Didn’t Pass the NBCOT® Exam Today? Here’s What to Do Next

You deserve to be here. You made it through OT school—which means you have what it takes to make it through this, too. Failing an attempt can feel crushing, but it can also be the moment everything becomes clear.

🧠 My Story (and Why This Episode Matters)

I failed my first attempt with a 431. I had done everything “right”—great in my OT program, fieldwork sites wanted to hire me, I felt like I was winning… until the exam. The self-doubt, defeat, and fear were real. But it wasn’t the end. Thousands of first-time test-takers don’t pass each year, and many still go on to become incredible OTs.

My biggest mistake? No real strategy. I didn’t analyze my performance. I reread notes. I reread TherapyEd. I did more of the same and expected a different result. On my second attempt, I barely passed with a 450—and that taught me exactly what was missing.

This episode is your shortcut to that clarity—without repeating my mistakes.

🔍 What Failing Can Teach You (If You Let It)

Failing exposes the gaps: content you can’t apply, question types that trip you up, domains you avoid, and patterns you didn’t see. That data is gold—if you turn it into a plan.

✅ Step 1: Get Crystal Clear on Where You’re Losing Points

Make a running list right now:

Questions you weren’t confident on, hesitated on, or guessed

Topics/diagnoses/approaches you avoided or “kind of” knew

Patterns across domains (e.g., pediatrics evals, mental health interventions, wheelchair measurements)

This list becomes your roadmap. Update it after every practice session. Your goal isn’t “study more”—it’s “study precisely.”

Pro tip: Use a testing tool that breaks down results by domain and topic so the list writes itself 👉 https://study.tmpot.com/exams


🚀 Step 2: Take Action on the List (Deeper, Not Just More)

Simply re-reading gives you the same level of understanding—and usually the same score. Instead:

Conceptualize: connect dx → deficits → interventions → outcomes

Active recall: close the page, say it out loud, write it from memory

Targeted practice: do questions on that topic immediately after learning

Teach it: explain it to a friend or record a 60-second teaching voice note

Cycle: read → recall → practice → review rationales → update your list

💬 Mindset to Carry With You

A score does not define your worth—or your future as an OT. Your job now is to turn feedback into focus, and focus into points. Failing can be the moment you stop guessing and start studying with intention.

💡 Who Am I?

I’m Kim. I failed once, then rebuilt my approach from the ground up. Now I help OT students build content confidence and question confidence so they can walk into the exam clear, calm, and ready.

🔗 Tools to Help You Pass

The Ultimate Topic Checklist (FREE): your roadmap so nothing slips through the cracks
👉 https://tmpot.com/gettingstarted/

ExamSim (Practice Tests): simulates the exam, shows strengths/weaknesses by domain & topic, full test-day features, teaching-style rationales
👉 https://study.tmpot.com/exams

PDF Prep Packs (Content + Flashcards + Quizzes): learn one topic at a time; clear, intervention-heavy explanations that click
👉 https://study.tmpot.com/book-guide
Tutoring (Group and 1:1 Sessions): personalized plan, targeted fixes, real momentum
👉 https://tmpot.com/tutoring/

👉 If this episode gave you a reframe (or a plan), hit like + subscribe and share it with a classmate who needs to hear that failing isn’t final—it’s feedback. Let’s turn it into your breakthrough.