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Benefits of NCCAOM Certification

Earning certification from NCCAOM represents a significant professional achievement. NCCAOM certification makes an important statement about professional competence that is recognized by regulatory bodies, third-party payers, the profession and the public.

NCCAOM certification provides important benefits and privileges. NCCAOM certification allows Diplomates to:

• Proudly designate themselves as “nationally board certified” according to the credential(s) earned, and to use one or more of the following designations:
  • Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)^® or Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)^®
  • Diplomate of Acupuncture (NCCAOM)^® or Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)^®
  • Diplomate of Chinese Herbology (NCCAOM)^® or Dipl. C.H. (NCCAOM)^®
  • Diplomate of Asian Bodywork Therapy (NCCAOM)^® or Dipl. ABT (NCCAOM)^®
• Apply for a license to practice acupuncture and/or Oriental medicine in 43 different states, including the District of Columbia, which either require NCCAOM full certification or accept NCCAOM certification exams as a prerequisite for licensure.
• Be listed in NCCAOM’s directory of Diplomates (NCCAOM^® Find a Practitioner) search engine, which is accessible on the NCCAOM website. The Find a Practitioner directory is recognized as a valuable resource for those seeking a practitioner who is NCCAOM certified;
• Create a FREE business listing on Jill’s List which is searchable by patients, doctors, and other members of the healthcare community. For more information, please click here;
• Create your own FREE website with ChiOnline;
• Request direct verification of certification status to insurance companies and third-party payers who require NCCAOM certification as a reimbursement criterion;
• Receive a reduced fee for the release of exam results and/or certification verification to state licensing agencies;
• Receive a complimentary subscription to all NCCAOM e-newsletters: The Diplomate, and the Diplomate ENews You Can Use;
• Qualify for reduced fees for many of the services offered by NCCAOM;
• Have the right to be considered to participate in national board examination development activities;
• Have the right to be considered to serve on NCCAOM committees and taskforces;
• Have the right to be considered by the NCCAOM Board Development Committee for appointment to the NCCAOM Board of Commissioners as a Professional Member;
• Use the NCCAOM Service Marks (shown below):

Application Processing Terminology:

Applicant – A person who has submitted an application for certification and is requesting acceptance of eligibility to sit for the appropriate NCCAOM examination.

Candidate – An Applicant whose application payment has been processed allowing their application to be submitted to certification services for review. When tracking your status on the NCCAOM website the status will appear as “Candidate”.

Approved Candidate - A Candidate who is “authorized to test” and is able to register with Pearson VUE to take the designated examination. When tracking your status on the NCCAOM website the status will appear as “Approved”.

Pass-All - A candidate who has passed all the required examinations in the certification for which they have applied but has not yet submitted all the required documents.

Pre-Cert - A candidate who has passed all the required examinations in the certification for which they have applied, has submitted all the required documents and who is awaiting the finalization of the NCCAOM quality control review.

Certification Statuses:

Diplomate – A candidate who has successfully passed the required examination(s) and has received approval of the final transcript submitted to NCCAOM directly from the school. If the candidate has applied for the Acupuncture or Oriental Medicine Program, they have also completed and requested submission to NCCAOM of their validated Clean Needle Technique (CNT) Certificate from the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine’s (CCAOM).

• Diplomate Certified Status (Active) - A first time certified Diplomate. Active Diplomate status assures patients, employers, certifying agencies, and others of a Diplomate’s commitment to upholding certification standards. Active status entitles Diplomates to all of the benefits of certification.
• Diplomate Recertified Status (Active) – Diplomates who recertify every four years are considered to be in Certified Status (Active) which demonstrates competency maintenance in the profession.
• Diplomate Retired Designation (Non-Certified Status) – An active Diplomate, or a former Diplomate who holds inactive status at the time of retirement, who is permanently retired as a practitioner from the AOM profession, a recognized subspecialty or any other health profession in any state in the U.S. or abroad, and who does not perform, in an office or clinical setting the practice of acupuncture or Oriental medicine at any time no or in the future and has applied for and been approved as a non-active retired Diplomate. (See the Retired Designation Handbook for more information.)
  

Expired Statuses: Any Diplomate who does not recertify is in “expired status” and is not considered certified by the NCCAOM. An individual holding an expired status may not use the NCCAOM designation(s) or the NCCAOM service mark(s) for any NCCAOM certification. Below are the three types of expired statuses.

