Volunteering for CCN Test Development Activities

by Amanda A. Meekins, MHA, CPMSM, CPCS

Are you looking to get involved with NAMSS in a way that upholds the importance and integrity of certification? Learn how you can participate in test development activities with the CCN.

If you’re certified, you’re a subject matter expert, and we need you! The Certification Commission of NAMSS (CCN) is responsible for the CPCS and CPMSM certification programs including exam content and administration. If you’ve ever wondered about the CPCS and CPMSM certification exams, the best way to learn is by participating in test development activities. The CCN coordinates test development activities with dually certified subject matter experts, in good standing with NAMSS, who are not currently involved in teaching or working on the NAMSS Education Committee. We look for a diverse panel of experts over all the accrediting bodies representing different regions of the country and a variety of experience levels.

The CCN Test Development Team is always looking for new participants to contribute to specific group activities like those outlined below.

• Job task analysis: Defines the performance domains outlining competent practice and then broken into job responsibilities.
• Item writing: Using performance domains/job responsibilities defined by the job task analysis, questions for the exams are authored using a specific format and then undergo review by subject matter experts until deemed suitable.
• Exam assembly: Review of exam questions for both exams to ensure the appropriate number of items from each domain is included and that there is a balance across the accrediting body standards.
• Cut score/standard setting: Working with Scantron’s testing experts, each question for both tests is evaluated based on its level of difficulty. Following this review, testing experts will use statistical data to determine the minimum passing score for each exam form.

If any of these activities sound like something you’d like to be involved in, please contact a CCN member via the NAMSS website, or contact a member of the test development team at namssccntestdev@gmail.com.

Amanda A. Meekins, MHA, CPMSM, CPCS, lives and works in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She is a member of the NAMSS CCN Board and works as the director of medical staff services at St. John’s Health. Amanda can be reached via email.