OTR Exam Format

The OTR exam comprises three clinical simulation test (CST) items as well as single-response, multiple-choice items.¹ 

Layout

• Candidates are allotted four hours to complete the OTR exam.
• The exam comprises three clinical simulation test (CST) items and 170 single-response, multiple-choice items.
• The CST items are presented one at a time.
• Candidates are required to select Yes or No for each response option presented.
• Once a response is selected, it cannot be changed.
• Candidates can click “Next” to proceed to the next part of the item after making selections for all response options in the present part.
• Candidates can navigate to previous screens within the CST item, but selections for the response options cannot be changed.
• Candidates must complete the CST portion of the OTR exam before beginning the multiple-choice section.
• NBCOT offers access to sample CST problems so candidates can orient themselves to the Yes/No structure of the items and the feedback boxes.
• Candidates cannot access the CST portion of the exam once it is complete.
• In the multiple-choice portion, candidates can flag items for review and change their choices, as testing time allows or until they submit the exam for scoring.
• If time runs out before the candidate reviews the flagged items, the selected response will be submitted for scoring.
• No credit will be given to a flagged item that has no response option selected.
• Throughout the entire exam, candidates can highlight the text they deem important; this can be done in the CST opening scenes and section headers and in the multiple-choice stems.
• A strike-out feature is also available in the multiple-choice portion of the exam to help candidates visually eliminate possible response options.

1. NBCOT. (n.d.). Foundations of the NBCOT Certification Examinations. Retrieved from https://www.nbcot.org/en/Educators/Foundations[↩]