Certification News - Spring 2008 - (Page 6)

Vo l u m e X X I I , N o . 1 S p r i n g 2 0 0 8 certification/news (Continued from page 1) ployment-related outcomes. Examples of high-quality certification programs include all of the ONCC certifications (OCN®, CPON®, AOCNS®, AOCNP®) as well as many others that have received accreditation from the American Board of Nursing Specialties or the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. Assessment-Based Certificate Program An assessment-based certificate program is a relatively short, non-degree granting program that provides instruction and training to aid participants in acquiring knowledge, skills, and competencies and designates that participants have passed an end-of-program assessment (test) derived from the course objectives. Assessment-based certificate programs typically cover a relatively narrow set of knowledge, skills, and competencies associated with fulfillment of a role, completion of a process, support of a product, provision of a service, or fulfillment of CE requirements. Although assessment is an integral part of the certificate program, the primary purpose is to provide instruction and training. Certificate programs generally are not required for regulatory purposes and do not have a significant impact on hiring, promotion, and other key employment outcomes. An example of a high-quality certificate program is ONS’s Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Course. Certificate of Attendance or Participation A certificate of attendance is issued after an individual attends or participates in an educational program. The certificate indicates only that the individual attended the program. Usually, knowledge at the end of the program is not assessed, although participants may be required to complete an evaluation of the program to obtain a certificate of completion. These certificates most often are used to document that an individual has attained CE in a specific content area. In nursing, one way to judge the quality of a CE program is to determine whether the program is accredited or approved by an accredited approver. Accrediting bodies have set standards and criteria for quality CE programs, and only the programs that meet those standards and criteria receive accreditation. Only accredited CE programs meet the criteria for recertification through ONC-PRO. Nurses should be savvy consumers and determine if a CE program is accredited before attending the program. All CE programs provided by ONS and APHON are accredited nursing CE programs. Examples of high-quality CE programs are the annual ONS Congress and Institutes of Learning and the annual APHON conference. In summary, nurses, employers, and others who may invest in certification, certificate programs, or CE should be wise consumers and understand the ramifications of the programs in which they invest. All three types of programs have an important role to play in the professional development of nurses. However, consumers should be sure that the providers of the programs are not misrepresenting the programs. Nurses also should be sure to represent themselves appropriately upon completion of a program. Certification While each of these programs serves an important purpose, nurses need to know the differences in the intent of these programs and what completion of the program will mean for the individual. The National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA), a membership association for certifying organizations with an accreditation arm for certification programs, has published a document that defines the features of quality certification and assessmentbased certificate programs. ONCC subscribes to these definitions. Certification NOCA defines professional certification as the voluntary process by which a non-governmental entity grants a timelimited recognition and use of a credential to an individual after verifying that he or she has met predetermined and standardized criteria. Certification is the process by which individuals are assessed against predetermined standards for knowledge, skills, and competencies and granted a time-limited credential. The primary purpose of certification is assessment (e.g., a multiple choice examination) that is independent of a specific course of study or educational provider. The assessment generally evaluates mastery of the knowledge and skills required to competently perform in a profession or occupation or to provide a specific service. Certification programs, because of their broad nature, are not tied to a specific course of study or an educational course, curriculum, or provider. Certification may be required for regulatory purposes or may have a significant impact on (or may be required for) hiring, promotion, and other em6

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Certification News - Spring 2008 Contents Editor's Message Meet Cyndi Miller Murphy Employer Spotlight CPON® Role Delineation Practice Round CBCN Items Field Test

Certification News - Spring 2008

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