Preparing for the NBCOT exam can feel overwhelming, especially when there are so many study resources available. One of the questions I get asked most often is:
“Which NBCOT study tools are actually worth it?”
I tried several different resources while studying for my exam, and below is my honest review of each one. Remember that everyone learns differently, so what worked (or didn’t work) for me may not be the same for you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As a TrueLearn partner, I may earn a commission if you purchase through my link at no additional cost to you.
1. NBCOT StudyPack
My Rating: 4/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I used most of the StudyPack, but honestly it became more of an “extra” resource whenever I had additional study time.
What I liked
- A variety of practice questions
- Multiple study activities
- Good as supplemental practice
What I didn’t like
- Many of the games and quizzes didn’t provide detailed answer explanations.
- I found myself wanting stronger rationales so I could actually learn from my mistakes.
Bottom line: It’s okay as a supplemental resource, but I wouldn’t rely on it as my primary study tool.
2. AOTA NBCOT® Exam Prep
My Rating: 2/10 ⭐⭐
This was one of the first resources I tried, but I quickly stopped using it.
What I liked
- Includes a full-length practice exam.
- Covers a wide range of topics.
What I didn’t like
- I personally felt the questions were much more difficult and wordier than they needed to be.
- The explanations were minimal.
- There weren’t many references or learning resources provided after answering questions.
I did take the full practice exam right before my NBCOT exam, and honestly…I completely bombed it.
Instead of helping my confidence, it negatively affected my mindset just days before the real exam.
My recommendation: If you’re someone whose confidence is easily shaken by practice exam scores, be mindful of when you choose to take this exam.
3. OT Miri YouTube
My Rating: 10/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you’re a visual learner, I highly recommend OT Miri’s videos.
While there aren’t practice questions, her videos do a great job breaking down difficult concepts in an easy-to-understand way.
Study tip: Watch one of her videos and immediately follow it with practice questions on that same topic. That combination worked really well for me.
4. Occupational Therapy Examination Review Guide
My Rating: 8/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really enjoyed this resource.
What I liked
- Great practice questions
- Excellent answer rationales
- Easy to work through by content area
What I didn’t like
- I wish there were more questions.
- Since it’s a book, you can’t customize quizzes or simulate the computer-based NBCOT exam experience.
Overall, it’s a great supplemental resource, especially if you enjoy learning from detailed explanations.
5. OT Exam Prepper Podcast
My Rating: 6/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you’re an auditory learner, don’t overlook podcasts.
I listened while:
- Cleaning
- Driving
- Going on walks
- Doing chores around the house
It was an easy way to squeeze in extra studying without sitting at my desk.
One funny tip: Don’t put it on as background noise when you’re trying to relax—you’ll probably end up turning your downtime into another study session!
6. TrueLearn OT SmartBank
My Rating: 10/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Out of every resource I used, this was my favorite.
Here’s why:
- The practice questions felt the most similar to the actual NBCOT exam.
- The answer rationales were incredibly detailed.
- I could create custom quizzes by topic.
- Everything was online, making it feel much more like taking the real exam.
One feature I especially loved was being able to study by topic. After reviewing content, I would immediately build a quiz on that subject to reinforce what I had just learned.
Their performance insights also helped me identify my weaker content areas so I could spend more time where it mattered most instead of studying everything equally.
If you’re interested in trying TrueLearn’s OT SmartBank, you can use my discount code OTLATINA to save on your subscription.
My Overall Ranking
- 🥇 TrueLearn OT SmartBank
- 🥈 OT Miri YouTube
- 🥉 OT Exam Prepper Podcast
- Occupational Therapy Examination Review Guide
- NBCOT StudyPack
- AOTA NBCOT Exam Prep
The “perfect” NBCOT study resource doesn’t exist. Instead of relying on just one tool, I found it most helpful to combine different resources based on how I was studying that day.
For me, the winning combination looked like this:
- Learn new content with OT Miri.
- Reinforce it with targeted practice questions.
- Listen to OT Exam Prepper while doing everyday tasks.
- Use TrueLearn’s performance analytics to identify weak areas and focus my study time where it counted.
One of the biggest lessons I learned while preparing for the NBCOT exam was this:
Stop studying everything equally.
The more you can identify your weak areas and intentionally target them, the more efficient, and confident you’ll become before test day.
I hope this review helps you decide which resources are the best fit for your own study style. Good luck! You’ve got this!
