© 2011 NCCAOM
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NCCAOM® and AAAOM Student Webinar
Presentation
Dr. Kory Ward-Cook, Chief Executive Officer
Mina Larson, Director of Public, Professional and Regulatory
Affairs
Jeannie Kang, AAAOM President
© 2011 NCCAOM
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Session Objectives
At the end of the session the participant will be able to:
Navigate through the NCCAOM certification process
Prepare for NCCAOM certification exams using NCCAOM resources
List benefits of becoming an NCCAOM Diplomate
Understand the difference between maintaining certification through NCCAOM and joining the AAAOM membership association
Appreciate the value of AAAOM membership
© 2011 NCCAOM
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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
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NCCAOM Profile
Founded in 1982.
Currently over 15,500 active Diplomates worldwide.
© 2011 NCCAOM
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NCCAOM Staff Serving You
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NCCAOM Staff Serving You First Level Contact
NCCAOM Staff and Contact Can Help You With
Olga Cox, Customer Service [email protected](904) 598-1005
General InquiriesCandidate Hotline
Sheila Lusis, Manager of Certification [email protected]
Application Processing Certification Assistance
Connie Heggood, Certification Records Management [email protected]
Recertification AssistanceDocument verification
© 2011 NCCAOM
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NCCAOM Staff Serving You Exam Content and Exam Score Contacts
See the NCCAOM website at www.nccaom.org for staff contact information
NCCAOM® Staff and Contact Can Help You With
Jenilynn Weaver, Administrative Assistant [email protected]
Report Verification for State Licensure
Rebecca Cassidy, Manager of Professional and Regulatory Affairs [email protected]
ADA and Legal/Ethics Inquiries
Pam Frommelt and Yvonne [email protected]
Test Development and Examination Content
© 2011 NCCAOM
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Applying for NCCAOM Certification
© 2011 NCCAOM
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Applying for NCCAOM Exams and Certification
Online application process
Go to the Applicant page of the NCCAOM website and “Apply” by creating a username and password.
Complete the NCCAOM® Application for Certification with guidance from the NCCAOM® Certification Handbook.
Request school transcripts be sent directly to NCCAOM *Transcripts are held for 6 months
Request the CNT certificate be sent directly to NCCAOM from the CCAOM
The school graduation transcript and the CNT certificate are not required to sit for a test; however, they are required for NCCAOM certification and should be requested as soon as possible.
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NCCAOM Certification Programs
Acupuncture Certification:
Foundations of Oriental Medicine
Acupuncture with Point Location
Biomedicine*
Chinese Herbology Certification:
Foundations of Oriental Medicine
Chinese Herbology
Biomedicine*
*NCCAOM recommends completing CNT course prior to taking the Biomedicine exam
Applications for certification expire 4 years after received by NCCAOM
NCCAOM Service MarksAvailable to all Diplomates
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Oriental Medicine Certification:■ Foundations of Oriental Medicine
■ Acupuncture with Point Location
■ Chinese Herbology
■ Biomedicine*
*NCCAOM recommends completing CNT course prior to taking the Biomedicine exam
This certification meets or exceeds the exam requirements for 43 states plus District of Columbia.
NCCAOM Certification Programs Con’t.
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NCCAOM Definition of Terms Used During the Certification Process
Applicant A person who has submitted an NCCAOM® Application for Certification that has been received by NCCAOM
Candidate An applicant whose application payment has been processed by NCCAOM
A candidate who meets the requirements to sit for the exams and has received an “Authorized to Test” letter. Their status will appear as “Approved–to–Test” on the NCCAOM website and they are able to register with Pearson Vue.
Pass-All An approved candidate who has passed all the required examinations but has not submitted all the required documents (school graduation transcript & CNT certificate)
Pre-Cert An approved candidate who has passed all the required examinations, has submitted all the required documents, and is awaiting final notice from NCCAOM
Approved Candidate
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Completing the Application: Special Requests and Documentation
ADA Requests and Documentation
Must be made in advance
Information required from school and doctor
Documentation Needed for “Yes” Response to Legal or Health Question
Requires submission of documentation regarding the circumstance and its outcome
Request and Documentation Needed to Change to Original Certification Application
Must be in writing■
Contact information change■
Name change
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Completing the Application: Felony Convictions
Reminder: An applicant with a prior criminal conviction must submit documentation relating to the incident to NCCAOM® with their certification application.
