OCS Prep Program

This self-guided OCS Prep Program is designed to give you the tools you need to pass the test, gain expertise, and elevate the profession — all while earning CEUs.

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93%

of subscribers that studied with the MedBridge Certification Prep Programs successfully passed their board specialization test!

Prepare to take the next step in your career.

Our OCS Prep Program provides all of the tools you'll need to pass the board specialization test, develop your clinical skill set, and elevate your career - all while earning CEUs. With advanced certification, you'll set yourself apart as a distinguished professional equipped to provide an advanced level of care.

We can help you get there faster.

In this program you will study advanced topics taught by the best instructors in orthopedic therapy. With over 500 practice questions, this 20-week program will have you well-prepared for success on test day.

Learn From the Best at MedBridge

Learn from the Best

Study advanced topics taught by the top instructors in orthopedic therapy.

Identify Your Strengths at MedBridge

Identify Strengths

Analyze your strengths & weaknesses with scores for practice areas.

Personalize Your Plan at MedBridge

Personalize Your Plan

Customize the program to meet your needs. Study in groups or on your own.

Advance Your Career at MedBridge

Advance Your Career

Prepare for the test and earn CEUs—all included in the annual subscription.

Explore OCS Prep Courses

Indications for Musculoskeletal Imaging

Presented by Robert Boyles, PT, DSc, OCS, FAAOMPT

Indications for Musculoskeletal Imaging

Subscribe now, and access clinical education and patient education—anytime, anywhere—with video instruction from recognized industry experts.
This course is part of our OCS Prep-Program. Learn more about the full prep-program here: MedBridge OCS Prep-Program.

When patients present to you with an orthopaedic or sports related injury, do you need to order imaging immediately? Is there criteria to help you decide if imaging is, or isn't, necessary, and if so, which imaging modality is most appropriate? Many imaging modalities are available for the evaluation of acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions. However, although patients are asking for high tech imaging, it does not mean better care and, in fact, can lead to harm. Using the many evidence-based imaging rules and published appropriateness criteria will help you decide if imaging is appropriate for your patient, and if so, which imaging modality should be requested. This course will briefly describe the imaging modalities and their uses available to you as a clinician, as well as the appropriateness criteria and published guidelines for each body region of interest.

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A Classification Approach to Managing Shoulder Pain and Dysfunction

Presented by Derek Clewley, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS, FAAOMPT

A Classification Approach to Managing Shoulder Pain and Dysfunction

Subscribe now, and access clinical education and patient education—anytime, anywhere—with video instruction from recognized industry experts.
This course is part of our OCS Prep-Program. Learn more about the full prep-program here: MedBridge OCS Prep-Program.

Shoulder pain is a common condition seen in physical therapy practice; however, are you confident that you are managing shoulder cases with the most up to date, best evidence? This course will examine shoulder outlining, the major classifications that contribute to shoulder pain and dysfunction. Take your confidence to the next level as you develop the expertise to effectively manage patients with shoulder pain.

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Evidence and Interview of the Patient with Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Presented by Gail Deyle, PT, DSc, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Evidence and Interview of the Patient with Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Subscribe now, and access clinical education and patient education—anytime, anywhere—with video instruction from recognized industry experts.

Why the focus on treating osteoarthritis of the knee? Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most rapidly growing conditions worldwide with knee osteoarthritis (knee OA) being one of the most prevalent forms. Patients with knee OA have a wide variety of presentations making it a disorder that is best addressed with strong clinical reasoning and high differential diagnosis skills. Despite a compelling body of literature for physical therapy directed exercise programs and growing evidence that manual therapy combined with exercise increases the level of symptom relief and functional benefit, most patients do not receive physical therapy treatment prior to total joint replacement. There is also a concerning lack of consistency in physical therapy treatment approaches with many physical therapists still reaching for their favorite modalities.

This course will help the learner make accurate judgments on the patient with knee OA's likely tolerance for examination and treatment while identifying key impairments to strength, range of motion, flexibility, gait, and balance that can be addressed with manual therapy and exercise. This clinical reasoning-based process facilitates highly focused treatment strategies that are typically well tolerated by the patient.

Although patients with knee OA can be challenging to treat, focusing on the concepts presented in this course will enhance your ability to provide well-tolerated treatment strategies that are consistent with the best research evidence, and that consistently produce highly satisfying outcomes for both the patient and the treating physical therapist.

