Certification
Description
Certification in Clinical Perfusion is attained
by satisfactory performance on the American Board of Cardiovascular
Perfusion certification examination. The certification examination
is composed of two parts. Part I, the Perfusion Basic Science
Examination, is a 220 item, multiple choice examination
designed to cover perfusion basic sciences and cardiopulmonary
bypass. Part II, the Clinical Applications in Perfusion Examination, is
also of a multiple choice format where a series of clinical scenarios
are presented, each with a series of questions. The number of
questions on the Part 2 examination may vary from 200 to 220,
depending on the scenarios used. Both the Perfusion Basic
Science Examination and the Clinical Applications in
Perfusion Examination are given twice a year, in the spring
and in the fall.
The applicant
meeting all requirements to take the Perfusion Basic Science
Examination and meeting
all other criteria may sit for the Clinical Applications
in Perfusion Examination at the same examination site.The
examination is based on topics in the American Board of Cardiovascular
Perfusion knowledge base. The eleven major sections of the knowledge
base are as follows:
1.
Anatomy and Physiology
2. Pharmacology
3. Pathology
4. Laboratory Analysis
5. Quality Assurance
6. Devices and Equipment
7. Clinical Management
8. Special Patient Groups
9. Special Procedures / Special Techniques
10. Catastrophic Events and Device Failure
11. Monitoring
The Perfusion Basic Science Examination (Part 1)
focuses on Sections 1 and 2 of the knowledge base. The Clinical
Applications in Perfusion Examination (Part 2) centers
on Sections 2 through 6.
PERFUSION BASIC SCIENCE EXAMINATION
Eligibility Criteria
The criteria for application to take the Perfusion Basic
Science Examination are as follows:
1. The applicant must fulfill one of the following criteria:
a. The applicant must have graduated from,
or be currently enrolled in, an accredited cardiovascular perfusion
education program, and anticipating graduation prior to the
date of the examination; or
b. The applicant must have been admitted to
the examination process before April 15, 1981 or have been
previously certified by the ABCP.
2. Applicants for the examination must have the following
on file in the National Office at least four weeks prior to
the examination.
a. A current official transcript of credits
from the accredited school of cardiovascular perfusion, indicating
date of graduation.
b. A written statement of satisfactory clinical
competency from the Clinical Competency Committee of the school.
c. Documentation of a minimum of seventy-five (75) clinical perfusions performed
during the education program. Credit will be considered for perfusion experience
only when the following criteria are met:
1. The student participated in the preoperative
planning and selection of equipment used during the perfusion.
2. The student performed those technical
manipulations that constituted the essential parts of the
procedure itself.
3. An instructor must be physically present
during Perfusion procedures and that instructor should be
a Certified Clinical Perfusionist.
The number of times that the Perfusion Basic Science Examination can
be taken is not limited.
Application Procedure
Applicants are required to submit the following by July 1
for the fall examination and December 1 for the following spring
examination:
1. A notarized Perfusion Basic Science Examination application
completed in full; and
2. Perfusion Basic Science Examination fee
($350.00).
Applicants are required to submit or arrange to submit the
following items to the National Office at least four weeks
prior to the examination:
1. Clinical education record documenting seventy-five
(75) clinical perfusions performed prior to graduation;
2. A current, official transcript of credits
from the accredited school of perfusion, indicating date of
graduation; and
3. A statement of satisfactory clinical competency
from the Clinical Competency Committee chairperson at the accredited
school of perfusion.
Applicants retaking the Perfusion Basic Science Examination are
NOT required to resubmit or arrange for resubmission of items
1-3, the Clinical Education Record, the official transcript,
and the Clinical Competency statement. These items will remain
on file from the previous application.
All files MUST be complete at least
four (4) weeks prior to the examination.
CLINICAL APPLICATIONS IN PERFUSION
EXAMINATION
Eligibility Criteria
The criteria for application to take the Clinical Applications
in Perfusion Examination are as follows:
1. The applicant must fulfill one of the following criteria:
a. The applicant must have graduated from,
or be currently enrolled in, an accredited cardiovascular perfusion
education program, and anticipating graduation prior to the
date of the examination; or
b. The applicant must have been admitted to
the examination process before April 15, 1981, or have been
previously certified by the ABCP
2. Applicants for the examination must have the following
on file in the National Office at least four weeks prior to
the examination:
a. Documentation showing all requirements for
the Perfusion Basic Science
Examination have been met; and
b. A clinical record itemizing fifty (50) independent
clinical perfusions after graduation from the accredited school
of perfusion.
