“I want to reach out to you because I think this is worth mentioning and it is important for you to know. I have taken the NBCOT exam 6 times. This was honestly very detrimental to my mental health and my hopes. I am originally from Costa Rica and I am a 43 year old male and not the sharpest tool. However, it has been my desire to help people who need it the best way that I can for a long time. I have worked for many years in humanitarian aid in places like Iraq, Syria and Palestine. It was in the refugee camps that I realized that something had to be done to help those who have lost their purpose and meaning more than simply keeping them alive. I was introduced to occupational therapy by a woman from Massachusetts and decided to come to the US and study this career. I failed miserably, time after time and my disappointment with myself brought me down terribly in my self esteem and depression. I was kicked out of my home when I was 14 and I have lived homelessness for about 10 years throughout my lifetime. Failing at this meant I would have to hit the ground one more time. Even the person who recruited me into OT gave up on me and told me how inept I was. I have always worked hard but sometimes you need someone. I saved all I could on the side and managed to pay for weekly tutor sessions with your program under the care of Paula Carey (who I nicked named on her back “Paula Carry” because she is so carrying. During some of our sessions I did my best to hide how I was feeling and how low I was. I was facing homelessness again and as an immigrant I had no one to even talk to. Paula went out of her way to encourage me every single time. She not only taught me how to persevere during the exam but treated me like a person with dignity and a future. Because of a vision problem I have my reading in English is very slow and this was a giant problem for me taking the exam. As a foreigner it is difficult to know how navigate the system and she took the time to instruct me in order for me to get accommodations after seeing an ophthalmologist. I took the test and passed with a surprisingly good grade. I know that I knew the material and I had studied well, but sometimes you need someone to believe in you a little. She did that for me and I am grateful for her. I am in Warsaw right now, it is 6:50 pm here and I will be crossing the border to the front lines in the Ukraine as an Occupational Therapist at midnight. I will be assisting in orphanages and hospitals hoping to share a little light like it was done for me during a very depressively low time for me. I have to say I am proud of the OT mentality of compassion and what we do. I want to thank you too for knowing how to build a great team and for having her there.

Thank you deeply,

”
- MIchelle J. Wong
“I am writing regarding Paula, my tutor, to pass on to you how great I think she is. I think she is an incredible motivator, she holds people accountable, and most importantly instills confidence in her students.

I am still on quite a high from learning I passed. I sort of can't believe it still, I was going through all the ones after the test I was certain I didn't get and assumed that cost me the test. BUT, it didn't!

I'd like to thank you for being the biggest reason I passed this test. I know you'll say it was Me who was the biggest reason but I think it was Paula's approach, attitude, motivation, and willingness to help that propelled me over the hump. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me pass and really think you are very good at what you do. I hope we stay in touch or our paths cross again. Thank you, Paula!
”
- R.J. Tuchscherer, OTR
“As a new OTD program, our faculty has been anxious and excited in anticipation for our inaugural cohort to meet all of their educational milestones with success. Then, this inaugural Class of 2021 was met with challenges, barriers, and delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We had always planned to integrate the Therapy Ed preparation course into our curriculum in the 8th semester as a component of the professional competency seminar. This course has learning outcomes around NBCOT exam preparation and professional transitions from student to practitioner. For this Class of 2021, these objectives became more important and challenging after experiencing delays in fieldwork and adjusting to hybrid communications and learning. Therapy Ed could not have been more accommodating and supportive. They were able to offer a virtual preparation course for our students on the timeline that worked best for all of them. There was flexibility for students who had a conflict and superb follow up from the staff and the course instructor. Our students reported back that the instructor was engaging, helpful, and seemed to truly care about their success. Therapy Ed and Dr. Fleming-Castaldy went above and beyond by scheduling an online “refresher” course for our students (and others) after they completed their Doctoral Capstone placements to review and prepare them for intensive exam studying. All of our inaugural graduates who took the exam in 2021 have passed on the first attempt and the rest of the cohort are showing great success as well! We look forward to a return to in-person Therapy Ed courses but feel confident that our students will be prepared in any format!”
- Meredith Gronski, OTD, OTR/L, CLA Program Director & Chair Methodist University OTD Program
“I appreciate the time and all that you have done in supporting my preparation for the NBCOT. I PASSED MY EXAM and I can't help but think of people that have helped me through this arduous process. Susan, thank you so much for all that you do to support students like myself. Wishing you a beautiful day!”
- Monica Martinez, USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
“We are so appreciative of the support and resources at TherapyEd that begin with the personal contacts with the company, the instructors, and the quality and variety of resources they offer. The Office Hours is a great resource for students especially when they are out on their final Level II fieldwork.

Our students who take the course have found it extremely helpful and it seems to increase their confidence with the strategies they learn in the course and the study plans they create.

Personally, I also value the direct support to programs. I am learning more each year as I work with TherapyEd and receive the analysis of student performance on the practice exams and how we as a faculty can reflect and use the results to improve our program to better support student learning. Thank you!
”
- Heather Javaherian, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA Program Director, MOT Department of Occupational Therapy School of Allied Health Professions, Loma Linda University
“Taking the prep course was the absolute BEST thing for me. I took the NBCOT twice before finally investing in the course. The course taught me to not second-guess myself, to take my time, to look at key words and utilize the test-taking strategies and tips they offered. It's expensive but it's so worth it. I went into my exam the third time feeling so much more prepared and ready and I'm happy to say I passed my exam with flying colors. If you're wondering whether you should invest in the course or not this is your hint to DO IT! You won't regret it! Thank you TherapyEd!!”
- Briyana Jackson, OTR/L, Radford University--Carilion
“It exceeded my expectations! It was a great review and gave great hints and practice for multiple choice questions. The instructor was knowledgeable and very good at guiding the group!”
- Megan Shanley, OTR Indiana University
“The course was helpful in that it improved the way I read and interpret questions. The study guide is most helpful in that it is a great overview of OT info (organized and concise). I feel more confident now in my ability to take the exam.”
- Angela Mahosky, Duquesne University
“Before taking the course:
After not passing I was devastated! However, this course provided a different outlook for me. It gave me a chance to practice my test taking strategies and learn how to analyze the questions. The instructor was great and I feel good about re-taking the exam.
After taking the course:
I can't express how much the course helped me prepare academically and mentally. My instructor was wonderful! She did an excellent job and provided the class with concise information. The class was very beneficial to me and I have no regrets. I would like to mention that I was successful this time with my boards! What a relief. I would recommend this course to everyone! Thank you so much for having this course available. Thank you for my recent success!”
- Lanette S. Glady, O.T.R. Occupational Therapist, Registered , Saginaw Valley State University
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank TherapyEd for providing me with an amazing tutoring experience with Paula. I failed my first exam by 5 points and felt completely defeated--I thought I was never going to pass the exam and almost gave up. I then reached out to TherapyEd for guidance as I had used the book while preparing for the exam. The woman on the phone was so helpful and put me in touch with Michele Emery who hooked me up with the most amazing tutor!!!! Aside from teaching me strategies in how to break down a question and chose the best answer she also gave me confidence and was my ‘therapist’. At times I felt down and honestly quite depressed on how difficult this was for me but Paula pushed me and I really have to say I don’t think I could’ve done this without her!!!! She rooted for me until the very end! Additionally, she was extremely flexible with meeting times and responded to emails and texts promptly! She made herself always accessible to me even if it was just to chat on the phone and to lift my spirits. I feel that many people don’t know about the tutoring that TherapyEd offers and for many this can be all they need in order to be successful on the exam. I want to thank you again for providing this service and for providing the best tutor!”
- S.W. - New York Institute of Technology