Testimony
of Michael
C. Martin President
National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA) Before
the House
Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee
on Benefits Regarding Veterans’ Employment: Credentialing (Licensure, Certification, Accreditation, and Apprenticeship)
Requirements September
27, 2000 Mr.
Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee, My name is Michael Martin and I am
president of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA).
I am also the executive director of the Commission for
Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy. The CCGP provides the testing and skills development for
those pharmacists who provide care to our nation’s most vulnerable
population – its senior citizens.
The members of NOCA appreciate the opportunity to appear before
you today to discuss certification and licensure opportunities for
America’s armed services personnel as they transition into civilian
careers. Those of us in
the credentialing community thank you for your ongoing efforts to
focus attention on such an important issue.
The efforts of this subcommittee will help ensure that the men
and women who leave the armed services will be able to market and
utilize in the civilian world the specialized skill-sets they have
earned while in uniform. While
the certification programs of NOCA members have been accessed by many
in the armed services, NOCA’s presence here today represents the
first formal opportunity the nation’s preeminent certification
organization has had to be a part of these efforts.
We look forward to every opportunity to work with you and
participate in this process. Introduction NOCA is unique in that it is the oldest
and largest association representing certification agencies, testing
companies, consulting firms and individuals involved in professional
certification. NOCA’s
members represent credentialing fields as diverse as construction,
healthcare, automotive, and finance.
NOCA’s mission is to promote excellence in competency
assurance for individuals in all occupations and professions.
No other organization has the presence or resources in the
field of credentialing. As
such, NOCA is in a position to bring experience, perspective and
resources to the transition issue. NOCA is committed to addressing the
particular credentialing needs of the armed services.
NOCA is especially well-situated to assist Congress, federal
agencies, and veterans’ service organizations in finding solutions
and eliminating barriers to efficient and effective transitioning. At the same time, NOCA recognizes the important role the
armed services, military personnel, and veterans will play in helping
those of us who work on competency assurance to meet the specific
needs of transitioning personnel. NOCA was created more than 20 years ago
as the National Commission for Health Certifying Agencies (NCHCA) with
federal funding from the Department of Health and Human Services.
Its mission was to develop standards for quality certification
in the allied health fields and accredit organizations that met those
standards. With the
growing use of certification in other fields, NCHCA’s leaders
recognized what was essential for credible certification of
individuals in the healthcare sector was equally essential for other
sectors. Hence, NCHCA
evolved into the National Organization for Competency Assurance.
NOCA is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization and remains
committed to serving the public interest by ensuring adherence to
strict certification standards. NOCA also brings the expertise of its
nationally recognized accrediting arm, the National Commission for
Certifying Agencies (NCCA). NCCA
uses a peer review process to evaluate adherence to its standards and
grant recognition through accreditation to those organizations judged
to have met those standards. These standards exceed the requirements
set forth by the American Psychological Association and the U.S. Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission and thus help to protect the health,
safety, and welfare of the public.
NCCA is the only national accreditation body that provides this
service for private certification organizations in all disciplines. NOCA’s membership has grown to more
than 270 organizations responsible for credentialing at the national
and international level. A
list of NOCA’s organizational members is attached as Appendix A.
NOCA members represent more than 6 million individuals around
the world and include representatives from some 150 professions and
occupations, including 57 healthcare professions.
Within these healthcare professions, there are 120
sub-specialties that include physical therapy, chiropractic
rehabilitation, orthotics, opticianry, audiology, and many more. NOCA
has a history of partnering with the federal government to strengthen
competency assurance in a broad range of skill-sets.
NOCA has worked with the Department of Transportation in
updating proposed revisions to its regulations for substance abuse
counselors. NOCA also aided the General Services Administration as it
developed a report on the requirements of and recognition for
certification programs at the federal level.
NOCA members have worked with the Office of Management and
Budget, Small Business Administration, Department of Labor, and the
Department of Defense in ensuring the quality of government-issued
certifications and licenses. Some
of our members’ certifications are required for state licensure in
certain fields and occupations; for example, respiratory care.
The National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) is accredited by
the NCCA. NBRC’s
examinations are used as licensure examinations in all states and
territories that have enacted legislation to regulate the practice of
respiratory care. Some
states specifically name the NBRC; others specify that the
examinations used for licensure must meet the NCCA standards. Within
the armed services, perhaps the most recognizable NOCA member is the
Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES).
