AKAMSP
June 2013
Certification Commission NAMSS
CCN Members
• Julie A. Hatley, BS, CPMSM, CPCS – Chair
• Heidi M. Thompson, BSHA, CPMSM, CPCS – Vice Chair and
Chair, Test Development
• Stewart Hamilton, MB, ChB, MSc, MS, CDE, CPE, FACE, FRCP
• Jason A. Burden, CPCS, CPMSM
• Michelle Butler, CPCS, CPMSM, MS, RHIA
• Ropizah Ervin, CPCS, CPMSM
• Elizabeth B. Glover, CPMSM, CPCS
• June T. Hogg, CPMSM, CPCS
• Kathy James, CPCS, CPMSM, RHIT
• Rachelle Silva, BS, CPMSM, CPCS, Immediate Past Chair
A word, or two, about NCCA:
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National Commission for Certifying Agencies
Accreditation of the certification exams
Credibility of the certifications
Industry recognition
Benchmark
Declaration of competence
Disclaimer
• The CCN serves as an autonomous certifying arm
of NAMSS and is solely responsible for the
voluntary certification program
• CCN does not sponsor, promote or endorse any
educational product, publication or preparation
courses or materials.
• This presentation will not provide information
regarding specific exam content or items.
• This presentation does not provide any
information not otherwise publicly available to all
candidates.
Where do I start?
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Candidate Handbook
Candidate Handbook
Candidate Handbook
Candidate Handbook
Candidate Handbook
Candidate Handbook
CPCS or CPMSM?
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CPCS
Conduct, participate in and
maintaining credentialing &
privileging
Conducting, participating in
and maintaining primary
source verification
Compliance with
accreditation and regulatory
standards
Supporting departmental
operations
CPMSM
• Manage and Maintain
Credentialing and
Privileging Processes
• Ensure Compliance with
Accreditation Standards and
Regulatory Requirements
• Manage Departmental
Operations and Facilitate
Medical Staff Functions
CPCS
• 150 Questions
• Three hours
CPMSM
• 175 Questions
• Four hours
Resources for Candidates
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Practice Exams
Prep Courses
Study Groups
Mentors, colleagues, other certificants
Accreditation/Regulatory Standards
Social Media
Study Guides
Industry References
Flash Card Apps
CCN Informational Webinar (FREE!)
CCN FAQs
What standards are on the exam?
• AAAHC
• CMS Conditions of Participation and Interpretive Guidelines for
Hospitals (App. A)
• HFAP
• The Joint Commission Accreditation Standards
• NCQA Health Plan Standards and Guidelines
• NCQA CVO Standards
• URAC
Exams are written to the accreditation standards in effect at the time the exam is
assembled (April of each year). The exam forms assembled in April are
administered in the following Fall testing window and subsequent Spring and
Summer testing windows. (For example exams assembled in April 2011 were
administered in the Fall 2011, Spring and Summer, 2012 testing windows.)
Test Development
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Job Task Analysis
Item Writing
Test Assembly
Cut Score
Administration
Evaluation
Job Task Analysis
• Defines the “Performance Domains”
• Domains – tasks, knowledge, skills
• Job Responsibilities Ranked
– Importance
– Criticality
– Frequency
• Results are translated to percentage of items
• CPMSM 2011
• CPCS 2013
Item Writing
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A reference source for every item
One correct answer
Plausible, but incorrect distracters
Reviewed by at least three subject matter
experts
• Classified by content
• Within the scope/blueprint
Test Assembly
• Appropriate number of items from each
domain
• Balance among the standards
• Duplicates
• Review performance data of items
• Current
Cut Score
• Each candidate taking the exam is judged against a predetermined
standard rather than against other candidates. The predetermined
standard (or “cut score”) is set by a committee of subject matter
experts working with testing experts to evaluate each question
based on its level of difficulty. Once each question has been
evaluated, the testing experts compile statistical data into a formula
that determines the minimum passing score for each exam form.
The passing score may vary among exam forms depending on the
difficulty of the items which comprise each exam form. The
methods used to determine the cut score adhere to NCCA
certification standards. The CCN and testing experts work very hard
to ensure that exams are similar in overall difficulty, however, each
exam form is not identically difficult, therefore, each exam has its
own unique passing score based on the standard setting for that
exam form.
Traditional Exam Scoring
Exam Form A
• 100 questions
• 33 easy questions
• 33 moderately challenging
questions
• 34 challenging questions
Exam Form B
• 100 questions
• 25 easy questions
• 34 moderately challenging
questions
• 41 challenging questions
Passing Score 70%
Passing Score 70%
Exam Results and Scoring
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Cut Score
Auto Scoring
Official Results
Scaled Scoring (New)
Administration & Evaluation
• Exit survey
• The “Well-Prepared Candidate is most likely to
pass the certification exam.”
• Psychometric Analysis
Recertification
• Every 3 years
• Second Certification
• Continuing Education
– 30 Single (15 NAMSS)
– 45 Dual (25 NAMSS)
• Extensions
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Maximum of 6 months
Once per cycle
Twice over lifetime of certification
Half of required credits earned
Late fee and requested by December 1st
Triggers automatic audit for current and next cycle
Key Policies and Important Changes
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Current contact information
Notifications are a courtesy
Deadlines are firm
Eligibility criteria applied consistently
“…..at the discretion of the CCN.”
Exam Appeals
• Test Results
• Recertification
• Eligibility
Ethics
• To protect the value and reputation of
certification
– Falsification of certification status
– Professional misconduct
– Misrepresentation of qualifications to sit for
examination
– Misuse of CCN copyrighted materials
– Exam Security (Candidate Handbook Page 9)