Taking the assessment

Getting acquainted with the process

Continuing competency process

Sign in with your name and password.
Print out the computer technical solutions page so you will have a copy if you encounter a problem when you are taking the assessment.
View the list of Continuing Competency Assessments you are qualified to take.
Select the Continuing Competency Assessment you wish to take.
Overview instructions of the Continuing Competency Program will appear, please read them.
The begin button is at the end of page. When you are ready to start, click it.

A Continuing Competency Agreement will appear. You must agree by checking the agreement box in order to proceed. Agreement stipulates the following:

By participating in the continuing competency initiative specialty assessment evaluation, I understand no communication of any kind about the assessment, its content or my responses to any questions can be shared with others during or after taking the assessment. I agree I will not consult with any person, virtual or hard copy resource while taking the assessment and understand that any such actions can subject me or others to certification revocation. I further agree to abide by all policies and rules of the Continuing Competency Initiative program and understand continuing education credit earned by taking the Specialty assessment can only be used for the purpose of maintaining my NCC certification.
Once you accept the agreement, it will take you to the launching station.
When you are ready to start, select Launch assessment.
The timing of the exam will begin at this point. You will have 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete it. You must do this in one sitting. Once you exit, you cannot reaccess the assessment.
Each question will appear by itself on the screen. The options you will have is Next Question, Previous Question or Review Questions. There are 125 questions to answer.
Select the answer by clicking on the radio button stipulated as A, B or C. Once you select it, going to the next question records your answer.
If the system will not accept your answer, go to the review mode to enter in your answer. Then you can resume taking it in one question per page format.
The Review question button can be selected at anytime and will show you all the questions on the assessment and the answers to the questions you have answered to that point.
You can go back and forth in the assessment by using your previous and next question buttons or by going to the review questions button and scrolling to the question you wish to re-review.
At the end of the exam, select Review Answers and you can review all of your answers. You will have the opportunity to change any answers at that time.
Once you select submit answers, that will end the session. You then need to click on the "Close" button in the upper right hand corner. This will send you back to the website.
In any event, the assessment will submit once the maximum time has expired.
You will immediately receive your specialty index report and Education Plan which you can print and which will stay in your account on the NCC website under "Education Plans". If you don't check your account. It will appear after the two hours and 15 minutes since youstarted is completed.
No CE certificate is given. The 5 hours will automatically appear in your online maintenance application. This credit is not transferable.

Continuing competency agreement

You must agree to abide by the agreement in order to proceed to take the assessment. You will be asked to agree by a check off box just prior to your accessing the assessment. The agreement stipulates the following:

By participating in the continuing competency initiative specialty assessment evaluation, I understand no communication of any kind about the assessment, its content or my responses to any questions can be shared with others during or after taking the assessment. I agree I will not consult with any person, virtual or hard copy resource while taking the assessment and understand that any such actions can subject me or others to certification revocation. I further agree to abide by all policies and rules of the Continuing Competency Initiative program and understand continuing education credit earned by taking the Specialty assessment can only be used for the purpose of maintaining my NCC certification.

Your 5 CE hours – where it's documented

« Back to continuing competency

You will earn 5 CE hours for your participation in the Continuing Competency Initiative.

The five hours is recorded automatically to your online maintenance application. Your education plan will be in your account. To see the 5 hours recorded, sign in to the website with your password and then go to certification maintenance and select submit application. Select the certification specialty for which you took the assessment to gain access to your online maintenance to see the recorded hours.

There is no CE certificate issued as the credit is given in recognition of your participation in Stage 1 of the program and is not transferable for other purposes.

Do I get a certificate?

« Back to continuing competency

There is no CE certificate issued as the credit is given in recognition of your participation Stage 1 or Stage 2 of the Continuing Competency program and is not transferable for any other purpose.

Do I get performance feedback?

« Back to continuing competency

After you complete the assessment, you will immediately receive your specialty index report and Education Plan. This plan will identify your strengths and knowledge gaps. It will also specify the amount and nature of the continuing education that needs to be completed for maintenance. This education plan will stay in your account on the NCC website under "Education Plans".