DANTES coordinates the administration of certification
examinations on military bases around the world, and many NOCA member
organizations offer their certification programs through DANTES.
For example, you probably use an auto mechanic in Buffalo or
Chula Vista who has been certified by Automotive Service Excellence
(ASE), a NOCA member. Some
in the armed services also may be aware of the certification that
Emergency Medical Technicians earn through the National Registry of
Emergency Medical Technicians, also a NOCA member.
North American Technician Excellence, another NOCA member, is
responsible for certifying individuals in heating and air conditioning
repairs. NOCA has the
membership, skill-sets and knowledge base that currently serves the
armed services community. We
are proud of this link to the armed services, but also see a role for
NOCA in all organized efforts to address transition issues. Last
year, this subcommittee held a hearing to examine the issues
surrounding transitioning service members into the civilian workforce
from the perspective of the military and veterans’ community.
That hearing identified areas where our armed services
personnel are encountering difficulties in the transition process.
Barriers such as the costs to obtain a credential, lack of
awareness among military personnel about how their skills translate
into civilian licenses, and the complications of bringing all pieces
of the certification puzzle together were discussed.
This subcommittee has done laudable work in addressing many of
the issues raised last year and in opening the door to dialogue.
Within the larger certification
community, there is a growing awareness of the challenges faced by
military personnel transitioning to the civilian workforce.
I would like to review some of these challenges and briefly
outline our suggestions. It
is my hope that these will spark discussion and, most importantly,
action for removing the obstacles that currently complicate military
to civilian transition. Online
Access to Existing Certification Programs
It was recommended during last year’s
hearing that the Department of Labor improve its website to assist
veterans in this manner. Online
systems allow individuals to access information on equivalent civilian
certification programs. The
DOL VETs program website, “Use Your Military Experience and
Training” (UMET), is very helpful in this regard.
UMET identifies 25 civilian occupations most relevant to
military personnel and allows the user to review the requirements for
each job and learn how to obtain the certification.
However, the specialized skill-sets earned by service members
qualify them for more than the 25 occupations listed on UMET.
We encourage Congress to grant the necessary resources to the
Department of Labor to support the expansion of the UMET website to
include all related certification programs.
We should match the skill-sets learned in the armed services to
all relevant certification programs and NOCA is committed to extending
its expertise and resources to the VETs program to achieve this goal.
A “one-stop shopping” resource on the web is a low-cost,
yet effective means of informing service members and veterans about
existing and potential career opportunities.
Military personnel master skills in occupations as diverse as
helicopter maintenance, physical therapy, and canine training.
Partnerships between the government, veterans’ service
organizations, and the competency assurance community will help make
the necessary information readily available. To this end, NOCA is also in the
process of reviewing its own website so that we can better assist
military personnel and veterans with other occupations in addition to
the 25 identified on UMET. We
are pleased to note that eleven of the 25 occupations listed require
certifications from NOCA members.
These include automotive mechanics, cable installers-repairers,
dental assistants, emergency medical technicians, heating and air
conditioning installers-servicers, sports instructors, vocational
training instructors, licensed practical nurses, medical laboratory
technicians, radiologic technologists, and water treatment plant
operators. We have
identified 34 other NOCA members that grant similar certifications and
licenses and there may be others not yet identified.
A table matching the UMET occupations with the certification
program granted by NOCA members and related certification programs
granted by NOCA members is attached as Appendix B. NOCA will bring its full set of
resources to bear on these transition needs.
NOCA members provide the certification; therefore NOCA members
must be a part of paving the way for easier access and smoother
transition. Uniform
Standards for Armed Services Certification Programs Federal agencies, including the armed
services, should recognize a uniform set of standards by which
certification programs are operated and evaluated.
Uniform standards will help ensure that the certified service
member receives the highest quality certification.
Certification programs made available to members of the armed
services must enable individuals to receive recognition in the
civilian marketplace and should enhance the their marketability.
Application of uniform standards will also create
“crosswalks” among the military branches – equivalent
certification requirements for similar skill sets.
Adopting nationally recognized standards also will ensure that
skills learned in the armed services are transferable and marketable
to the private sector. NOCA has developed the only set of nationally recognized
standards for certification that can be used as the building blocks
for recognition of quality certification programs.
NOCA actively reviews these standards and is in the best
position to help determine their application to skills learned in the
armed services. NOCA recognizes that new certification
programs may be required to address new skills and their applications
in new and existing occupations.