X
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Preparing for the NCCAOM Exams
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Registering for NCCAOM Examinations
Authorization to Test letters (ATT)
Contains information and instructions for scheduling exams
Mailed by U.S. Postal Service to the address on record
Includes your NCCAOM ID number and the list of approved exams
Must be presented at the Pearson Vue testing center to be admitted to test
Canceling or Rescheduling an Exam
Directly contact Pearson Vue
Secure a confirmation number
ensures the transaction was completed
guarantees a refund or rescheduled date
© 2011 NCCAOM
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2011 NCCAOM® Study Guides
Features
Narrative describing NCCAOM exam development and validation process
Content Outlines for each examination (available separately on www.nccaom.org)
Chinese herbal formulas
Bibliographies for each exam
Nomenclature reference guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Information about NCCAOM®
Online Practice Tests
© 2011 NCCAOM
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2011 NCCAOM® Study Guides Content Outlines
Diplomate in Acupuncture ■
Acupuncture with Point Location Exam■
Biomedicine Exam■
Foundations of Oriental Medicine
Diplomate in Chinese Herbology ■
Chinese Herbology Exam■
Biomedicine Exam■
Foundations of Oriental Medicine
Diplomate in Oriental Medicine ■
Acupuncture with Point Location Exam■
Biomedicine Exam■
Foundations of Oriental Medicine ■
Chinese Herbology Exam
Each Content Outline also featured
separately on the NCCAOM website
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Domains and Weightings for Biomedicine Content Outline
A. Western Medicine Assessment –
55%
B. Pharmaceutical and Supplements –
15%
C. Safety –
15%
D. Practice Management –
15%
Expanded Content Outline
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Official NCCAOM® Online Practice Tests
Practice Tests Acupuncture
Chinese Herbology Foundations of Oriental Medicine
*Comprehensive Acupuncture
*Comprehensive Oriental Medicine
* Note: Includes biomedicine questions
Each Practice Test Includes: Subscription service for 90 days
Five individual tests, each consisting of 50 multiple choice
questions
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2011 Examination Administration
All exams given year-round, except Biomedicine, which is offered:May 9 to 21
July 18 to 30
October 24 to November 5
All exams are 100 items and 2.5 hours
You must have the hours requirement and be approved by your school official to sit for each examination
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Testing Day… What to Expect
Bring two forms of identificationName on the student’s ID must match the name on the
NCCAOM’s ATT letter
Do not bring any study materials to the test center
A ring-binder with five pages of erasable board and a marker will be provided
The binder will be collected upon completion of the exam
Students will be assigned a locker for personal belongings
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Important Exam Policies
Pre-graduation: Students may sit for the NCCAOM exams before they graduate. School officials can approve students to sit for the examinations before graduation.
Three Time Rule: After the third fail, the candidate must complete 15 PDA points and contact NCCAOM for a new Authorization to Test letter.
Five Time Rule: 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
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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 reapply and pay the full fee to sit for the examination.
Examination ResultsExam results are valid for eight years toward NCCAOM certification.
© 2011 NCCAOM
Exam Information Con’t.
Pass-Fail Reports
Letter sent approximately 20 days after the examination via U.S. mail
Contain the official NCCAOM exam results (results received at the Pearson VUE testing locations are preliminary results only)
Actual scores are not received for passing exam results
Actual scores are given for those who fail
a diagnostic report is located at the bottom of the exam results
letter for your convenience in studying
Individuals can log into their NCCAOM online account to check their NCCAOM exam results.
NOTE: If the examination is not completed, a preliminary status report will not be provided at the end of the examination -
Candidates must wait for the official exam results letter which will be mailed.
Complaints
Incident at the exam administration
Problem with the exam content
Within 45 days of testing date submit complaint, in writing, to the NCCAOM Testing Department
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Achieving NCCAOM Certification
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Important Timelines
Application Review Process
Allow 6-8 weeks from the receipt of the completed application.
Track Application Online
Requires you to log into your NCCAOM online account.
Certification■
Allow
4-6 weeks from the date that all documentation and examination requirements are fulfilled.
■
Allow an additional 2-3 weeks to receive the official certificate.