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Clinical Practice Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Concussion

Presented by Caralyn Baxter, PT, DPT

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Concussion

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Video Runtime: 42 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 31 Minutes

This course provides a comprehensive overview of current evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for concussion recognition, evaluation, and treatment. The course is in part designed for individuals prepping for the orthopedic specialist board examination and will explore the complex relationships between concussion and other diagnoses that complicate the diagnostic and treatment process. By the end of this course, participants will be proficient in differential diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment in four domains: cervicogenic, vestibular and oculomotor, physiologic, and motor function.

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Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease: A Cause for Low Back Pain

Presented by Mary Derrick-Manis, PT, DPT, PhD(c), OCS, FAAOMPT

Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease: A Cause for Low Back Pain

Subscribe now, and access clinical education and patient education—anytime, anywhere—with video instruction from recognized industry experts.
Video Runtime: 4 Minutes

Low back pain (LBP) continues to be the primary condition treated in outpatient physical therapy. There is much emphasis on classifications, assessments, and interventions for treatment of LBP. While it's understood that we need to consider neighboring regions during assessment and interventions, there have been a number of case studies published recently highlighting the importance of considering the vascular system for patients presenting with LBP and lower extremity symptoms. While a vascular cause may be less common, this module will highlight how lower extremity peripheral artery disease can contribute to LBP and will review the tests that can help identify peripheral artery disease.

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Lumbar Guidelines: A Synthesized Outlook and Contextual Factors for Success

Presented by Elizabeth Lane, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS, FAAOMPT, CF-L2

Lumbar Guidelines: A Synthesized Outlook and Contextual Factors for Success

Subscribe now, and access clinical education and patient education—anytime, anywhere—with video instruction from recognized industry experts.
Video Runtime: 25 Minutes, Learning Assessments: 23 Minutes

There are multiple lumbar clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) from highly reputable sources; however, synthesized information in an applicable format for the clinician does not exist. The course will present detailed information from the multiple lumbar CPGs, highlighting consistencies and inconsistencies between them. We will also provide information on contextual factors that will aid in implementation with individual patients. This course is appropriate for physical therapists and athletic trainers treating low back pain in an outpatient setting.

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Advanced Spinal Pathology for Physical Therapists

Presented by Eric Robertson, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Advanced Spinal Pathology for Physical Therapists

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Video Runtime: 89 Minutes, Learning Assessments: 25 Minutes

This course reviews advanced spine pathologies and diagnostic criteria. It should be utilized as a review on its own to assist with differential diagnosis or as part of the OCS Prep series. The course will review current clinical guidelines and diagnostic classifications for low back pain as well as a high-level overview of evidence for interventions. Case applications will demonstrate the implementation of best evidence into clinical problems.

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Clinically Relevant Meniscus Pathology: Evaluation and Treatment

Presented by Dan Rhon, PT, DPT, DSc, PhD, OCS, FAAOMPT

Clinically Relevant Meniscus Pathology: Evaluation and Treatment

Subscribe now, and access clinical education and patient education—anytime, anywhere—with video instruction from recognized industry experts.
This course is part of our OCS Prep-Program. Learn more about the full prep-program here: MedBridge OCS Prep-Program.

Derangement of the meniscus is a common knee injury, and often goes undetected and mismanaged. It is also commonly associated with the aging of the tibiofemoral joint, and in this situation, labeled a degenerative meniscus tear. How do you know if a meniscus injury is the cause of pain or dysfunction, or merely part of the aging process and potentially a less relevant finding? Proper managing depends on a good knowledge of prognostic factors, along with a solid understanding of the anatomy and biomechanics of the tibiofemoral joint. This lays the clinical foundation for effective identification of clinically relevant meniscus pathology. A well-focused history and physical examination is the key to properly assessing meniscus derangement in the knee. Following this course you will have the knowledge to display an understanding of the role that the meniscus plays in the function of the tibiofemoral joint, as well as be able to accurately articulate the evidence supporting age-related changes in the meniscus, and the prevalence of asymptomatic meniscus tears.

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Track Your Strength

The OCS Prep Program is based on both practice areas and body regions in alignment with the Orthopedic Description of Specialty Practice. Over 500 test questions are mapped to these two matrices so participants can track their strengths and weaknesses to prepare for the exam.

