reschedule the examination to another time during your eligibility period if you contact PSI at least 2 business days prior to the scheduled appointment. Rescheduling can be done by accessing the scheduling link provided in your Authorization to Test email or by calling PSI at 855-579-4642.
If you need to reschedule your examination to a time outside of your approved eligibility period, you must contact PSI at least 2 business days prior to the scheduled appointment to cancel your examination. Cancelling an examination can be done by accessing the scheduling link provided in your Authorization to Test email or by calling PSI at 855-579-4642. You will then need to contact AOTA at certification@aota.org to submit updated documents and/or complete an attestation that you continue to meet eligibility requirements. There is a $100 processing fee to request a new eligibility period.
Candidates will receive exam results via email from PSI Services shortly after exam completion (typically within 15 minutes). AOTA will also contact candidates via email within 3 business days with follow-up information.
On Advanced Certification exams, your performance is compared to a predetermined standard (not to how others perform on the test). While it may be interesting to know the cut score and what your score is in relation to it, it does not provide additional information toward the certification determination and is sometimes misinterpreted or misused. By passing the exam, you have met the standard set by the Occupational Therapy Advanced Certification Commission and hold the same standing as all others who have passed.
*Beginning 8/1/2024 (BCP exam) and 5/1/2025 (BCPR exam), AOTA will move to scaled scoring. See FAQs below for more information on this change.
*Beginning 8/1/2024 (BCP exam) and 5/1/2025 (BCPR exam), AOTA will move to scaled scoring.
A scaled score is a raw score (total number of scored items on an exam) that has been converted to a standardized scale. It allows direct and fair comparisons of results between exam forms.
*Beginning 8/1/2024 (BCP exam) and 5/1/2025 (BCPR exam), AOTA will move to scaled scoring.
As the Advanced Certification program continues to grow, multiple forms for each exam will be developed. Scaled scores help maintain consistency in scoring by adjusting for variations in difficulty among different versions of the exam.
*Beginning 8/1/2024 (BCP exam) and 5/1/2025 (BCPR exam), AOTA will move to scaled scoring.
No, beginning 8/1/2024 (BCP) and 5/1/2025 (BCPR), candidates will receive only scaled scores on their score reports. AOTA will not be able to provide candidates with raw scores on exams taken after scaled scoring starts.
The exam is not available for review because some of the items will be used on future examinations.
This is because there were 25 items in “test” status. They were not scored and are being tested for use in future versions of the exam.
Yes, if you fail the exam, you may retake it after a 30-day waiting period. The exam retake fee is $225.
Candidates have the right to appeal an initial adverse decision made by the Advanced Certification Program regarding eligibility for certification or recertification. Note that failure of a candidate to meet an established deadline may not be appealed. Failing the exam, on its own, is not sufficient grounds for appeal. An appeal must be submitted in writing within 30 calendar days following the date of notification of the adverse decision. Appeals should be submitted online using the Advanced Certification Appeal of Certification Decision Form.
All appeals will be addressed by the Occupational Therapy Advanced Certification Commission (OTACC) within 90 days of receipt. Additional information on how to submit an appeal is available in the BCP, BCPR, and BCG Candidate Handbooks.
Your initial certification is valid for 5 years. Recertification is required every 5 years in order to maintain certification and to continue to use your advanced certification credential. You can learn more about recertification.
The following requirements must be met to be eligible for recertification:
Certified or licensed by, and in good standing with, an AOTA-recognized credentialing or regulatory body
At least 1,500 hours of experience in the certification area within the last 5 years—may include direct intervention, supervision, teaching, research, consultation, administration, case or care management, community programming, or activities supporting professional organizations in area of certification.
At least 60 contact hours in professional development activities in the certification area within the last 5 years—may include CE courses, academic coursework, independent learning, mentorship, fieldwork supervision/capstone mentoring, professional writing, presentation and instruction, and other activities as outlined in the Advanced Certification Approved Recertification Activities. These hours should be in addition to (not part of) the 1,500 hours of experience in the certification area.
Those who obtain an advanced certification in 2021 or after will be expected to meet the recertification requirements as stated above.
For those who currently hold an advanced certification (received initial certification prior to 2021), the requirements above will be phased in over the next 6 years.
Candidates may submit complaints against the Advanced Certification program by completing the Advanced Certification Program Complaint Form. The complaint and all supporting documentation should be submitted within 30 days of the incident's occurrence. The complaint should include the following:
Candidates will receive acknowledgment of receipt of complaint along with description of next steps within 5 business days of submission.
Individuals may submit complaints against an Advanced Certification candidate or certified individual by completing the Advanced Certification Candidate/Certificant Complaint Form. The complaint should include the following:
Individuals will receive acknowledgment of receipt of complaint along with description of next steps within 5 business days of submission.
Still have questions about AOTA Advanced Certification? If you have a question that is not addressed here, reach out to us.