The number of times that the Clinical Applications in
Perfusion Examination can be taken is not limited.
Application Procedure
Applicants are required to submit each of the following by
July 1 for the fall examination and December 1 for the following
spring examination:
1. A notarized Clinical Applications in
Perfusion Examination application completed in full.
2. Clinical Applications in Perfusion Examination
fee ($350.00).
Applicants are required to submit or arrange
to submit the following to the National Office at least four
weeks prior to the examination:
1. A completed case summary documenting fifty (50) independent clinical perfusions
after graduation. Applicants retaking the Clinical Applications in Perfusion
Examination are NOT required to resubmit a fifty (50) case summary.
All files MUST be complete at least
four (4) weeks prior to the examination.
COMPLETION OF EXAMINATION PROCESS
Examination Admittance Cards
Upon determination of eligibility for each examination, the
applicant will be issued an admittance card. Along with the
admittance card, the applicant will be required to present
picture identification (e.g. photo drivers license, passport,
or notarized picture). Entrance to the examination will be
allowed only after presentation of the admittance card and
the picture identification. A $25.00 fee will be assessed to
replace lost admittance cards.
Examination Guidebook
The guidebook for the examination process will be provided
to all applicants at no cost. All others may purchase the guidebook
for the examination process from the National Office for a
fee of $10.00.
Criteria and Eligibility for Foreign Applicants
Foreign applicants must meet the same requirements for certification
as all other applicants.
Application Deadlines
Applications must be sent by certified mail, return receipt
requested, to the National Office and must be postmarked no
later than July 1 for the fall examination or December 1 for
the following spring examination.
Certification Fee Schedule
1.
For those applicants never certified, the fee will be $350.00
for each portion of the examination.
2.
For reinstatement of certification, the fee will be $350.00
for any portion of the examination plus
a $250.00 retesting fee. The reinstatement fee is a one-time
charge for any applicant until reinstatement is accomplished
or abandoned.
NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN
Late Filing Fee
Applicants submitting applications for either portion of the
certification examination, up to thirty days following the
deadline, will be assessed a late filing fee of $50.00.
Scoring
Scoring for each part of the examination will be criterion
referenced, with the cutoff score determined by the summation
of the Ebel weightings of each item selected for inclusion
on the examination. Item Response Theory modeling will be used
to equate the scores of various forms of each examination.
Awarding of Certification
Each applicant must pass the Perfusion Basic Science Examination
and the Clinical Applications in Perfusion Examination examinations
in order to obtain certification. A listing of all current
Certified Clinical Perfusionists can be found in Appendix II.
EDUCATION PROGRAM ACCREDITATION
Effective Date of Accreditation
The effective date of accreditation is the date of receipt
of application in the event accreditation is granted. See Appendix
III for a list of Accredited Schools of Cardiovascular Perfusion.
Loss of Accreditation
In the event of loss of accreditation, the effective date
is the date cited in the official communication to the school
from the accrediting agency. The school director is responsible
for notifying his/her students of the action.
RECOGNIZED ACCREDITING AGENCY
The American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion recognizes
the Accreditation Committee for Perfusion Education (AC-PE)
in cooperation with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied
Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), and the Conjoint Committee
on Accreditation of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA)
as the official accrediting agencies for perfusion education
programs.
RECONSIDERATION REQUESTS
In the unlikely event that factors or circumstances beyond
the individuals or ABCP's control cause an individual to desire
a reconsideration of any action or decision made by or on behalf
of the ABCP, regarding stated positions, interpretation of
policy and/or procedure, an individual may request a review.
The cost of the review shall be borne by the individual making
the request, and the approximate cost must be advanced prior
to the inception of the review. Those costs may be obtained
from the National Office. Costs for review include, but are
not limited to, the following items:
1. site costs
2. travel expenses of those involved in the review
3. administrative costs
4. clerical costs
5. legal costs
A protocol has been established for review and shall be followed.
Presently, this protocol will require, at minimum, a hearing
of the request by appropriate directors of the ABCP, with possible
further review.
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