No.

The examination is given over a 2-day period. The first day consists of a written examination. Candidates will be given 4 hours to complete the written examination.  The second day is the practical examination.  Candidates will be assigned an examination time for the practical portion of the exam.
 

If you never took the AAET examination, you will need to take the new ABEM CNCT certification examination. Successful candidates will be enrolled in the TMOCP and will need to meet the CEU requirements, and then take the maintenance examination every 5 years to maintain certification.

There is a nonrefundable application of $25 if the application is received on or before January 31, 2011.  After January 31st the application fee is $50.  The examination fee is $300 for the written examination and $300 for the practical examination.  Candidates are expected to take both the written and practical portions the first time they sit for the examination.

In addition to the information you will submit through the online application, you must submit proof successful completion of high school or higher education.  You may submit a copy of your transcript(s) or diploma from your high school, GED program, college, university, or technical school training.  Please email these documents to abem@abemexam.org or fax them to 507.288.1225.

The CNCT credential and certification examination is a new initiative of the AANEM/ABEM to recognize the specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities of professional END technologists trained and educated in nerve conduction studies (NCSs).  The AANEM/ABEM is not affiliated with the AAET and does not have any information concerning the future of the AAET.  All requests concerning the future of the AAET should be directed to the AAET Board of Directors.  This information can be found on the AAET website. 

The CNCT application for the examination is online. Simply log into the online application using your AANEM username and password, fill out the application questionnaire, and complete the online payment.  The application must be submitted, along with the appropriate application and examination fees, by February 28, 2011.

The ABEM supports the intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Candidates desiring accommodations for documented disabilities will be required to complete a Disability Accommodation Request Form.  The ABEM will attempt to make reasonable accommodations.

Yes, candidates are expected to take both the written and practical portions the first time they sit for the examination.  Once a candidate has passed one portion of the examination, the other portion must be passed within 3 years in order to earn the CNCT credential.

The CNCT Examination Booklet of Information has general and specific information about the exam. A link to the booklet can also be found on the ABEM homepage.

Examination results are expected to be emailed to all candidates by May 30, 2011.

No.  The ABEM does not publish as examination study guide.  Information needed for the examination is available in standard texts and journals dealing with anatomy and nerve conduction studies. It may be helpful to review the Study Guide for R.NCS.T. Written Exam published by the American Society of Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists. Please note, however, that the ABEM does not necessarily consult these materials in the development of examination questions.

In order to be eligible for the examination, All candidates must:

1. Submit proof of successful completion of secondary education or higher education. Candidates may submit a copy of their transcripts or diploma from high school, GED, college, university, or technical school training.
2.  Agree to abide by all AANEM position statements, including but not limited to those relating to physician supervision and scope of practice.

In addition to the requirements set forth above, candidate must satisfy ONE of the following requirements on or before the application deadline:

1. Completion of at least 12 months of full-time (or equivalent), practical, on-the-job training in nerve conduction studies (NCSs). This period of training must be performed under the direct supervision of a neurologist or physiatrist experienced in electrodiagnostic medicine, preferably an ABEM Diplomate.  Additionally, the candidate must have experienced a minimum of 250 patient encounters where NCSs were performed on separate occasions.
2. Successful completion of an END Technologist program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

The exam will be held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago, IL.  Reservations can be made by contacting the Hyatt Regency O’Hare at the following:

Hyatt Regency O'Hare
9300 N Mawr Avenue,
Rosemont, Illinois, USA 60018
P: 847.696.123
F: 847.698.0139  

No, the CNCT credential will not replace your R.NCS T. registration. The CNCT credential is a stand-alone program separate from the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Technologist’s (AAET) R.NCS T. registration and is an additional credential you may use to signify your professional competence. Once earned, you will maintain your CNCT credential pursuant to rules established by the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine (ABEM). You may continue to use your R.NCS T. registration as long as you maintain your eligibility through AAET. After the grandfathering period has ended, new R.NCS.T’s will need to take the ABEM examination to earn the CNCT credential.

Yes.  Candidates who cannot complete the practical examination on Saturday, April 30, 2011, due to religious convictions will be allowed to take the examination on Friday, April 29th.

No.  The exam will not be administered at national testing centers.  All candidates must attend the exam in person on April 29-30, 2011 in Chicago.

The ABEM continues to explore this option.  The number of candidates currently taking the examination does not support the cost of using the testing centers.  We hope to offer this option in the future.

Certified Nerve Conduction Technologist.

AANEM publications are an excellent study resource.  AANEM members have prepared numerous monographs, case reports, and handouts for courses, and workshops concerning anatomy and NCSs.  In addition, candidates may find the AANEM’s Guidelines for Ethical Behavior Relating to Clinical Practice in Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (Muscle and Nerve, 42, (4) 480-486.) helpful.  The AANEM has a library of educational CD-ROMs that may be purchased.  All AANEM publications, and CD-ROMs may be ordered at AANEM Marketplace.  Please note, however, that the ABEM does not necessarily consult the material on this list in the development of examination questions.

