What is the primary national voluntary certification agency?
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The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) Health IT Certification Program
(Certification Program) is a voluntary certification program established by the ONC to provide for the certification of health IT. Requirements for certification are established by standards, implementation specifications and certification criteria adopted by the Secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Certification Program supports the availability of certified health IT for its encouraged and required use under other federal, state and private programs. The
Certification Program is run as a third-party product conformity assessment scheme for health information technology (health IT) based on the principles of the International Standards Organization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) framework. Health IT Certification Program Overview [PDF - 510KB] Launched in 2010, the Certification Program
supports the Promoting Interoperability (PI) Programs (previously Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs) administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). While the PI Programs continue to require the use of certified health IT, the use of certified health IT has expanded to other government and non-government programs. The Certification
Program has released three editions of certification criteria and regulations for new/expanded Certification Program requirements. These new editions of certification criteria include more robust technical and interoperability requirements, ONC-Authorized Certification Body (ONC-ACB) in-the-field surveillance expectations, and cost transparency and disclosure requirements for health IT developers’ certified health IT. These additional disclosure requirements have been adopted to ensure users of
certified health IT are fully informed about certain types of limitations and additional costs associated with the ability to implement or use certified health IT in a manner consistent with its certification. The graphic below shows the organizational structure of the Certification Program. As illustrated, ONC manages the overall program while working with other agencies and entities in the following capacities: Q: Why should I apply for the NCC certification? What will it do for me? A: The national certification is a continuing source of career enhancement and pride for counseling professionals. It demonstrates to clients and employers that you are a professional counselor who has met national standards. Q: What is the difference between the NCC and a State License? A: National counselor certification from NBCC demonstrates to the public and employers that the counselor has voluntarily met the national standards set by the counseling profession. It is not a license to practice. In some states, holding a national certification can assist the counselor in obtaining a state license. National certification travels with the counselor no matter the state or country of residence. The flagship national certification offered by NBCC is the NCC (National Certified Counselor), and it is the largest national counselor certification in the world. A state license in counseling is literally permission from a particular state to practice counseling or to call oneself a licensed counselor. Some states have a single license and some have a two-tiered system. The names of state licenses vary from state to state. Some examples are LPC, LCPC, LPCC, LMHC, LPCMH, LCMHC, LPC-MH. A state license must be obtain in order to do private practice counseling. Q: Does my NCC certification mean that I do not have to get a state license? A: No, counselors who hold the NCC and who wish to do private practice counseling in their state must still comply with all state laws regulating the practice of counseling. They must obtain a state license in order to do private practice counseling. Q: If I get my NCC certification, will my state automatically license me? A: No. You still have to apply. If a state utilizes the NCE for state licensure, you may not have to pass another examination in order to receive your state license. Q: Do I have to pay an annual fee to keep my NCC active? A: Yes. It is standard practice to charge an annual fee for the maintenance of any professional credential, including a license or national certification. Annual certification fees support all NBCC certification, legislative and advocacy efforts. Q: What can I call myself when I am certified? A: Counselors who complete the national certification process through NBCC are called National Certified Counselors. The acronym is “NCC.” National Certified Counselors may use the NCC certification mark on business cards and all professional materials. NCCs also receive a certificate suitable for framing. Q: How much is the NCC exam fee? A: The application fee is $335 if registered through the department Q: How and where will I take the exam? A: The NCE is a computer-based examination that will be taken through the NBCC’s computer-based testing partner, Pearson VUE. There are three sites within the Atlanta area. Q: What is the structure of the NCE? A: The NCE is a computer-based 200-item non-sectioned test that relies on CACREP standards for derivation of content and a job analysis for the derivation of context. Its purpose is to assess knowledge of counseling information that is deemed necessary for effective counselor functioning. While the NCE is primarily a knowledge-based achievement test, it includes some practice related items. CACREP’s eight core areas constitute the eight content domains of the exam and thus form the theoretical basis for it. Each question contains an item stem and four response choices. There is only one correct response to each item. As much as possible, awkward, difficult, and “tricky” wording has been eliminated. While the exam is scheduled for a 4-hour period, most examinees complete the exam in 2 ½ to 3 hours. Q: Where can I acquire study material for the exam? A: You can order Examination Preparation Guides online from NBCC. Q: How long will it take to receive my scores? A: The scoring process is completed approximately six to eight weeks after your exam date. Q: How many times can I retake the test? A: You are allowed to test a total of three times in a two-year period before your application closes. What is the primary goal of the counseling profession?Professional counselors help clients identify goals and potential solutions to problems which cause emotional turmoil; seek to improve communication and coping skills; strengthen self-esteem; and promote behavior change and optimal mental health.
When counseling a client from a racial ethnic or cultural group different from the counselor's it is important for the counselor to remember that?When counseling a client from a racial, ethnic, or cultural group different from the counselor's, it is important for the counselor to remember that: although certain groups share similar traits or beliefs, each individual is unique and may not be like most others from his or her group.
When a counselor uses a computer for the storage of confidential information the counselor must?Counselors may give health care information to family members or others assisting in the client's care. When a counselor uses a computer for the storage of confidential information on clients, the counselor must... Set up a system that requires a password to access the files.
Which of the following is true of cultural diversity and technology use?Which of the following is TRUE of cultural diversity in technology use: Researchers have found that technology use is generally uniform across cultural boundaries.
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