Recertification

Diplomates are responsible for renewing their certification every four years and are expected to maintain their status by participating in Professional Development Activities (PDA). Diplomates must earn a minimum of 60 PDA points during the four- year period immediately preceding the expiration of certification.

As a courtesy, recertification reminders are sent to Diplomates at 180, 90, 60 and then 30 days prior to the expiration date of their certification. Diplomates are ultimately responsible for ensuring the timely submission of the recertification application.

Please submit the completed application at least 60 days, but no more than one year prior to the expiration of the certificate. This will ensure it is processed in a timely manner and avoid lapsed status. Upon approval, NCCAOM will send a congratulatory letter with a new wallet-sized ID card and a certificate ready for display.

Steps to Recertification*:
Recertification, or renewal of a NCCAOM certification is required every four years.
1. Read the NCCAOM® Recertification Handbook.
2. Complete 60 PDA points within a four-year cycle.

• As of January 1, 2009 CPR is a stand alone requirement worth 4 PDA points.
• Also, required are four PDA points in Safety and/or Ethics.
• * Review the NCCAOM® Recertification Handbook for a complete breakdown of the PDA requirements.

3. Complete and sign the recertification application form.
4. Attach the recertification payment.
5. Attach the certificates of PDA participation and other documentation. Do not send originals! Documentation will be shredded and NOT returned to the Diplomate.
6. Mail the packet at least 60 days before the expiration date to:
NCCAOM
76 S. Laura Street, Suite 1290
Jacksonville, FL 32202
7. Use a postal tracking system to monitor the recertification packet.

*These steps are standard for Active Diplomates returning to Active status. PDA points and documentation required will vary if certification is in “Lapsed” status or “Inactive” status is requested. Please see the NCCAOM® Recertification Handbook for detailed information.

Note: The recertification process takes approximately six to eight weeks so please plan accordingly.

Recertification At a Glance

Diplomates who recertify every four years are considered to be in active status. Active status demonstrates competency maintenance in the profession. 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.

Recertification is achieved through a program of Professional Development Activities – a process of continuing education and professional enhancements, for which a Diplomate acquires 60 PDA points during the four-year recertification cycle.

The Required PDA points may be divided into two sections:

Section 1: Core Competence, Knowledge and Skills

Minimum of 30 points required, may comprise all 60 points required for recertification.

Oriental Medicine Discipline /Five Branches – e.g.: acupuncture, Chinese herbology, Asian Bodywork Therapy – minimum of 15 points required

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) – 4 points are awarded for verification of CPR

Safety and/or Ethics – minimum of 4 points required

Other Core Competence, Knowledge and Skills Coursework – e.g.: Western Biomedical Sciences – balance of 7 points needed to meet the 30 point requirement in this section if only minimum points were obtained in the three core categories listed above (15+4+4=23).

Coursework taken on any topic covered in any NCCAOM exam content outline may be chosen to fulfill the “Other Core Competence, Knowledge and Skills” category. The NCCAOM exam content outlines are contained in the NCCAOM Examination Study Guides.

Remember all 60 PDA points may be earned in the section of Core Competence, Knowledge and Skills. The PDA points listed above are the minimums required in each category for this section (see additional details below).

Core Competence, Knowledge and Skolls Coursework Expanded: At least 30 of the 60 points must be completed and documented in “Coursework Accepted by NCCAOM in the Section of Core Competence, Knowledge and Skills” within the four areas listed below.

1) Oriental Medicine Discipline/Five Branches: at least 15 PDA points

2) CPR Course: NCCAOM requires maintenance of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), a temporary life-maintenance technique. Diplomates must document verification of a CPR course taken during their recertification cycle. A maximum of 4 PDA points is awarded for verification of CPR which is a stand-alone category. These points may not be used in the Safety/Ethics or any other Core Competence, Knowledge and Skills category.

Important Note: An online CPR course certificate/ID card is accepted by the NCCAOM for the CPR recertification requirement; however, each state has its own requirements related to the type and provider(s) of CPR which are accepted for licensure. It is the Diplomates responsibility to check their state’s information to ensure licensure requirements for CPR are attained.

3) Safety and/or Ethics: At least four (4) PDA points must be attained in one or more of the following areas – herbal safety, universal precautions, ethics and liability, public health reporting requirement, etc.

4) Other Core Competency, Knowledge and Skills Coursework: A balance of seven (7) PDA points may be needed in this category to meet the 30 point requirement for the section Core Competence, Knowledge and Skills if the applicant has only obtained the minimum points in the three core categories of Oriental Medicine Discipline/Five Branches, CPR and Safety and/or Ethics (15+4+4=23).

Clarification of “Other”: The applicant may take coursework on any topic which is included in any of the NCCAOM exam content outlines contained in the NCCAOM Examination Study Guides.

Coursework Accepted by NCCAOM in the Section of Core Competence, Knowledge and Skills:
NCCAOM accepts PDA points for coursework that is directly for the purpose of enhancing a Diplomate’s knowledge or practice in Oriental medicine and meet one of the following criteria:

• The course is offered by a current NCCAOM approved PDA provider.
• The course has been accepted by a state regulatory board for license renewal.
• The course has been accepted by a professional healthcare organization.
• The course is part of the academic or professional track sponsored by a school accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) or meets International institution eligibility standards as described in the NCCAOM^® Certification Handbook under Route 2: Formal Education International Applicants.
• The course is part of the academic or professional track sponsored by an AOBTA Council of Schools and Program (COSP) approved institution.
• The course is a part of a degree program at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.