Some of these may be unique in the armed services.
NOCA’s resources are used by certification programs under
development for these purposes. As
an example, CCGP was created by the American Society of Consultant
Pharmacists (ASCP) Board of Directors on February 27, 1997.
CCGP is a nonprofit corporation, autonomous from ASCP and with
its own governing Board of Commissioners.
For a number of years, there was a growing movement among the
members of ASCP for a credential that would recognize the unique
skills and knowledge of pharmacists who provide care to the elderly.
In response to this demand, ASCP agreed to move forward with
establishing such a credential but soon realized that it didn’t have
the expertise for such an undertaking.
ASCP joined NOCA to learn about establishing high quality
certification programs and organizations.
By following the roadmap provided by the NCCA standards and
educational materials provided by NOCA, CCGP was created and quickly
established itself as a respected member of the health care community.
The Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (CGP) credential was
developed using nationally recognized, psychometrically sound
procedures. Today, the
CGP credential is sought after by pharmacists in the U.S. and around
the world. A list of NOCA publications that serve
as resources to new and existing certification organizations is
attached as Appendix C. Leveraging
the Full Resources of the Certification Community For certifying groups with skill-sets
widely used in the military, we see a need for stronger and more
established liaisons between these certifying entities, the military
branches, federal agencies, and nationally recognized organizations
involved in competency assurance.
During the hearing last year, a recommendation was made to
improve communication between the credentialing community and the
government. Federal
advisory boards are excellent mechanisms for making the resources of
the entire certification community available to improve the transition
of our men and women in uniform.
It is essential that such panels are structured to fully
leverage the broad array of knowledge and expertise in the
credentialing community. For this reason, and because we
represent so many certifying organizations, NOCA has requested that a
NOCA representative be appointed to the Professional Certification
Advisory Board (PCAB), created by Public Law 106-50.
While specific organizations were written into the law
establishing this board, additional seats were left open to ensure
that the broadest possible representation from the licensing and
certification community could be included.
Likewise, we respectfully urge you to make the Professional
Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee (PCLAC), which would be
established by S.1402, the Veterans and Dependents Millenium Education
Act, all-inclusive. Finally,
we are pleased and honored to have been contacted regarding membership
on the Chairman’s task force on certification.
Mr. Chairman, NOCA is committed to working towards solving
these problems. We need
your help in fully leveraging our resources and membership by being
included in all such advisory panels.
The shared goal of making all possible resources available to
the men and women in the armed services requires full participation by
all appropriate organizations. Assistance
for Certification and Recertification Finally, I would also like to address
the importance of recertification and the need to provide veterans and
armed services personnel the ability to pay for all certification
requirements in a given field. Recertification
ensures continued competency and allows individuals to maintain their
skills. Efforts to allow the use of Montgomery GI benefits to pay for
certification will be helpful in this regard. Conclusion In conclusion, I would like to
emphasize that improving the prospects for employment of service
members when they leave the military will go a long way toward meeting
recruiting goals, improving military morale, enhancing the quality of
our civilian workforce, and keeping our economy competitive as well.
Educational benefits and training consistently rank as the top
reasons people join the military.
The additional benefit of recognized credentialing will aid the
military in meeting its recruiting goals.
