NCCAOM School Liaison Webinar

Transcription

1 The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine NCCAOM School Liaison Webinar Mina Larson, M.S. Director of Public, Professional & Regulatory Affairs Jennifer Nemeth, M.Ed. Manager, School Liaison, PDA & Quality Assurance February 29, 2012 Copyright 2012 NCCAOM. Any use of these materials, including reproduction, modification, distribution or republication, without the prior written consent of NCCAOM, is strictly prohibited.

2 Webinar Objectives At the end of the webinar, you will be able to identify the NCCAOM staff and their areas of responsibility, understand NCCAOM s role in the AOM profession, navigate through NCCAOM certification process, identify 2012 NCCAOM policies and procedures for certification, explain the timeline and activities related to the retirement of ABT Exam, explain the benefits of becoming a Diplomate of NCCAOM, and describe the benefits of NCCAOM Certification 2

3 NCCAOM Mission and Core Values To establish, assess, and promote recognized standards of competence and safety in acupuncture and Oriental medicine for the protection and benefit of the public. Testing Excellence Service Integrity Trust Leadership Community Support 3

4 How does NCCAOM meet its mission? Eligibility to sit for an examination and to become certified Develops and administers exams that can measure entry level competency Provides public protection through: NCCAOM Code of Ethics Adherence monitored through the Professional Ethics and Disciplinary Committee (PEDC) Recertification - competency maintenance Working closely with regulatory boards 4

5 Difference Between Certification and Professional Membership Organizations American Association for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM ) Promote and advance high ethical, educational, and professional standards in the practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) Advocate acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) in the 50 states and federal level Assure competency of entry-level AOM practitioners Verify education and training Test competency Assure maintenance of certification (recertification) Uphold the NCCAOM Code of Ethics Promote NCCAOM certification and Diplomates to public, media and regulatory agencies Find-a-Practitioner Directory Testimonies Marketing

6 NCCAOM Staff Serving You 6

7 NCCAOM Executive Staff Dr. Kory Ward-Cook Chief Executive Officer Irene Basore Pamela Frommelt Mina Larson Gail Remsen Yvonne Sanders Neel Tenali Director of Administration Director of Assessment and Test Development Director of Public, Professional & Regulatory Affairs Director of Executive & Volunteer Services Director of Test Development Director of Finance 7

8 NCCAOM Staff Serving You NCCAOM Staff and Contact Jennifer Nemeth, Manager, PDA and Quality Assurance Sheila Lusis, Manager of Certification Services Stephanie Mills, Regulatory Affairs & Research Specialist Can Help You With School Liaison School Performance Reports PDA Program Quality Assurance Candidate Review Approval to Test Certification Recertification State Issues & Exam Reports ADA Accommodations Legal or Health Status See the NCCAOM website at for staff contact information 8

9 NCCAOM Staff Serving You NCCAOM Staff and Contact Can Help You With Tara Wiley, Assistant Controller Jenilynn Weaver, Administrative Assistant School Program Performance Reports NCCAOM Certification Verification Report for State Licensure Olga Cox, Customer Service Representative (904) General Inquiries Candidate Hotline Diplomate Hotline 9

10 Applying for NCCAOM Certification 10

11 Completing the Online Application Create an account and enter applicant profile information Thoroughly read the NCCAOM Certification Handbook Request school transcripts be sent directly to NCCAOM Request the CNT certificate be sent directly to NCCAOM from the CCAOM Submit payment for application at the time of online application completion 11

12 Important Timelines Application Review Process Online Application recommended via NCCAOM website Allow 6-8 weeks from the receipt of the completed application. Track Application Online Log into the NCCAOM online account. Certificate and ID Card Allow 4-6 weeks from the date certification is processed to receive the official NCCAOM certificate and ID card. Applications Valid for four years from the date received at NCCAOM 12

13 Completing the Application: Special Requests and Documentation ADA Requests and Documentation Must be made in advance Information is required from school and doctor Documentation Needed for Yes Response to Legal or Health Questions Requires submission of documentation regarding the circumstance and its outcome Personal Information Change to Original Certification Application Must be in writing Contact information change Name change 13

14 The Top Three Suggestions to Schools from the Certification Department Encourage faculty, counselors and students to read the NCCAOM Certification Handbook Urge students to achieve full NCCAOM certification, especially in states which only require the NCCAOM exams for licensure Urge students to use personal s and keep contact information current. Also keep school liaison contact information current 14

15 2012 Examination Administration All exams, with the exception of ABT, are now given year-round including Biomedicine. Foreign language exams will be offered in Chinese and Korean during two exam administration periods: August 13-25, 2012 October 29 to November 10, 2012 Some test centers are full 4 weeks prior to the test administration dates. The ability to register does not guarantee a seat for your students. 15

16 Important Exam Policies Pre-graduation: Three Time Rule: Five Time Rule: Students may sit for the NCCAOM exams before they graduate. School officials can approve students to sit for the examinations before graduation. After the third fail, the candidate must complete 15 PDA points and contact NCCAOM for a new Authorization to Test letter. After the fifth unsuccessful attempt to pass an NCCAOM examination, the candidate has no subsequent opportunities to retest. Exam Waiting Period: The candidate must wait 45 days before scheduling to retake the same exam at a Pearson Vue test center. 16

17 NCCAOM Exam Policy Reminders Non-Disclosure Agreement Prior to starting the exam, the candidate is asked to read and sign the Non-Disclosure Agreement and General Terms of Use for NCCAOM Exams. If the candidate does not accept the agreement terms, the session will end and the candidate will be required to reschedule and pay the full fee to sit for the examination. Examination Results Valid for eight years when applying for initial certification with the NCCAOM. 17