Section 2: Professional Enhancements Summary (Optional)

NCCAOM offers a multitude of ways to earn PDA’s beyond the Core Competence, Knowledge and Skills section. These optional ways to earn PDA’s may not total more than 30 of the 60 points required.

See Appendix 1 of the NCCAOM^® Recertification Handbook for a list of all Professional Enhancements which, includes a description of the enhancement and documentation requirements.

Reminder: All 60 PDA points may be earned in the area of Core Competence, Knowledge and Skills.

A maximum of 30 PDA points is allowed to be submitted by Diplomates in this area of recertification if additional points are needed to reach the 60 point requirement. As Diplomates continue in their career they desire to develop their professional knowledge and skills to enhance their practice and to provide service and leadership to the acupuncture and Oriental medicine profession. The NCCAOM, therefore, recognizes other professional enhancements and awards points accordingly in addition to continuing education. Below please find category descriptions and required documentation. The information below is a comprehensive list of acceptable professional enhancement areas and the maximum number of PDA points permitted for each enhancement.

Continuing Education Earned Outside the Cetegory of Core Competence, Knowledge and Skills
A maximum of 30 PDA points may be earned in this category of professional enhancements. One PDA point is equal to one hour of active learning in continuing education or formal coursework from International and U.S. programs.
Required documentation includes: a certificate of completion or a notarized letter that documents sponsoring organization, program title, provider # or identifying mark, date(s), number of points/hours, key elements and student’s and instructor’s name. It is recommended to save brochures and other related documents in case the program content requires review.

Practice Enhancement Outside of Oriental Medicine
A maximum of 6 PDA points may be submitted in a four-year recertification cycle for programs that relate to areas outside the Core Competence, Knowledge and Skills that enhance or benefit an acupuncture or Oriental medicine practitioner. This enhancement category allows for PDA points for subjects that do not directly related to Oriental medicine but may still enhance the Diplomate’s professional development (i.e., non-Asian herbal traditions, healing modalities, homeopathy, reflexology, kinesiology, cranial sacral, martial arts, etc.).
Required documentation includes: a certificate of completion or a notarized letter that documents sponsoring organization, program title, provider # or identifying mark, date(s), number of points/hours, key elements and student’s and instructor’s name. It is recommended to save brochures and other related documents in case the program content requires review.

Donate Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AOM) Services
A maximum of 10 PDA points may be submitted in a four-year recertification cycle. This professional enhancement category supports the humanitarian aims of the AOM profession. Diplomates may earn one PDA point for every two hours of donated time. The service must be provided on a pro bono basis through an organization offering humanitarian missions to:

1) Domestic and/or international victims in an emergency situation or disaster area,
2) Low income and/or underserved areas and/or populations,
3) Special needs populations, or
4) United States military personnel.

The Diplomates must adapt the delivery of AOM treatments while obtaining new clinical, emotional and/or psychological skills in new locations and with new patients in unfamiliar cultures and/or languages, located in non-traditional settings.
Required documentation includes: a letter, printed on letterhead from the Chair or Director of the organization to which you donated the pro bono services. The letter must include 1) the location and description of the setting where the services were performed, 2) dates and hours of service, 3) population served, and 4) written statement of the new knowledge or skill(s) acquired.

Clinical Experience or Clinical Research Experience
A maximum of 10 PDA points may be submitted in a four-year recertification cycle for completing a supervised clinical experience or act as a practitioner within a clinical research project in acupuncture, Chinese herbology, Oriental medicine or Asian bodywork therapy which includes observation, case discussions, and/or supervised practice. The experience must be conducted in a licensed clinical setting and be part of a formal educational or preceptor program. One PDA point is equal to one hour of experience.
Required documentation includes: a letter from the school or preceptor who must have educational training in a professional healthcare field for five years. Dates, hours, and the types of clinical experiences are required on the organization/preceptor’s letterhead stationery.

Direct Clincal Supervision
A maximum of 10 PDA points may be submitted in a four-year recertification cycle for supervising a clinical experience in acupuncture, Chinese herbology, Oriental medicine or Asian bodywork therapy which includes directing students in observation, case discussions, and/or supervised practice. The experience must be conducted in a licensed clinical setting and be part of a formal education or preceptor program. One PDA point is equal to one hour of supervision.
Required documentation includes: a letter from the school or preceptor, on letterhead, indicating the dates, hours, and type of supervision or information from an ACAOM approved college, listing the Diplomate as a Clinical Supervisor at their school.

NCCAOM Job Analysis Survey
A maximum of 5 PDA points may be submitted in a four-year recertification cycle for completing and submitting the 2013 NCCAOM Job Analysis Survey. One PDA point is automatically awarded for completing the survey demographic information and one PDA point will be awarded for each examination content area of the survey completed.
Required documentation includes: Confirmation of completion to include the examination content areas of the survey completed.

See Appendix 1 of the NCCAOM^® Recertification Handbook for a list of all Professional Enhancements which, includes a description of the enhancement and documentation requirements.