  • Strength Examination, Evaluation and Diagnosis at MedBridge
  • Strength Critical Inquiry for Evidence Based Practice at MedBridge
  • Strength Prognosis-Interventions-Outcomes at MedBridge
  • Strength Shoulder at MedBridge

See your strength in over 20 categories! Begin the OCS program today.

Practice Exam

Case Excerpt:

A patient is presenting with neck and arm pain with insidious onset three weeks prior to referral to physical therapy. The patient states that the pain started in the anterior shoulder and radiated proximally to the neck and distally to the mid-forearm. The patient had a diminished C6 reflex upon evaluation, and also showed significant weakness in the elbow flexion manual muscle testing.

Question:

Which of the following diagnoses is least likely to be implicated in this patient’s symptoms?
Correct! Incorrect! Subscribe to access over 300 more questions like this one.

The correct answer is "Arterial compression from thoracic outlet syndrome."

There is no information provided that would lead one to believe that this patient has any arterial compression due to thoracic outlet syndrome. If an individual had thoracic outlet syndrome, they may have shoulder and neck pain but the likelihood of diminished reflexes and weakness in elbow flexion manual muscle testing is low.

Meet Our Instructors

Eric Robertson, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Eric Robertson, PT, DPT, MFA, is associate professor at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT, and associate professor of Clinical Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles, CA. Previously he served as Director of Graduate Physical Therapy Education for Kaiser Permanente Northern California and assistant professor of physical therapy at Regis University in Denver, Colorado, and the University of Texas at El Paso. He received his bachelor's degree in physical therapy from Quinnipiac University and his doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree from Boston University. He is board certified in orthopedics (OCS) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT). Dr. Robertson currently serves on the Standards Committee for the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (IFOMPT) and Associate Editor for the Journal of Physical Therapy Education. Dr. Robertson has taught musculoskeletal physical therapy, pharmacology, differential diagnosis, and radiology courses in several physical therapy education programs from entry level through the postgraduate level. He has authored several web-based continuing education courses for entry-level and post-professional physical therapy residency and fellowship programs. Dr. Robertson has served as a consultant for various health technology start-ups and currently is an advisor to OneStep (www.onestep.co), a digital physical therapy provider based in Tel Aviv, Israel. Dr. Robertson's research interests lie in educational research, evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning, and exploring the impact of technology on health care. Dr. Robertson has served as an author for clinical practice guidelines and within the Current Concepts course series for the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy. Dr. Robertson's work has been published in several peer-reviewed journals, on popular health websites, and in large television and print media outlets, such as the Wall Street Journal, Oprah.com, Good Morning America, and TIME magazine. He was previously a spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association. Connect With Eric on Linkedin/

Robert Boyles, PT, DSc, OCS, FAAOMPT

Dr. Boyles is a clinical professor and former program director of the University of Puget Sound's Doctor of Physical Therapy program in Tacoma, Washington. Previously, he was on faculty as associate professor and director of clinical education of the U.S. Army-Baylor University DPT program. His primary areas of instruction are in orthopedics, which includes evaluation and intervention, manual therapy treatment techniques for the spine and extremities, and musculoskeletal imaging. Dr. Boyles is a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists and is a certified orthopaedic clinical specialist. He received his entry-level MPT degree in physical therapy in 1991 and completed his orthopaedic and manual physical therapy residency and doctoral degree in 2002 at U.S. Army-Baylor University. Additionally, he has taught online imaging courses for the University of the Incarnate Word tDPT program, MedBridge, and Fisioterapia Interattiva (Italy). He has also taught multiple continuing education courses in manual therapy and imaging for physical therapists for the Department of Defense, APTA, PTWA, Evidence in Motion, and privately, throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Asia. He is actively involved in research, with publications in the fields of manual physical therapy of the spine and extremities, and musculoskeletal imaging. He is a two-time recipient of the Rose Award for Excellence in Research awarded by the Orthopaedic Section of the APTA. He received the 2017 Award for Clinical Excellence from the Washington State Physical Therapy Association (PTWA).

