Synergy - September/October 2014 - 22

namss focus

NPDB, CMS, and HFAP danced in my
head like sugar plums. I also had another
important acronym in my head: CCN
(Certification Commission of NAMSS).
My faith, family, and friends were important
to me, and setting the right example for my
children was key to not give up. With the
support of my husband and our children,
I created a study strategy for success. My
bathroom mirrors contained words written
in lipstick: "I will pass this exam," "I can do
anything," "The world is an open door,"
"I am worth it!"
I used the study guides and memorized
definitions, created flash cards, and made
up tunes to help me memorize the legal
cases. The yellow highlighter became my
best friend. The time had come to register
for the exam, and I was ready.
NAMSS had released the dates for
registration. I completed the registration
forms and submitted them back to NAMSS,
but my colleagues and friends did not know
that I was about to embark upon retesting.

This time it was between me and the exam.
I drove myself to the little pesticide/termite
facility in South County, Mo., to sit for one
exam, and one week later I drove myself
back and sat for another (same testing cycle).
The long six weeks had ended as the
envelope from NAMSS arrived. I said a
prayer and opened it. My face could feel
the tears rolling down each side, my heart
swelled up, making it difficult to breathe.
I could not speak. My family stared at me as
they tried to find words of comfort. Then,
from down under, my voice peaked through
my lips and shouted, "I passed, I passed!"
I had passed the CPCS exam! We jumped
for joy. It was a long-awaited celebration.
At work the next day, I did not share the
news with anyone. When I returned from
a meeting, the administrative assistant
handed me a telephone message. She said
Sarah Greene from NAMSS would like you
to return her call (I still have the phone
message today). I returned Sarah's call, as
she asked me how would I like my initials

after my name. I told her, I guess CPCS
because the only notice I received in the
mail indicated I had passed the CPCS exam.
Sarah explained that not only did I pass the
CPCS exam, but I also passed the CPMSM
exam. She said I was the first person to ever
sit for both exams in the same testing cycle
and pass.
Wow, how about that? I passed both exams
after failing the CPCS once and failing the
CPMSM twice. I had finally succeeded.
Sometimes, we have to fail at something in
order to learn.
By this time, the administrative assistant was
so excited that she was crying and patting my
back while I was still on the phone with Sarah.
My boss was in the other room and overheard
our conversations. Before I could wrap up
the phone conversation, he had pulled the
personal data request requiring me to become
certified within 12 months, and sent it down
to the human resources department.
Continued on page 26

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Synergy - September/October 2014

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