Significance of national standards and accreditation in certification programs

Maintaining national standards in a certification program is one measure of quality assurance for consumers and the specific profession. The Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE) developed the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), in order to “ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the public through the accreditation of a variety of certification programs/organizations that assess professional competence”. The NCCA standards require demonstration of a valid and reliable process for development, implementation, maintenance and governance of certification programs. The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC) has met these rigorous standards for the entry-level Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam. The NCHEC leadership has made a commitment to align with NCCA standards in the development and ongoing implementation of the health education certification specifically by conducting a job analysis every five years and the requiring periodic recertification. The CHES credential is one of over 300 NCCA accredited programs for 120 organizations including but not limited to nursing, counseling, and respiratory therapy. Designing certification requirements of the health education workforce in alignment with NCCA standards helps validate the quality assurance of the certification and those who hold the credential. This presentation will describe the accreditation processes and highlight compliance with national standards of NCCA accredited programs.