Call for Stakeholder Input
NCCAOM is looking for input on upcoming proposed policy changes
This is a call out to all interested parties in the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AOM) community to provide feedback on upcoming proposed policy changes. The NCCAOM recognizes that revisions to certification policies and standards impact stakeholders. To this end, the NCCAOM is requesting input from the AOM community. All feedback will be taken into consideration during the development of the final policy and standards.
If you are interested in providing feedback on any of the proposed changes listed below, please submit a written response to NCCAOM no later than September 30, 2013. Responses can be mailed to the NCCAOM offices at 76 South Laura Street, Suite 1290, Jacksonville, FL 32202 or emailed to executiveoffices@thenccaom.org.
Considerations
As stakeholders think about providing input, the following questions can serve as a guide for consideration:
- Which stakeholders are affected?
- How are stakeholders affected?
- Are stakeholder programs affected?
1. Phasing Out of Foreign Language Exam ▼ (Click to Read)
The NCCAOM Board of Commissioners (BOC) appointed the Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on International Eligibility (BRAPIE) to explore issues and options involved in defining, evaluating and determining equivalency of international education. The BRAPIE completed its work on December 31, 2012 and the final report was presented the the NCCAOM BOC in February 2013.
Based on the findings and recommendations from the BRAPIE, the NCCAOM BOC is proposing the following policy change:
The NCCAOM will phase out the foreign language exams over a four year period.
2. Requirement of English Language Proficiency Documentation ▼
The NCCAOM Board of Commissioners (BOC) appointed the Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on International Eligibility (BRAPIE) to explore issues and options involved in defining, evaluating and determining equivalency of international education. The BRAPIE completed its work on December 31, 2012 and the final report was presented the the NCCAOM BOC in February 2013.
Based on the findings and recommendations from the BRAPIE, the NCCAOM BOC is proposing the following policy change:
The NCCAOM will require documentation of English language proficiency as a requirement to achieve final certification effective January 1, 2015.
3. Background Checks For All Applicants For Certification And Reinstatement ▼
States are increasingly relying on background checks to ensure that healthcare practitioners are free from ethical and criminal violations that have the potential to cause harm on its citizens. NCCAOM is always striving to strengthen its ties and cooperation with state and regulatory agencies by providing uniform services that fulfill NCCAOM’s mission of rigorous enforcement of ethical standards.
Based on input from the NCCAOM Professional Ethics and Disciplinary Committee (PEDC), the NCCAOM Board of Commissioners is proposing the following polcy change:
Beginning January 1, 2014 the NCCAOM will require criminal background checks for all applicants for certification, as well as, all applicants for reinstatement of certification.
4. New PDA Provider Categories ▼
The Professional Development Activity (PDA) program was created to assure that recertification activities acquired by Diplomates meet NCCAOM standards. The NCCAOM PDA Department has established a set of standards for approval of providers and their courses so that Diplomates may earn “PDA Points” (i.e., CEUs) that are accepted for NCCAOM recertification. NCCAOM’s current recertification policy to automatically accept coursework offered by state regulatory boards and professional healthcare organizations cannot ensure these programs meet the core competency standards set by NCCAOM.
Based on input from the NCCAOM PDA Advisory Panel and the NCCAOM Recertification Committee, the NCCAOM Board of Commissioners is proposing the following polcy change:
Effective July 1, 2014, all continuing education providers for coursework in the area of Core Competency, must meet the requirements for one of the following PDA provider categories: (1) Standard PDA Provider (2) Institutional Provider (3) Affiliated Certification Provider. Please see the full proposal for definitions of the new categories.
Click Here to view the proposal from the PDA Advisory Panel and the Recertification Committee.