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Allied Health: Articles of Interest Asthma Educator Certification Update Since its inception last year, the National Asthma Educator Certification Board (NAECB) has provided the certification exam to 370 candidates. Of those, 282 have passed the examination, which is a pass rate of 76 percent. Some individuals have expressed surprise at what they perceive to be a low pass rate, but it’s important to realize that 75 percent is about average for national certification exams in multiple specialties. NAECB will be analyzing exam data when one year of statistics are available, to see if there is a pattern in individuals who have passed vs. failed the examination. We do know that individuals who do not pass the exam on the first attempt do poorly if they repeat the exam too quickly. This leads us to believe that there is a need for certification exam courses and study resources to help individuals study for the examination. NAECB is not currently allowed to offer preparatory courses for the exam, but several outside organizations and companies have begun to offer them. At present, the only way to determine which course might be helpful is to ask questions about the course, as well as the individuals who have developed it and teach it. Following are some questions to consider:
The exam matrix is available online at www.naecb.org and should be the center point of studying for the exam. I have been asked if it is important to read the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines before taking the exam. My answer is a resounding YES. If you do not know the guidelines, don’t take the exam until you do. Also, if you have not reviewed and become familiar with the exam matrix, you should do so before entering the exam center. The matrix can be downloaded from the NAECB Web site. This is important because it will not be mailed to you if you register online. Using a study group can be very helpful in preparing for the exam. By establishing a study group, participants have stated that they felt they were better able to focus on their weaker areas of knowledge, while helping each other prepare for the examination. If you have colleagues who are also planning to take the examination, you might want to establish a study group as a way to prepare. Also, take what others say with “a grain of salt.” The most common statements I hear about the exam are “it was totally nursing based” and “it was totally respiratory therapy based.” Neither statement is true! The exam is designed to test the knowledge of an asthma educator, not a nurse or respiratory therapist. For those of you who have done asthma education for a number of years, remember, this is an entry-level exam. Don’t over think the question and don’t add information that is not in the question. Once you have passed the examination, you earn the designation of AE-C (Asthma Educator, Certified). Anyone found using this designation without passing the exam is at risk of being prosecuted by the NAECB, and can be forbidden from taking the examination. The NAECB has expressed its intention to pursue legal steps if anyone is caught using the designation illegally. If you have not already taken the NAECB exam, get online, register, set up a study schedule and GOOD LUCK! |
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