It is the right thing to do for the men and women in the armed
services. Again, we thank you very much for this
opportunity to appear before you to address this issue and look
forward to working with you on this issue in the future. APPENDIX
A 2000
NOCA Organizational Members As of 9/19/00 AACE
International Academy
for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education
Professionals Academy
of Ambulatory Foot Surgery Accrediting
Bureau of Health Education Schools Advanced
Certified Fund Raising Executive Program Aerobics
and Fitness Association of America American
Academy for the Certification of Brain Injury Specialists American
Academy of Audiology American
Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders American
Academy of Pain Management American
Academy of Wound Management American
Association for Medical Transcription American
Association for Respiratory Care American
Association of Family and Consumer Sciences American
Association of Medical Assistants American
Association of Physician Specialists American
Association of Podiatric Physicians and Surgeons American
Board for Occupational Health Nurses American
Board of Ambulatory Medicine American
Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion American
Board of Chiropractic Orthopaedists American
Board of Chiropractic Sports Physicians American
Board of Chiropractic Rehabilitation American
Board of Chiropractic Consultants American
Board of Chiropractic Specialties American
Board of Industrial Hygiene American
Board of Nursing Specialties American
Board of Pain Medicine American
Board of Professional Neuropsychology American
Board of Transplant Coordinators American
Board of Veterinary Practitioners American
Certification Agency for Healthcare Professionals American
Chiropractic Board of Nutrition American
Chiropractic Neurology Board American
Chiropractic Registry of Radiologic Technologists American
College of Eye Surgeons American
College of Sports Medicine American
Construction Inspectors Association American
Council of Certified Podiatric Physicians and Surgeons American
Council on Exercise American
Fence Association, Inc. American
Hospital Association American
Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants American
Occupational Therapy Association American
Orthotic and Prosthetic Association American
Payroll Association American
Petroleum Institute American
Physical Therapy Association American
Production and Inventory Control Society American
Reflexology Certification Board American
Society for Industrial Security American
Society for Microbiology American
Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association Aquatic
Exercise Association, Inc. Art
Therapy Credentials Board Associated
Landscape Contractors of Colorado Association
for Canadian Registered Safety Professionals Association
for Education and Rehab. of the Blind & Visually Impaired Association
for Investment Management and Research Association
of Government Accountants Association
of Medical Illustrators Association
of Social Work Boards Association
of Surgical Technologists, Inc. Association
of the Wall and Ceiling Industries - International BICSI:
A Telecommunications Association Behavior
Analyst Certification Board Bert
Rodgers Schools of Continuing Education Biofeedback
Certification Institute of America Board
of Certification for Emergency Nursing Board
of Certification in Professional Ergonomics Board
of Pharmaceutical Specialties Board
of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists Board
on Certification for Corporate Real Estate California
Water Environment Association Canadian
Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators Canadian
Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. Canadian
Council of Professional Engineers Canadian
Nurses Association Canadian
Securities Institute Cardiovascular
Credentialing International Certified
Equity Professional Institute Certified
Fund Raising Executive Professional Certification Program Certified
General Accountants' Association of Canada College
of Massage Therapists of Ontario College
of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario College
of Nurses of Ontario College
of Occupational Therapists of Ontario Commercial
Real Estate Education Foundation, Inc. Commission
for Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy Computing
Technology Industry Association Consumer
Electronics Association Convention
Liaison Council Council
of Petroleum Accountants Societies Council
on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation Council
on Professional Standards for Kinesiotherapy Defense
Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support Delta
Society Employee
Assistance Professionals Association HEARTH
Education Foundation Hand
Therapy Certification Commission, Inc. IEEE
Computer Society ISA,
the international society for measurement and control Illinois
Department of Professional Regulation Institute
for Plastics Certification, Inc. Institute
of Certified Management Accountants Institute
of Hazardous Materials Management Institute
of Real Estate Management InterNational
Electrical Testing Association International
Academy of Chiropractic Neurology International
Air Filtration Certifiers Association International
Association for Colon Hydrotherapy International
Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services International
Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management International
Certification and Reciprocity Consortium International
Conference of Building Officials International
Executive Housekeepers Association, Inc. International
Society of Arboriculture International
Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists Intravenous
Nurses Certification Corporation Joint
Commission Resources Knowledge
Management Certification Board Lamaze
International National
Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch National
Aerobics & Fitness Trainers Association National
Air Duct Cleaners Association National
Association Medical Staff Services National
Association for Holistic Aromatherapy National
Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors National
Association of Boards of Pharmacy National
Association of Forensic Counselors, Inc. National
Association of Legal Assistants National
Association of Mortgage Brokers National
Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities National
Association of Purchasing Management National
Association of Social Workers Office of Quality Assurance National
Board for Certification of Orthopaedic Technologists National
Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy National
Board for Certification in Dental
Laboratory Technology National
Board for Certification of Orthopedic Technologists National
Board for Professional Teaching Standards National
Board of Certification for Community Association Managers, Inc. National
Board of Forensic Chiropractors National
Board of Orthodontics, U.S. National
Center for Competency Testing National
Certification Board for Diabetes Educators National
Community Pharmacists Association National
Contract Management Association National
Council for Interior Design Qualification National
Council of Architectural Registration Boards National
Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying National
Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. National
Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions National
Glass Association National
Ground Water Association National
Healthcareer Association National
Institute for Automotive Service Excellence National
Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies National
Institute for Pharmacist Care Outcomes National
Institute for the Certification of Healthcare Sterile Processing National
Marine Manufacturers Association National
Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians National
Safety Management Society National
Surgical Assistant Association North
American Electric Reliability Council North
American Registry of Midwives North
American Technician Excellence Office
of Indiana State Chemist and Seed Commissioner Pharmacy
Technician Certification Board Professional
Photographers of America Project
Management Institute Registry
of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. Registry
of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists, Inc. Rehabilitation
Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America Sales
& Service Voluntary Partnership, Inc. Society
for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals Society
of Actuaries Society
of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers The
American Registry of Radiologic Technologists The
Educational Foundation of the National Restaurant Association The
Institute of Banking The
National Commission for Health Education Credentialing The
Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. Transportation
Professional Certification Board, Inc. Water
Quality Association World
at Work Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board APPENDIX
B Occupations
Identified by UMET The
Department of Labor’s VETs Program lists 25 occupations relevant to
service personnel transitioning into the civilian sector. The link below contains the list, as well as requirements for
each and the relevant certifying entity (federal or private sector
organization). This chart
lists the 25 occupations and the NOCA members that grant certification
for the occupation. In
addition, NOCA members that grant similar certifications for the other
occupations are listed.