David M. Walton, PT, PhD

David Walton (@uwo_dwalton) completed his BScPT in physical therapy at the University of Western Ontario in 1999, an MSc in neuroscience in 2001, and a PhD in health and rehabilitation science from Western in 2010. Following a combined 10 years of clinical practice, he is now an associate professor in the School of Physical Therapy at Western University (London, Canada), an associate scientist with the Lawson Health Research Institute, and a member of the teaching faculty with Western's Bone and Joint Institute. He is the director and principal investigator of the Pain and Quality of Life Integrative Research Lab, where he supervises five PhD students and one MSc student in addition to several professional and undergraduate students. Dave is active in the university community, having formed two interdisciplinary research groups: Collaboration for the Integration of Rehabilitation and Consumer Electronics (CIRCLE) and Solving Traumatic Pain and Disability Through Advanced Research Translation (START). Through these groups, innovative research and knowledge translation initiatives are underway that focus on improving measurement, prognosis, and treatment for neuromusculoskeletal pain problems of primarily the neck and low back. Dave has published more than 50 scientific publications and four book chapters, has presented at several national and international conferences, and has secured nearly $1 million in research funding. Outside of the university, Dave is currently an associate editor with the scientific journal Manual Therapy, an international editor for The Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, secretary of the Education Special Interest Group of the International Association for the Study of Pain, a member of the Allied Health subsection of the North American Spine Society, and cofounder/past chair of the Pain Science Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. Dave has been recognized for this teaching and mentorship through two Faculty Teaching Awards of Excellence and the 2014 National Mentorship Award from the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. He is an active member of Western's Teaching Support Centre, through which he facilitates workshops for faculty development, and is increasingly sought as a provider of continuing professional development in the area of neck pain management, soft skills development, pain assessment, and adult education for clinicians. Finally, and most importantly, Dave is immensely proud of his role as father to two incredible daughters and husband of an outstanding wife. The phrase "punching above his weight" most certainly applies. More Info About David

Dan Rhon, PT, DPT, DSc, PhD, OCS, FAAOMPT

Dr. Dan Rhon is a clinician, active researcher, and assistant professor at Baylor University in Texas. He received an MPT and DSc through Baylor University and then a DPT through Temple University. He attended a manual therapy clinical fellowship at Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas, is a fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT), and is an orthopedic clinical specialist (OCS). He completed a postdoc research fellowship through the University of Utah and has a strong research interest in the effectiveness of clinical care pathways for musculoskeletal disease, both at primary and specialty care levels and the intersection of these two. He is a past recipient of the Rose Excellence in Research Award from the orthopedic section of the APTA and the COL Mary Lipscomb Hamrick Lifetime Research Award. Connect With Dan on linkedIn/

Cheryl Sparks, PhD, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Dr. Cheryl Sparks is the Director of the Rehabilitation Center of Expertise for the OSF HealthCare System. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists and is board certified by the ABPTS as an Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist. She maintains professional membership in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists, Illinois Physical Therapy Association and the American Physical Therapy Association, sections on Orthopedics and Research. Prior to joining OSF HealthCare, Dr. Sparks served as the co-Director of the Bradley University Orthopaedic Physical Therapy residency program.

Derek Clewley, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS, FAAOMPT

Dr. Clewley is an educator, clinical researcher, physical therapist, and mentor in the Duke University DPT program. His specific area of expertise and training is orthopaedics and manual physical therapy. He has achieved board certification in orthopaedics, and is recognized as a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. He received his PhD with primary research interest in health systems and big data applications, with a focus on health-seeking behaviors. Additional research interests include dry needling, manual physical therapy, and pain sciences. Dr. Clewley has extensive experience in the development of continuing education, residency, and fellowship postgraduate training programs. He has presented at numerous national conferences and has been published in peer-reviewed journals.

Jodi Young, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Jodi Young, PT, DPT, PhD is the Director of Research for the Bellin College Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy program. She is also a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy. Jodi completed her PhD through the University of Newcastle in Australia where she researched physical therapy dosing in patients with lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries. She has taught in entry-level DPT, residency, fellowship and DSc programs for several years, focusing on the areas of orthopedics, manual therapy, differential diagnosis and research.

