CERTIFICATION GUIDELINES

AIHQ Membership:
Choose to join as an American Institute for Healthcare Quality (AIHQ) member to receive discounts on ABQAURP offerings, e.g., exam fee, application fee, Core Body of Knowledge (CBK) course, live conferences, home studies and other online courses. You may move forward in the exam process as a non-member, choosing not to join as an AIHQ member.

Exam Application:
Download and complete the exam application, including notarized signature. Submit to ABQAURP with CV/resume and copy of current, non-restricted license(s) with appropriate payment.

Sub-specialty certification is available in the following categories: Patient Safety/Risk Management, Case Management, Managed Care and/or Workers’ Compensation. To apply for an optional sub-specialty, exam candidates are required to submit an additional 24 hours of continuing education certificates directly related to chosen sub-specialty. The CBK course provides limited CE credit toward each sub-specialty.

Incomplete exam applications will be returned. Application, continuing education hours and supporting documents are due to the ABQAURP office by August 1, 2010. There will be no exceptions.

Continuing Education:
ABQAURP requires certificates for 20 hours of continuing education to meet the exam educational requirement. Continuing education must be pertinent to at least one of the exam categories. (See listing below.) ABQAURP offers an online Core Body of Knowledge (CBK) course to fulfill the educational requirement for exam candidates.

Exam Categories:
Below are some Exam Highlights. A complete listing of categories and sub-categories are located on the Exam Highlights page.

• Clinical Resource Management
• Risk Management/Patient Safety
• Workers’ Compensation
• Quality Improvement, Management, and Assurance
• Pay for Performance
• Insurance and Managed Care
• Regulatory Environment
• Accreditation Organizations
• Credentialing and Privileging

It is strongly advised to use the Exam Highlights as an independent study guide. The online CBK course’s nine modules and post-test serve as a good review tool.

Credentials Committee:
When an exam candidate completes the application process by submitting a notarized exam application, sends supporting documents and proof of educational requirements, the ABQAURP Credentialing Committee will review the application for approval.

Exam Candidates receive their eligibility status via U.S. Mail. Examination Procedures are mailed along with a letter of eligibility. Once a candidate has been approved, information is forwarded to the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME)® in Philadelphia. An email link to print your NBME Scheduling Permit will be issued. This scheduling permit will provide information to schedule an exam appointment at Prometric™ Testing Centers worldwide. It is the responsibility of the exam candidate to schedule their appointment as soon as possible; Prometric operates on a first-come, first-served basis.

Important Information:
The 2010 HCQM exam window will be open September 15 through November 15, 2010. Completed and notarized exam application, required continuing education and all supporting documentation must be submitted to the ABQAURP office no later than August 1, 2010.

The HCQM certification exam is not given at ABQAURP’s annual conference.

Exam candidates will be informed of Pass/Fail status immediately upon completion of the exam. Complete results will be received via US Mail when the exam window closes (approximately February 2011) as soon as they are received from the NBME.

To preserve the integrity of the HCQM certification exam, examinees may test once per exam window. Exam candidates that do not achieve a passing grade will have the opportunity to retake the exam the following year. Current exam fee will apply.

Applying for a Sub-Specialty certification during the HCQM certification exam process is optional. Application for sub-specialties is included in the exam application. There is not a separate exam, however, 24 hours of directly related continuing education certificates are required for each sub- specialty in which you are applying. $100.00 fee applies for up to 4 sub-specialties.

Once an examinee has reached Diplomate status, they may apply for any/all sub-specialties, however, there is a separate application and a $200.00 fee per sub-specialty.