Department of Labor’s VETs Program list
APPENDIX
C NOCA
PUBLICATIONS NOCA
News (4 issues/year) NOCA's
quarterly newsletter keeps members and subscribers informed of what
NOCA is doing for them. The newsletter also covers current
developments in professional licensing and certification. Regular
features include member news, NCCA updates, regulation updates, court
decisions affecting professional credentials, resources, upcoming
events, and more. Guidelines
for Certification Accreditation A
set of guideline reports providing background information on the NCCA
approval criteria. Includes: Administrative Independence, Bias,
Continuing Competence, Cut-Off Scores, Education and Certification,
Eligibility for Certification, Public Members, Reliability and
Validity. Questions
and Answers on Accreditation (1998) Members of the NCCA have compiled some of the most frequently asked questions for major accreditation topics and published answers to clarify a standard or its intent and provide suggestions on ways a standard might be implemented. Previously published in NOCA News, now available as reprints in one booklet.
This step-by-step guide is designed to help readers develop a Request for Proposal (RFP) and manage the RFP process. It provides an outline of the RFP process and templates the reader can use to save time and money when developing a RFP.
Written by experts, this is a must-have for both staff and volunteer leaders of standard setting organizations. This guide begins with standard setting concepts and definitions followed by a summary of major steps that should be taken during the process. Standard setting methods are followed by practical suggestions on selection of standard setting methods and approaches to training judges and improving intrajudge consistency. Starting
a Certification Program (1999, 2nd Ed.) Informational
pamphlet including questions and answers on getting started,
organizational methods, standards for certifying agencies, and
eligibility requirements. NCCA Guidelines for Non-Written Examinations (1991, 5 pages) Guidelines were developed in
response to the increasing number of certification and licensing
boards that are either administering or investigating the use of
non-written exams. These
examinations include practical (i.e. Ahands-on@) and oral assessments.
To
Assure Continuing Competence (1981, 141 pages) Proceedings
of the 1979 educational conference AContinuing Competence Assessment-Relicensure-Recertification.@
Twenty contributors describe a range of approaches of
continuing competence assurance and outline the major issues.
Continuing
Competence: An Overview
(1984, 56 pages) Informational pamphlet including questions and answers on continuing competence, six case studies, a glossary, and selected bibliography. Appendix
on Discipline (1985) Reports
on the NCHCA Discipline Task Force.
Contains a compilation of discipline provisions including the
grounds, procedures, sanctions, and appeals.
Features a chart summary of association and certifying agency
discipline programs and examples of typical state licensing board
discipline provisions.
Redefining
Competency from a Systems Perspective for the 21st Century Video-taped
presentation tailored just for NOCA by Donna S. Queeney, Ph.D.,
director of research and external relations at The Pennsylvania State
University.
Certification:
A NOCA Handbook This step-by-step guide to designing and implementing effective professional certification examinations has been written by recognized experts with applied knowledge and practical experience in all facets of certification and licensure testing. It provides all the information you need for successful exams, in language you can understand. Topics such as job analyses, standard setting, computer testing, and examination security are covered in this book. Back to Witness List |
Setting
Passing Standards for Performance-Based Certification and Licensure
Examinations (2000)