I called in favors to my friends and colleagues to answer a few questions about their NCS experience. I compiled the NCS Advantage to answer the question of what I wish I would have studied as I was preparing for the exam, but I want this course to have a broader scope. The #AskAnNCS Interview Series serves to meet this objective. Some of the interviewees used the NCS Advantage. Some did not. Regardless, I asked for their unbiased opinions in answering these questions.
Below are sample interviews from Suzanne Adkins and Christina Kelly – the NCS Advantage includes more interviews. Hope you find this helpful!
Suzanne Adkins, PT, DPT, NCS
1. Give a two-sentence career briefing:
I have been out of PT school for around 4 years now and have spent that time working primarily in a hospital outpatient setting as the primary physical therapist (vestibular and neurologic focus) for their Balance Center; I have also been working part time in an IP Rehab facility.
2. When did you earn your NCS certification?
2017
3. When did you begin studying for the NCS exam?
Late September/early October 2016 (5-6 months prior to the exam)
4. On average, how many hours per week did you study?
6-8 hours per week on average
5. What were the primary resources you used to study?
NCS Advantage, NCS Sample Exam question book (“NCS Exam: 2nd Edition: 115 Practice Questions & Answers with Explanations” by Joseph Shepherd)
6. Upon reflection after taking the exam, which resources do you think were most beneficial?
Since I only focused on a few resources as noted above, the most beneficial was a combination of those 2 resources.
7. Are there any topics you wish you’d studied more? Any topics you wish you’d studied less?
I think a more thorough understanding and familiarity with orthotics types and prescriptions would have been of benefit.
8. Did anything surprise you about the content of the NCS exam?
I was surprised by the quantity of orthotics questions as well as the number of questions addressing the specific criteria to begin early mobilization in the ICU.
9. When you left the testing center, how confident were you that you passed the exam?
To be honest, not very confident. Similar to the PT Board exam, the exam was mentally draining and covered a lot of material; however, in the case of the NCS, the material was more specific, leaving me in a position of at least recognizing/having a familiarity with the information but often feeling like I may have chosen the wrong answer, almost as if my knowledge was a hindrance rather than a help due to the nature of the questions. But don’t worry! Of all the exams I have taken in my life, the NCS was the one I was most certain I had failed; but I passed, and even with a fairly generous margin. So basically: prepare, perform, then be at peace while you wait!
10. Any advice you’d pass on to people taking the exam next year?
Don’t try and utilize too many resources. There are several available options for additional NCS preparation; however, when I attempted to pursue these options, I realized very quickly that they were serving to make me more ‘disjointed,’ making my study time ineffective and also increasing the level of anxiety related to getting a good grasp on all of the material to be covered. While I think it is helpful to use a couple of different resources, avoid the temptation to spread yourself too thin. Pursue an in depth and deep familiarity with 1-2 resources (the NCS Advantage covers everything you need to know!) and this will also serve to build your overall confidence going into the exam.
Christina Kelly, PT, DPT, NCS
1. Give a two-sentence career briefing:
Following 3 years of working in a variety of clinic settings, I transitioned into a neurologic residency program. Following completion of the residency program, I began a full time position in an outpatient neuro clinic.
2. When did you earn your NCS certification?
2018
3. When did you begin studying for the NCS exam?
I began prepping my study materials in November 2017 and began studying in December 2017.
4. On average, how many hours per week did you study?
It varied from 10-30 hours.
5. What were the primary resources you used to study?
NCS Advantage review course, class notes from my DPT program, and some material from the residency program
6. Upon reflection after taking the exam, which resources do you think were most beneficial?
The NCS Advantage review course (not only the review material, but also the practice exams) and the class notes.
7. Are there any topics you wish you’d studied more? Any topics you wish you’d studied less?
I spent less time on intervention material since I was working daily in the clinic, but I do wish I spent a little more time on this. Likewise, I wish I spent more time on reviewing vestibular exam and treatment. Otherwise, I feel like I delegated my study time for material well.
8. Did anything surprise you about the content of the NCS exam?
I was surprised by how much vestibular content was on the exam.
9. When you left the testing center, how confident were you that you passed the exam?
I honestly felt like I was not going to be surprised regardless of the results – I felt that I studied well, so I would not have been surprised if I passed. However, the test was long and there were a lot of questions I was unsure of, so I also felt like I would not have been surprised if I failed the exam.
10. Any advice you’d pass on to people taking the exam next year?
Spend time studying vestibular and remember there is a lot of material and only 200 questions – be sure to delegate your study time and don’t get too overwhelmed with specific details.
Enroll in the NCS Advantage to access the complete #AskAnNCS Interview Series