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National Commission
History and Operations
To help address manpower
needs, as well as address the increasingly complex and technologic
practice of anesthesia, the allied health specialty anesthesiologist
assistant (AA) was created in 1969. Graduates of anesthesiologist
assistants educational programs which are accredited by the Commission
on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) are
eligible to enter into the certification process administered by the
National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA).
Under the guidance of John E. Steinhaus, MD, PhD, the National
Commission was founded in 1989 for the purpose of establishing a
national certification process to provide the basis for eligibility for
anesthesiologist assistants to practice in the United States. The
National Commission then and now includes both anesthesiologist
assistants and anesthesiologists. The National Board of Medical
Examiners (NBME) is consultant and contractor for NCCAA’s examinations
and certification process. NBME also is the contractor for the American
Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) and the National Commission for
Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
The entry point into the certification process is the Certifying
Examination for Anesthesiologist Assistants, which is a written
examination offered annually. Items on the examination are designed to
assess each candidate's entry-level knowledge and his/her skill in
applying that knowledge related to the duties of a practicing
anesthesiologist assistant.
NCCAA contracted with the National Board of Medical of Examiners in 1990
to help develop the first Certifying Examination. Initial development of
the certification process included surveying practicing anesthesiologist
assistants and their physician sponsors, developing a content grid for
examination, establishing an item bank, and constructing and
administering the first Certifying Examination. The initial survey of
practicing anesthesiologist assistants and their physician sponsors was
conducted in 1990 to establish the basis of practice for this allied
health specialty. A second practice survey was conducted in 1997.
Both surveys were developed by content experts in conjunction with NBME.
Development of the content grid for the Certifying Examination has been
based on the results of the surveys. A Test Committee has been appointed
annually by NCCAA since 1990 to prepare the Certifying Examinations. The
Test Committee has been comprised of anesthesiologist assistants,
anesthesiologists, and individuals expert in testing and measurement.
Item writing, examination construction, standard setting, examination
scoring, and reporting are conducted each year in consultation with NBME.
NCCAA offered the first Certifying Examination for Anesthesiologist
Assistants in 1992.
Based on the results of the 1997 survey, a content grid was formulated
for the Examination for Continued Demonstration of Qualifications (CDQ
Examination). Item writing assignments were made, and the NCCAA item
bank was expanded to accommodate the CDQ Examination. The first CDQ
Examination was administered in 1998. CDQ Examinations are offered
annually.
Commissioners
B. Donald Biggs, MMSc, Chairman - Atlanta, GA
Joseph M. Rifici, BS, MEd, Vice Chairman - Cleveland, OH
James R. Hall, MD, Secretary-Treasurer - Atlanta, GA
George A. Arndt, MD - Madison, WI
James Stuart Jackson, MD - Houston, TX
Michael H. Lasecki, MD - Mobile, AL
Stanley R. Mogelnicki, MD, PhD - Atlanta, GA
Kenneth H. Maloney, MMSc - Marietta, GA
Matthew Jason McKinney, MSA - Lebanon, OH
John B. Neeld, Jr., MD - Atlanta, GA
Deborah A. Rusy, MD - Madison, WI
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