COTA Exam Scores and Pass Rates

You need a scaled score of 450 to pass the COTA exam. NBCOT uses criterion-referenced scoring, which measures your performance against an established passing standard.

The passing standard applies to the whole COTA exam. There are no separate domain passing scores.

If you pass, you receive a congratulatory letter with your earned overall score. If you fail, MyNBCOT provides your overall score and feedback on domain performance.

Failed-candidate reports also include the average score of recent passing new graduates. Use your domain feedback to decide which topics need more review.

Your score report shows a scaled score, not a percentile rank. NBCOT does not report how you placed compared with other candidates.

NBCOT publishes these COTA exam results for 2025.

The first-time category covers candidates testing within one year of graduation and included 2,806 candidates. The All New Graduates rate includes candidates regardless of the number of attempts. Each percentage applies to its stated population and testing year.

Search for your program in NBCOT School Performance Data. The reported passing percentage counts new graduates who pass during the testing year across attempts.

Check each population definition before comparing percentages. The school rate across attempts and the national first-attempt rate measure different groups.

You do not get your score on test day. NBCOT posts results on set release dates listed in its scoring calendar, and in 2026 most of those dates fell on Thursdays.

To be included in a release, you must take the COTA exam at least three days before that release date. For a Thursday release, that means testing on or before the Monday of that week. Your result is posted in your MyNBCOT account under Application History, and NBCOT emails you when it is posted.

The remaining 2026 release dates are below. NBCOT can change these dates, so check its scoring page before you book.

There is no testing from December 20, 2026, through January 3, 2027.

If you used a Degree Verification Form (DVF), NBCOT also needs an approved final transcript. If approval comes after the original scoring date, your score is released within 24 to 48 business hours of approval.

After passing, you must apply to your state licensing board and meet its requirements before you practice.

Use your next attempt number to find the minimum waiting period.

You can reapply through your existing MyNBCOT account starting 30 days before your next eligible exam date. Check your MyNBCOT dashboard for that date. Obtain a new Authorization to Test (ATT). You normally do not need to send your transcript again.

The online retake application costs $430. The paper retake application costs $485.