Applications
Good for four years from the date received at NCCAOM
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The Top Five Suggestions to Students from the Certification Department
1. Read the 2011 NCCAOM® Certification Handbook
2. Complete the application including the school’s full name, city, state and NCCAOM school ID number.
3. Keep contact information current including email addresses; especially once graduated
4. Read the FAQs on Testing in the 2011 NCCAOM® Study Guides.
5. Remember - NCCAOM certification is not awarded until a graduation transcript, CNT verification, and exam scores have been approved by the NCCAOM
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Changing Your Application to a Different Certification Program
Acupuncture (Ac) to Oriental Medicine (OM)Chinese Herbology (CH) to Oriental Medicine (OM)
Fees
$220 for all Candidates with an open application
NoteThis action will permanently void the original certification application (Acupuncture or Chinese Herbology)
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Changing Your Application to a Different Certification Program
Oriental Medicine (OM) to Acupuncture (Ac)and
Oriental Medicine (OM) Chinese Herbology (CH)
Fee
$100 for all Candidates with an open application
Note This action will permanently void the Oriental Medicine certification application
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Obtaining State Licensure
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State Licensing vs. Certification
NCCAOM Certification does not give you the legal right to practice.
NCCAOM exams and certification confirm for the State regulatory agencies that you are competent to practice.
State licensing gives you the legal right to practice your profession.
State requirements vary
Most State regulatory agencies require that NCCAOM send an individual’s exam results to your state.
For information regarding your state licensing requirements:NCCAOM website: http://www.nccaom.org/regulatory-affairs/state-licensure-map
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Exam Results and CertificationVerification Form
To request examination results be sent to a state acupuncture board, contact [email protected]
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NCCAOM’s national examinations are accepted in 43 states
plus Washington, D.C.
98% of states that regulate acupuncture require NCCAOM examinations.
NCCAOM and State Licensure Requirements
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NCCAOM & State Licensure Requirements
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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 e-mailing [email protected]
Sanctions may be imposed on NCCAOM applicants, candidates and Diplomates.
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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.
© 2011 NCCAOM
NCCAOM and AAAOM Working for You
© 2011 NCCAOM
AAAOM Role in the AOM Profession
American Association for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) www.aaaomonline.org
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
© 2011 NCCAOM
NCCAOM’s Role in the AOM Profession
National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM®) www.nccaom.org
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
© 2011 NCCAOM
AAAOM and NCCAOM: Partnership with State Regulators and State Associations
Advocating for the AOM Profession
NCCAOMState Regulatory
Boards
State Legislature
Testing and CertificationLicensing, Scope of Practice, Title
AOM Practice Act
Sends exam results and certification verification
Exchange of disciplinary actions
AOM State AssociationsAAAOM
Testimony regarding national standards
Promote and Advocate AOM at State LevelPromote and Advocate
AOM at Nat’l Level
Testimony regarding profession
Advocacy, support at state level
© 2011 NCCAOM
Benefits of AAAOM Membership for Students
Discount on registration to the annual AAAOM conference. This national conference is an excellent opportunity to learn from students of other schools around the country and hear lectures from leading experts in the field.
Discounts with allied vendors. A full list is available on www.aaaomonline.org.
A growing site of information for students centralized under Student Resources, www.aaaomonline.org.
Opportunity to network with other student and AOM practitioners
Opportunity to serve on the AAAOM Student Council
© 2011 NCCAOM
Benefits of AAAOM Membership for Practitioners
Continuous effort to increase scope of practice, add licensing to non-regulated states and lobby on behalf of the profession at the state level
Advocate on behalf of the profession to achieve federal recognition to include reimbursement from government programs
Greater patient access and referrals to AOM practitioners
Insurance reimbursement and general business support
Practice management tools and other marketing products to build your practice
Discounts on AOM products, CEUs, and the annual AAAOM conference
Networking with other AOM colleagues
Education / Communication Channels (The American Acupuncturist, Membership updates)
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Benefits of NCCAOM Certification
Listing in the NCCAOM Find a Practitioner directory
Use of the NCCAOM Service Marks
Access to a free personal website
Timely information regarding AOM News and Legislation
Direct verification of certification status to insurancecompanies and third-party payers
Consideration to serve on NCCAOM committees and taskforces
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Insert home page
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NCCAOM Diplomate Benefit
Website DesignNCCAOM provides assistance to Diplomates with website designs for marketing their practice.
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NCCAOM Diplomate Benefits
Certificate Frames
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Maintaining Your NCCAOM Certification
NCCAOM Certification demonstrates entry-level core competencies
NCCAOM Recertification maintains core competencies and demonstrates professional growth and development
Shows continued competency
Gives portability for state licensing
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We Welcome Your Feedback
Thank You!
© Copyright 2011 NCCAOM® Any use of these materials, including reproduction, modification, distribution or republication, without the prior written consent of NCCAOM, is strictly prohibited.
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