Gail Deyle, PT, DSc, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Gail Deyle is a Professor with Baylor University Graduate School and the founder and senior faculty member of the Army-Baylor University Doctoral Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy, located at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He is an internationally recognized expert, frequent national guideline panel member, and experienced researcher on physical therapy treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee. His earned professional degrees include a BSc from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, a Master of Physical Therapy from Baylor University, a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Creighton University, and a Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy from Andrews University. He is board certified in Orthopaedics and he is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. Dr. Deyle is a Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. His professional recognitions include outstanding researcher awards from the Texas Physical Therapy Association, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists, and the Geriatric Specialty Section. He is a three time recipient of the Prestigious Rose Research Award from the Orthopaedic Academy. He is the recipient of the Hartgraves Award for Teaching Excellence from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, and the Freddy Kaltenborn "Teach I must" and the Distinguished Lecturer Awards from the American Academy of Orthopadic Manual Physical Therapists. He has also received the Outstanding Alumni Award from the Army-Baylor Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Alumni Association. He continues to be actively involved with clinical practice and research, and teaching in numerous academic and clinical settings.

James M. Elliott, PT, PhD, FAPTA

James completed his PhD at the University of Queensland, Australia (UQ) in 2007 and a post-doctoral fellowship (2008-2010) at UQ. The focus of his interdisciplinary laboratory is to quantify altered spinal cord anatomy and whole-body skeletal muscle degeneration as potential markers of recovery following spinal trauma. He has been successful as an independent investigator as in evidence of being a CI/PI/Collaborator/Consultant on over $30 million in research funding, more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, and numerous speaking invitations at interdisciplinary conferences on a national and international level. Accordingly, his work has resulted in external recognition as a global expert in traumatic injuries. Currently, Prof. Elliott is the Director the Kolling Institute, the oldest (103 years) medical research institute in New South Wales, Australia and Academic Director Allied Health and Public Health, The University of Sydney and Northern Sydney Local Health District. He is currently working with a vast network of collaborators, worldwide, to build the world's leading well-being index and better health outcomes for all @elliottjim More Info About Jim

Haideh V. Plock, PT, DPT, OCS, ATC, FAAOMPT

Haideh graduated with a double major in Kinesiology and Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1991. Upon completion of her Master's in Physical Therapy from Boston University in 1993, she accepted a position at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic. She worked there for the next 11 years specializing in orthopedic and sports related injuries. Haideh is also a 2002 graduate of the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT). In 2005, she received her certification as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. Haideh currently serves as the Vice President for the AAOMPT. She recently relocated to Reno, NV after working for the past 10 years as the manager of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation's Department of Physical Therapy. She enjoys snowboarding with her husband, hiking, crossfit, and yoga and is looking forward to living life near the Sierras.

Todd E. Davenport, PT, DPT, MPH, OCS

Todd serves as professor and vice-chair of the Department of Physical Therapy in the School of Health Sciences at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, where he teaches in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. Todd is a graduate of the University of Southern California's DPT and Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency programs. He is a past clinical research fellow at the Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Todd is a graduate of the Master of Public Health program at the Berkeley campus of the University of California. He has been continuously recognized as a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties since 2005. Todd has worked to translate evidence from scientific research into best practices for physical therapy. He is a member of the Evidence-Based Documents Task Force of the Orthopedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), through which he has been involved with both authoring and revising clinical practice guidelines, with an emphasis on foot and ankle health conditions. He also has served on the multidisciplinary Primer Writing Committee of the International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (IACFS/ME) and as a contributor to World Physiotherapy's long COVID briefing paper on safe rehabilitation approaches for people living with long COVID. He is an education cochair of Long COVID Physio. Todd is an associate editor of the Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal, an international editorial review board member of the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, and a reviewer for several journals in the fields of rehabilitation and rheumatology. In addition to his teaching, scholarship, and service work, Todd practices clinically at the Kaiser Permanente offices in Stockton, California. Connect With Todd on LinkedIn

Anne Harrison, PT, PhD

Dr. Harrison is an Associate Professor and Director of Professional Studies of Physical Therapy in the Rehabilitation Sciences PhD Program at the University of Kentucky. Her research focuses on aging, balance, and postural stability and interdisciplinary aspects of functional health in older adults. She also focuses on educational strategies and outcomes in geriatrics and multimedia adjuncts in teaching. Her clinical work includes extensive clinical experience in outpatient orthopedics. She currently works on an interdisciplinary team managing patients with orofacial pain at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry.

What's Included in the Program

Advanced Courses

Choose from over 45 online, video-based courses taught by the experts

Practice Questions

Study with over 500 practice questions and recommended journal articles

Group Study

Prepare on your own or with others sitting for the exam

Structured Program

Improve your expertise with this 20-week program designed specifically for the OCS exam

Advance your knowledge with exclusive content from industry leading instructors

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