Approved Candidate

Examinations

All the examination modules are administered at numerous Pearson VUE testing centers worldwide.

Examination modules offered year round – English:

• Foundations of Oriental Medicine
• Acupuncture with Point Location
• Chinese Herbology
• Biomedicine*

*The English Biomedicine exam module will be administered year round beginning February 20, 2012. Registration for the 2012 Biomedicine examinations will open on December 1, 2011.

The ABT examination will be administered during the following four exam administration periods in 2012:

• March 5 – 17, 2012
• June 4 – 16, 2012
• August 13 – 25, 2012
• October 29 – November 10, 2012

View Exam Items and Time Allotments

The Foreign Language examinations will be administered during the following two exam administration periods in 2012:

• August 13 – 25, 2012
• October 29 – November 10, 2012

 The Exam Administration section in the NCCAOM® Certification Handbook covers everything from ADA accommodation information, Examination Confidentiality, Failing an Exam Three Times to the 5 Time Rule. The ATT letter is a great resource for testing day instructions or the information can be found under Examination Day in the NCCAOM^®. Certification Handbook

Exam Scoring Information

To help aid in the better understanding of the scoring process used by NCCAOM the information below was originally prepared by our psychometric vendor, Schroeder Measurement Technologies (SMT). Document A: serves to explain the process that the Exam Development Committees use to determine the passing score. Document B: supplies an explanation for the equating of test forms and how the scores are scaled to the number which appears on your test score report. These documents are general explanations and do not discuss specifics about your examination.

• Document A: General Consideration for Standard Settings
• Document B: Equating and Scaling for Examination Programs

Failing an Examination Three Times -  If a candidate fails any examination three times (all formats and/or languages inclusive), he/she is required to earn 15 Professional Development Activity (PDA) points per module before being eligible to test again. Candidates must submit documentation of completion of the 15 PDA points to NCCAOM (applications @ thenccaom.org) before the fourth examination attempt in order to obtain a reauthorization for the failed examination(s).

PDA points are earned for education or supervised clinical experience directly related to the content area of the module/examination that was failed. The PDA points must be obtained after the third failure of the module/examination (e.g. upon failing the Biomedicine examination three times, the PDA points must relate directly to biomedicine and the PDA points must be earned after receipt of the third fail notice). One available option is to collaborate with an ACAOM instructor or a state-licensed practitioner as a mentor in the area(s) of weakness. Work with the mentor to complete the NCCAOM^® Application for Remedial Education form. More information can be found on the NCCAOM website listed under Professional Development Activity (PDA) – Continuing Education or by contacting the NCCAOM Professional Development Activity (PDA) department from the ‘Contact Us’ page on the NCCAOM website.

Remedial Education - One point is earned for each hour of educational coursework that directly enhances knowledge and/or practice of the specific examination content area for which remedial education is indicated (refer to the score report for the examination). One point is earned for each clock hour of supervised clinical experience in the specific content area for which remedial education is indicated. Please note that clinical experience must be supervised by a practitioner who is an NCCAOM Diplomate and who has a minimum of five years of professional experience. The clinical experience may include observation, case discussion, and/or supervised practice. A letter from the supervisor, on letterhead stationery, must be submitted stating the dates and nature of the supervised clinical experience.

Five Time Rule – After the fifth unsuccessful attempt to pass an NCCAOM examination (all formats and/or languages inclusive), the candidate has no subsequent opportunities to test in the particular exam 

Accommodations Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):

The NCCAOM complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and will accommodate reasonable and properly documented requests for special accommodations that do not fundamentally alter the nature of its examinations or jeopardize examination security.

To request accommodations, submit the appropriate forms for each certification program or provide in writing all the information that is requested on each of the forms. If you require accommodations in the application process itself, contact NCCAOM for assistance.

• Candidate Request of ADA
• Professional Documentation of ADA
• School Confirmation ADA

ADA Accommodations at Pearson VUE

The NCCAOM will consider special accommodations for individuals covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In compliance with the ADA and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act as amended, (in Canada the Employment Equity Act, Canada) anyone who requires special arrangements at the exam site may be provided auxiliary arrangements if the arrangements do not alter the exam or result in an unreasonable burden.

Americans with Disabilities Act – Dept. of Justice

The official publications and announcements of Americans with Disabilities Act can be found on the ADA Homepage – www.ada.gov

Passing all required NCCAOM examinations does not automatically result in certification. Candidates are not certified until all required documents are accepted and the candidate has received the official NCCAOM congratulatory letter along with a wallet-size identification card by USPS mail. Candidates may not represent or advertise NCCAOM certification until this official notification is received approximately four (4) weeks after all requirements are met. Candidates may expect to receive an NCCAOM certificate, suitable for framing, approximately six (6) weeks from the date certified.

Once certification is achieved please visit the Diplomate page on the NCCAOM website for information on how to use the NCCAOM credential and service marks.

In order to maintain NCCAOM certification, Diplomates must recertify every four (4) years. Visit the Diplomate pages on the NCCAOM website for additional information.

• Biomedicine Exam successfully passed by a score of 70 or higher
• Foundations of Oriental Medicine Exam successfully passed by a score of 70 or higher
• Acupuncture with Point Location Exam successfully passed by a score of 70 or higher
• CNT course offered by CCAOM sent directly to NCCAOM from CCAOM
• Graduation Transcript sent directly from the school to NCCAOM

• Biomedicine Exam successfully passed by a score of 70 or higher
• Foundations of Oriental Medicine Exam successfully passed by a score of 70 or higher
• Acupuncture with Point Location Exam successfully passed by a score of 70 or higher
• Chinese Herbology Exam successfully passed by a score of 70 or higher
• CNT course offered by CCAOM sent directly to NCCAOM from CCAOM
• Graduation Transcript sent directly from the school to NCCAOM

• Biomedicine Exam successfully passed by a score of 70 or higher
• Foundations of Oriental Medicine Exam successfully passed by a score of 70 or higher
• Chinese Herbology Exam successfully passed by a score of 70 or higher
• Graduation Transcript sent directly from the school to NCCAOM

• Asian Bodywork Therapy Exam successfully passed by a score of 70 or higher
• Graduation Transcript sent directly from the school to NCCAOM