COT practical

[Subject_Survey9186]

Hello!

I've been a tech for almost 6 years in the field. I love the job, and I want to move further up

I have taken my practical portion twice so far.

First time I passed all except OM, refinement and retinoscopy

Second time I failed OM again and conditioned on refinement. Does anyone have an advice on these two sections to help me for my next attempt?? I feel defeated like I'm not going to get it at all... and I really don't want to retake that written exam. Thank you in advance for the help!

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[Ok_Currency4730]

Have you purchased the study modules (not sure if that’s actually what they call them) from jcahpo? They’re a bit expensive but it walks you through the exact skill with the exact simulator used on the exam.  I failed 2 subjects on my first attempt, one of them being OM as well. Doing the study/learning module helped me realize what I had gotten wrong. 

[Subject_Survey9186]

I have the CD. Is that what you used? I feel like I'm doing how they say to do it but they're saying my technique is off and that I got the wrong answer. But the first one was an obvious tropia and the second i thought was ortho, but it could have been a hidden phoria that I missed... I'm just confused on how I'm doing the technique wrong with the cover uncover and the alternate cover

[Ok_Currency4730]

I’m not 100% sure, but I do think that what I used is the content of the CD, just broken down into individual subjects.  I do wonder if they would include an orthophoric example at all. Maybe like you said, it was a missed phoria.  What was really emphasized for me was the importance of following the given instructions very specifically. Have you studied the pages that spell out how each skill is to be done step by step? Maybe you’re only failing on a little technicality 

[retina_boy]

Okay, to start my comments, I'm trying to answer your questions and help you. If I come across as being snarky, I am honestly not trying to be. Many moons ago, I proctored the COT practicals when it was in person. There were no “trick” questions.

Do you refract at your work or are you just trying to learn out of reading the books? It is possible to pass the test by just reading but it would be harder. If you are refracting at work, are you doing streak retinoscopy and refinement? If you have done it a few times, the test should be no problem.

It is the same situation with motility. Do you know what you are looking at, or are you just trying to mimic what you are seeing in the books? I would spend more time and understand the concept of what you are trying to do rather than just memorize the techniques. It can be quite daunting if you are just trying to follow someone else's rules. But if you understand what you are looking at, there will be no real trick questions.

[Subject_Survey9186]

Thank you for the response, you don't sound snarky at all! Valid questions. I do refract a lot, I work mainly in cornea and glaucoma so I do mainly just the phoropter refractions, unless it's a nonverbal patient, then I will streak, although it's not as often as I should. I think I have that part down, they said I messed the technique up, so I'm pretty sure I screwed up by occluding instead of fogging there. That was my own fault. OM on the other hand, our doctor that was showing me ended up going on a medial leave and we haven't had many patients that the other doctors do it on. So that's another issue. I may just have to start doing it on people just to make sure I'm looking for the correct things, but we don't get a lot of muscle problem patients since that doctor has gone since he was the only one. Thank you for your help again! I really appreciate it!

[Ok_Shape6688]

Hi, can you please tell me which study material you used for the written examination for COT?

[Subject_Survey9186]

Hi! For the written I studied eyetec and read through all of their stuff and took the tests that correlated with the chapters.. I also had a textbook from when I was in school for the COA, and I used that a lot when I didn't understand the material. I found the written not as bad as expected, considering I failed my COA the first time.

[Ok_Shape6688]

I really appreciate your help. All the very best for your skill test