Year of Award

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Degree Name

Educational Leadership

Department or School/College

Phyllis J. Washington College of Education

Committee Chair

John Matt

Commitee Members

William P. McCaw, Erica Allen, Liqin Tang, Emily Sallee

Keywords

NBCOT, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Pass rates

Abstract

The purpose of this retrospective quantitative study was to examine the predictive ability of gender, age, GPA, attendance and both Level II fieldwork scores (Fieldwork One and Fieldwork Two) on first attempt NBCOT exam success. To practice as an occupational therapy assistant, an individual must complete an accredited occupational therapy assistant (OTA) program and pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam. The NBCOT exam was developed to ensure entry-level occupational therapy assistants have the necessary knowledge to make safe and competent decisions.

The overarching research focus was to understand the extent of one or more of the independent variables predicted first attempt NBCOT exam success. Data was collected from OTA programs across eight campuses within a private health institution. Retrospective data were analyzed for 431 occupational therapy assistant students using binomial logistic regression.

Results showed that GPA, attendance, and Fieldwork One scores were statistically significant predictors of the first attempt NBCOT exam success for OTA students. Gender, age, and Fieldwork Two scores were not statistically significant in predicting first attempt NBCOT exam success. GPA surfaced as an essential factor in predicting first attempt pass rates, prompting the need for OTA programs to continuously monitor students’ academic performance. Attendance was positively correlated with NBCOT exam success, justifying attendance tracking policies. Interestingly, Fieldwork One scores were statistically significant in predicting pass rates, while Fieldwork Two scores were not. Demographic variables that were found not to be statistically significant predictors were age and gender.

In summary, findings revealed academic performance, attendance and fieldwork performance are statistically significant predictors of NBCOT exam success. Ensuring more students pass the NBCOT exam on their first attempt will help maintain a steady flow of qualified occupational therapy assistants, meeting the growing demand for occupational therapy services. Recommendations were provided to inform best practices for educational leaders in occupational therapy education.

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© Copyright 2025 Micahela Parker