•  Inactive Status (Non-Certified Status) – A Diplomates who is not practicing as an AOM professional due to life circumstances may apply for inactive status. Inactive status is valid for two years. An individual may not apply for consecutive periods of inactive status. An individual must recertify prior to expiration of their inactive status. Former Diplomates holding inactive status are not entitled to any of the benefits of certification except receipt of the Diplomate newsletters. (See the Recertification Handbook for more information.)
• Lapsed Status (Non-Certified Status) – NCCAOM certification is considered lapsed after the expiration date on the certificate. A recertification application for either active or inactive status must be received to avoid lapsed status. Former Diplomates in lapsed status are not entitled to any of the benefits offered under active status.
• Terminated Status (Non-Certified Status) – After three years of continuous lapsed status, the certification is no longer valid and considered terminated. A former Diplomate whose certification is terminated must either reapply for certification and meet the current eligibility requirements or apply for NCCAOM Reinstatement to active status. (This new route is being developed and expected to be available by mid-2013).

Displaying Your Certificate
The NCCAOM and Church Hill Classic frames have joined forces to offer Diplomates the option to customize a frame for displaying their certification wall certificate to its best advantage. Custom frames can be purchased by visiting http://www.diplomaframe.com/associations/nccaom/.

New Benefit: Free Websites for Diplomates

Now active NCCAOM Diplomates can enjoy another benefit for attaining and maintaining NCCAOM certification. The importance of featuring an attractive and user-friendly website is a very vital tool to marketing your practice; however, creating a website can be an expensive and laborious process – until now. The NCCAOM is pleased to announce a new program that will enable its Diplomates to create a customized website for free or for a low monthly cost if you desire additional premium services. You can choose from three packages:

• Free Website Package - NCCAOM Diplomate Exclusive: Get your acupuncture practice online quickly and easily for FREE! Increase your referrals and enhance your credibility.
• Basic Website Package: The Basic Package gives you a custom domain name (www.yourname.com), up 10 to pages of content, and other valuable features at a very low cost.
• Marketing Website Package: The Marketing Package actively generates new clients from the Internet. It includes a Google listing, an online gift certificate system, an monthly client email newsletter, and other powerful marketing tools

There is no computer experience necessary, and it only takes a few minutes to set up your site. For more information and to sign up, please go to www.nccaomdiplomates.com. Please note that this service is only available to active NCCAOM Diplomates. Diplomates who fall into lapsed status or file inactive status cannot take advantage of or maintain this benefit. In addition, if a Diplomate becomes lapsed after they have signed up for the free website, they will lose this benefit until they have reinstated their certification. For more information about this benefit, please contact the Public Relations Department.

NCCAOM® Diplomate Certification Brochures

The NCCAOM is delighted to unveil the official NCCAOM^® Diplomate Certification Brochures for each of the national certification programs: Diplomate of Acupuncture, Diplomate of Chinese Herbology, Diplomate of Asian Bodywork Therapy, and Diplomate of Oriental Medicine. Each of these four unique brochures includes historical information, up-to-date industry statistics and facts supporting the benefits and growth of Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology, Oriental Medicine and Asian Bodywork Therapy. These eight-page decorative brochures also tout the importance of seeking a certified NCCAOM practitioner. This is a consumer awareness and public safety issue.

Click here to download the certification brochures

The NCCAOM^® Providing National Standards for Certified Practitioners

These brochures explain to your patients the requirements for becoming nationally certified and the difference between NCCAOM Diplomates and other health care providers who can legally practice acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM). These informative brochures are written in an easy to understand patient friendly format and are perfect for promoting an NCCAOM Diplomate practice. The brochures also contain information on how to find an NCCAOM certified AOM practitioner.

Click here to download the certification brochures

NCCAOM^® Consumer Guide Brochure

This handy, informative brochure is written in an easy to understand patient friendly format and is perfect for promoting an NCCAOM’s Diplomates’ practice. The brochure contains a brief synopsis of acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) practice, the benefits of AOM, and how to find an NCCAOM certified AOM practitioner. Click here to view the brochure.

Professionally printed versions of these brochures can be ordered through the NCCAOM by completing the order form and faxing it back to the NCCAOM office. Active Diplomates will also receive a 10 percent discount off all printed brochure orders – a benefit of keeping your NCCAOM certification active. The NCCAOM Brochures will enable practitioners to make a memorable first impression during meetings with patients, potential employers, media, and members of the healthcare community. The brochures have space on the back to apply practitioner’s contact information.

Click here to view the brochures or access the brochure order form(s). Please direct questions about the brochures to Public Relations.