18 Exam Results and Certification Verification Form Required by states to become licensed to practice Complete form at time of graduation form to thenccaom.org Takes 7 to 10 business days to process 18

19 NCCAOM Professional Ethics Standards Professional Ethics NCCAOM Code of Ethics NCCAOM Grounds for Professional Discipline NCCAOM Procedures for Upholding Professional Conduct Schools can request copies by ing Sanctions may be imposed on NCCAOM applicants, candidates and Diplomates. 19

20 Professional Ethics and Students A student s disciplinary information is reviewed by the Professional Ethics and Disciplinary Committee (PEDC). A prior conviction does not automatically disqualify a student from obtaining NCCAOM certification. However, applicants with a record of criminal activity may encounter barriers to obtaining NCCAOM certification and/or state licensure. A student may be approved by the PEDC. This approval allows the student to sit for the exams and be NCCAOM certified. Acupuncture licensure is the decision of the respective state regulatory agency. 20

21 Policies & Procedures Changes Affecting Diplomates 21

22 NCCAOM Retired Status Effective January 1, 2012 Permanently retired General Requirements: Sixty-two (62) years+ or fully and permanently disabled A discipline free record Current NCCAOM Diplomate Complete and send in the NCCAOM Retired Designation Application 22

23 NCCAOM Inactive Status Effective January 1, 2012 Required Documentation for Inactive Status 1. Statement of request for inactive status 2. Medical, legal or personal documentation supporting the request for inactive status 3. The non-refundable application fee 4. Signed Application for Inactive status 23

24 Changes to the Lapsed Status Coming January 1, 2013 The timeframe for lapsed status is changing from 8 years to 3 years When a Diplomate does not recertify, they go into lapsed status. A former Diplomate may return to active status through the recertification process anytime during the 3 years in lapsed status. After 3 years in lapsed status, the former Diplomate moves to terminated status if they do not recertify. 24

25 Moving from Terminated to Active Status Effective 2013 Stay Tuned Current Policy A terminated Diplomate must reapply and meet all current eligibility requirements (including education) and take all required certification examinations. New Policy Effective January 1, 2013 A terminated Diplomate must reapply and prove measurement of competency by successfully completing a reinstatement assessment. 25

26 Policies & Procedures Fee Reduction 2012 Converting to Oriental Medicine Certification Reduced from $595 to $460 Maintain AC & CH certification for four-year recertification cycle Next cycle, reduced recertification rate of $100 each to keep AC & CH certification, if desired. Listed in NCCAOM Find A Practitioner under AC, CH and OM. 26

27 NCCAOM Newly Certified Diplomate Satisfaction Survey Purpose Ensures newly certified Diplomates have a smooth certification process The survey is linked to the Diplomate congratulatory sent upon completion of the certification process. Incentive: Encourage students to complete and submit the survey after certification to share their comments and suggestions with NCCAOM for future services and improvements. 27

28 Update on the Retirement of the ABT Examination An Asian Bodywork Therapy Certification frequently asked questions (FAQ) has been developed and posted on the NCCAOM website on the homepage under What s New. A Blue Ribbon Panel is being formed to include: AOBTA Members ABT Diplomates Other Stakeholder representatives Purpose: To determine if there is a need for a potential new ABT credential. The panel s report will go to the NCCAOM Board of Commissioners by the end of

29 ABT Exams Offered in 2012 NCCAOM will be offering the Asian Bodywork Therapy exam for ABT Certification in 2012 for the last time. Exams will be offered in: March 5 17, 2012 June 4 16, 2012 August 13 25, 2012 October 29 November 10,

30 NCCAOM and You Helping Your Students Achieve Success Through NCCAOM Certification 30

31 Maintaining NCCAOM Certification NCCAOM Certification demonstrates entry-level core competencies NCCAOM Recertification demonstrates maintenance of core competencies and professional growth and development Shows continued competency Gives portability for state licensing 31

32 Utilizing NCCAOM Credentials As a Means to Promote the AOM Profession Diplomate of Acupuncture (NCCAOM) Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM) Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM) Diplomate of Chinese Herbology (NCCAOM) Dipl. C.H. (NCCAOM) Diplomate of Asian Bodywork Therapy (NCCAOM) Dipl. ABT (NCCAOM) NCCAOM Service Marks Available to all Diplomates 32

33 NCCAOM Benefits of Diplomate Status Listing in the NCCAOM Find a Practitioner directory Use of the NCCAOM Service Marks and credential designations Access to a free personal website Timely information regarding AOM news and legislation Direct verification of certification status to insurance companies and third-party payers Consideration to serve on NCCAOM committees, panels and task forces 33

34 NCCAOM Services for New Graduates Promoting National Standards Testimony before state boards and legislative bodies regarding NCCAOM certification standards Letters of support for legislation Provide current information on national and international use of NCCAOM examinations and certifications Provide demographic and clinical practice information on AOM practitioners 34

35 NCCAOM Services for New Graduates NCCAOM Diplomate Website Design Brochures 35

36 NCCAOM s Find a Practitioner Search Engine 36

37 NCCAOM and State Licensure Requirements State License - Legal right to practice a profession NCCAOM Certification - Passing exams confirm competencies NCCAOM s examinations - accepted in 43 states plus Washington, D.C. 98% of states that regulate acupuncture require NCCAOM examinations 25 states plus Washington, D.C. require full NCCAOM certification in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology and/or Oriental Medicine 37

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39 NCCAOM & State Licensure Requirements 39

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41 Thank You! Questions & Answers and Post Webinar Survey Copyright 2012 NCCAOM Any use of these materials, including reproduction, modification, distribution or republication, without the prior written consent of NCCAOM, is strictly prohibited. 41