General Questions
The NBCOT Navigator® is a suite of online tools designed to help certificants evaluate their professional knowledge and skills in support of ongoing practice requirements. These tools are grounded in competency profiles developed through a continuing competency practice analysis study, providing empirical evidence of their job-relatedness. By completing these tools, certificants can earn competency assessment units (CAUs) toward NBCOT certification renewal.
NBCOT developed the Navigator to support certificants in maintaining competence beyond initial certification and throughout their professional careers. Continuing competency is the ongoing ability of a certified professional to integrate and apply the knowledge, skills, behaviors, and ethical decision-making necessary for safe, effective, and evidence-based practice. This includes staying current with emerging research, evolving practice standards, and the changing needs of clients, systems, and society.
The Navigator provides opportunities for certificants to engage in a self-directed process of competency assessment through critical reflection, validation of current practice knowledge, and consideration of new areas for professional growth. After completing Navigator tools, certificants are encouraged to create a personalized professional development plan.
The Navigator leverages interactive online tools, such as games, quizzes, and case simulations, to support certificants in assessing their competency to deliver occupational therapy services across diverse practice settings and populations.
Certificants can search for tools by activity type, practice area, populations, or keyword. Competencies are verified by completing tools such as case simulations, games, mini practice quizzes, and microcredentials. Upon completion, certificants receive customized feedback, including recommendations for follow-up readings and learning activities.
The NBCOT Navigator is available at no cost to all certified OTRs and COTAs. It is an added value of maintaining NBCOT certification.
Logistical Questions
You can access NBCOT Navigator through your MyNBCOT account. Only certified OTRs and COTAs have access to this free resource. Log in to access.
You will need to ensure you disable your pop-up window. The tools will open in a new window once you click on "Begin Activity." The tools work best in the following browsers: Chrome, Edge, or Firefox. Internet Explorer is not recommended or supported for use with the Navigator. You may want to switch the browser you are using to access the tools if you experience issues.
No. Once you start a tool, you need to complete it in one sitting. Play is not saved and you will be timed out.
It varies. Some tools are designed to be very quick to complete, like the OT Knowledge Library and mini practice quizzes. Others, like the case simulations, may take up to 30 minutes or longer to complete. The microcredentials are a timed tool and allow for 60 or 90 minutes, depending upon the length of the assessment.
If you have any questions or need troubleshooting help, please email navigator@nbcot.org.
Online tutorials for ProQuest and RefWorks can be found by accessing the programs through your MyNBCOT account. Both services offer help and support once you are logged in to their systems.
NBCOT does save your Navigator competency assessment results, but they are confidential and not used for any evaluative purpose. Your scores will not negatively impact your certification status in any way.
Results are confidential. It is entirely at your discretion if you choose to share your results from the Navigator tools with your employer or any other third party.
Recommended reading lists are presented on the score page of some of the tools. You can also select to have the lists sent to your email account. Click on the "Read Now" button of the article you would like to read, and it will automatically open in ProQuest. ProQuest is accessible at no cost to OTRs and COTAs through their MyNBCOT account. If the reference listed is a book, you will not be able to view the information through your MyNBCOT account.
Who Can Use Navigator?
Yes, the Navigator is available exclusively to certified OTRs and COTAs. Practitioners with expired certification may renew their credential to regain access to this value-added benefit. For student resources click here: NBCOT Aspire® Study Tools
Yes. We designed NBCOT Navigator with certificants and employers in mind. While employers cannot directly access the tool suite at this time, they can direct their OTR and COTA staff to the Navigator so they can engage in self-reflection and test their competency against contemporary practice standards. Encouraging use of the Navigator is a great way for employers to participate in the competency assessment process without taking their staff away from the work environment or their clients. If supervisors and managers have an OTR or COTA credential, they can access the tools through their own MyNBCOT account for their own continued competency needs.
PDU Questions
To maintain certification, a total of 36 professional development units (PDUs) must be accrued during each renewal cycle. When you complete activities in the Navigator, you earn competency assessment units (CAUs), which are NBCOT’s unique form of professional development credit. Each CAU is equivalent to one PDU and counts fully toward your renewal requirement.
You may earn up to all 36 required units through Navigator activities alone. In addition, NBCOT offers many other approved ways to earn PDUs, which are outlined in the Certification Renewal Activities Chart.
The number of units you can earn and the maximum attempts allowed vary by tool. For details, please review the Navigator tool descriptions:
Units earned through the Navigator are automatically tracked for you in the Renewal Log in your MyNBCOT account. You can also view your progress on your Navigator Dashboard, located under the Navigator tab on MyNBCOT.
In the image below, view the states that currently accept the Navigator for state licensure renewal.
We anticipate this number to grow as more states add the Navigator to their regulations.
If your state does not accept units earned through Navigator, you can still use them toward your renewal requirements with NBCOT. Contact your state to encourage acceptance of the Navigator. State contact information is available once you log in to your MyNBCOT account.
You will not earn additional CAUs after you have completed the maximum number allowed per tool. You can view your progress in your MyNBCOT account under Navigator. Your Navigator tools and CAU count will reset after your next renewal.
Content Questions
All content available on the Navigator is driven by the results from NBCOT's Continuing Competency Practice Analysis (CCPA). This study, completed with thousands of NBCOT certificants, gathered data on certificants' current practice areas. The menu of practice area topics continues to expand every year.
Yes. The Navigator can be used across a wide range of practice areas, including acute care, administration and/or management, assistive technology, ergonomics, hand therapy, health/wellness, mental health, neuro rehabilitation, older adults/productive aging, orthopedics, OT education/research, other OT-related area, pediatrics, physical rehabilitation, vision rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation, and work and industry.