The Hand Therapy Certification Examination is a four-hour computer-based test consisting of 200 multiple-choice items.

The 2012 test will be administered over two windows of six-days each: Monday, May 7th through Saturday, May 12th; and Monday, November 5th through Saturday, November 10th. Handbooks for the 2012 examinations are now available for download in the HTCC store.

Candidates must first be determined to be eligible to take the examination. Once they are eligible, HTCC will issue an authorization to test number. This number will be emailed to the candidates, who then will make an appointment to test at an Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP) test site on the day and time desired. It will take approximately 10 working days from the time a candidate's application is complete to receive an authorization to test number. Candidates are responsible for making their own testing appointment at the time and testing center of their choice during the days the exam is given. HTCC will no longer assign test sites. Testing appointments will be for 4-1/2 hours, which includes 4 hours for the test and 30 minutes for instructions and a survey.

Candidates must first meet the following eligibility requirements to take the 2012 Hand Therapy Certification Examination:

• Beginning in 2011, HTCC no longer requires that your work experience be acquired in any specific country. All occupational or physical therapists who meet the eligibility requirements may apply to take the exam.
  
• You must be an occupational therapist or physical therapist with a current professional credential. Depending on your profession and where you practice, a professional credential may include a license, certificate, or registration. In all cases, it is the credential that you need to legally practice in that location. This credential must be active, and you must be in good standing with the agency that issued it.
  
• You must have been certified or licensed for a minimum of five years, based on date of issue of the certificate or license.
  • For the May 2012 exam, the date of issue must be on or before

  May 1, 2007.

  • For the November 2012 exam, the date of issue must be on or before November 7, 2007.
• Examples of acceptable proof for length of practice include a copy of your original license, or a copy of your NBCOT certificate, or a print-out from your state licensure board with your original date of licensure. Work under a temporary license cannot be included.
  
• You must have accrued a minimum of 4,000 hours of Direct Practice
  Experience in hand therapy..
• Please note: as of February 2009, HTCC no longer requires that the 4,000 hours of practice experience be accrued within the five years preceding your application. This means that you may submit 4,000 hours of direct practice experience in the upper quarter (described below) obtained at any time during your practice as an OT or PT. Clinical hours obtained as a COTA, PTA or on a temporary license cannot be submitted.

University Educators

If you teach hand therapy at a University, you may apply as long as you have 4,000 hours of direct practice experience in hand therapy during your career.

International Candidates

Beginning in 2011, HTCC no longer requires that your work experience be acquired in any specific country. All occupational therapists or physical therapists who meet the eligibility requirements may apply to take the exam.

You may contact HTCC for additional information.

Fees may be submitted by credit card, check, or money order in U.S. funds made payable to “HTCC.”

Refunds

• Eligible candidates who decide not to take the 2012 Hand Therapy Certification Examination must send a written request for a refund to the HTCC Administrative Office by April 15, 2012 for the May examination and October 15, 2012 for the November examination.
• If you have not yet scheduled an appointment with AMP for your exam, the initial registration fee will be returned minus a $75 processing fee.
• If you have scheduled an appointment with AMP for your exam, the initial registration fee will be returned minus a $175 processing and cancellation fee. This amount includes the fee HTCC is charged by AMP for cancelled appointments.
• After April 15 or October 15, no refunds will be given.
• No refunds will be issued without written notification of cancellation by the
  candidate.
• Application fees may not and will not be applied to a future examination.
• Refunds will be issued within 30 days following receipt of the written refund request.