The goal of the Technologist Maintenance of Certification Program (TMOCP) is to encourage technologists to engage in lifelong learning, specifically in the performance of NCSs.  Acceptable CEUs for the TMOCP will include educational courses, seminars, workshops, webinars, etc. that are related to the performance of NCSs.  CEUs will not be accepted for attending educational sessions dealing with neurodiagnostic techniques unrelated to NCSs, such as electroencephalogram (EEG), intraoperative neuromonitoring (IOM), or polysomnograms (PSG).

All technologists granted the CNCT credential are automatically enrolled in the Technologist Maintenance of Certification Program (TMOCP).   As part of the program, technologists must obtain 30 CEUs over a 5-year period.  The credits submitted must be related to the performance of NCSs and not other neurodiagnostic techniques unrelated to NCSs, such as electroencephalogram (EEG), intraoperative neuromonitoring (IOM), or polysomnograms (PSG).  The CEUs can be broken out as follows: In addition to the CEU requirements, all technologists granted the CNCT credential are required to attend at least 1 AANEM Annual Meeting during the 5-year certification cycle.  CEU documentation needs to be sent to the ABEM offices by the end of the 5-year certification cycle.

In addition to the CEU requirements, all technologists granted the CNCT credential are required to attend at least 1 AANEM Annual Meeting during the 5-year certification cycle.  All non-grandfathered CNCTs must successfully pass the TMOCP examination in order to renew their CNCT credential for an additional 5-year period.

If you don't fulfill your credits in the 5 years, your certificate will lapse.  When you fulfill the credits, you will simply take the maintenance examination and your new certificate would be dated from the new test date.  You will not need to retake the initial certification examination.

In general, a Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is a measure used in continuing education programs, particularly in those programs designed for professionals requiring ongoing licensure.  The primary purpose of the CEU is to provide a permanent record of the educational accomplishments of an individual who has completed one or more significant educational experiences.

Under the Technologist Maintenance of Certification Program (TMOCP), 1 CEU is defined as 1 hour of participation in a professionally organized continuing education program.

Yes, you will be required to record your 30 CEUs prior to being able to sit for the examination. The processing fee is $100.

The ABEM understand that budgets are tight but also understands the importance of face to face learning opportunities and networking with colleagues.  Because the AANEM meeting rotates to different location each year, we hope within a 5-year period, one city is close to a technologist’s home making it less expensive to travel.  The AANEM is also looking at how to partner with our members to have some regional NCS-focused meetings that would also count toward the 1 AANEM meeting requirement.  The TMOCP requirements will change as AANEM creates more technologist focused education.  The AANEM is looking to establish online education that may be an alternative to attending the meeting.
 

Yes, because the ABEM sees the value of attending the AANEM meeting, all sessions you attend count toward your CEU requirements.  If you attend 1 AANEM meeting in the 5-year period, you will be very close to meeting all your CEU needs.
 

No.  At the end of the 5-year certification cycle, you will be required to complete a CEU Declaration Form.  The Declaration Form will require you to detail your CEU activity.  You are not generally required to supply copies of CEU certificates and/or education transcripts.   The ABEM reserves the right to audit any CNCT credential holder and may require supporting documentation for all CEU hours claimed.  Therefore, you are encouraged to keep an accurate accounting of your CEUs earned, including copies of CEU certificates and/or education transcripts.

Yes, you may count that portion of the course that deals directly with the performance of NCSs.

The maintenance examination will be in place by April 2016. If possible, it will be offered sooner.

Many courses will not require preapproval.  If the course is related to the performance of NCSs and is sponsored by an approved institution or the course is within your own institution and is led by an ABEM Diplomate, preapproval is not required.  If, however, the course does not meet these requirements, preapproval is required.
In order to receive preapproval, send an email to the ABEM (abem@abemexam.org) with the following details:

No.  We understand that many technologists serve several roles within an institution or office, including an administrative role as the billing clerk.  However, the goal of the TMOCP is to encourage technologists to engage in lifelong learning and enhance their skills as a nerve conduction technologist.  Coding/billing courses, although important for a technologist in his or her administrative role, do not relate specifically to the performance of NCSs and are unlikely to enhance a nerve conduction technologist’s skills. 

Yes.  All grandfathered CNCTs may count the CEUs earned while attending the 2010 Annual Meeting.

Yes.  All grandfathered CNCTs may count their attendance at the 2010 AANEM Annual Meeting to fulfill the Annual Meeting requirement for their current 5-year certification cycle.

The TMOCP will be a 5 year program. At the end of the program, an examination will be required. Only those grandfathered technologists who had non-time-limited certificates with AAET will not be required to take the examination. They must, however, meet the CEU requirements.

The ABEM will consider requests after December 31, 2010. However, the fee will increase to $50 after that date. No requests for grandfathering will be accepted after December 31, 2011. Technologists who fail to apply for grandfathering will need to take the ABEM Technologist NCS Certification Examination.