The HQCB underwent the rigorous review process for the first time in 1988 to apply for accreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the accrediting arm of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA), Washington, D.C.  The HQCB was granted full accreditation by NCCA during the first initial review and has undergone the required reaccreditation process in 1993, 1998 and 2003.  HQCB received a full five-year accreditation on each occasion.  The HQCB believes accreditation is an important evaluation tool that can assure the public and employers of the quality, validity, and legal defensibility of the CPHQ credential and attests to the professional commitment of those who achieve this recognition.

NCCA accredits certification entities that are national in scope using standards developed originally in early 1978 with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  The standards have been updated through a careful review process over the years.  As a voluntary, not-for-profit commission, the NCCA is composed of elected and appointed representatives from certifying agencies and other individuals with pertinent expertise including a public member and two psychometricians.  The accreditation process includes an intensive review of documents and examination materials (including validation studies and examination statistics and analysis reports) presented by the certifying organization.  Once accredited, ongoing compliance is monitored through an annual reporting cycle and reaccredidation every five years. 

The NCCA and its parent organization, NOCA, publish books and documents relevant to the field and provide educational conferences that are open to the public as well as certifying organizations and other groups interested in competency assessment.  Not limited to healthcare certification programs, NCCA accredits certification programs in a wide variety of occupations.  NCCA standards exceed the requirements set forth by the American Psychological Association and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  They are regarded as the most rigorous and objective benchmark in the certification field.

Those interested in additional information about NCCA and NOCA can contact the NOCA headquarters at:

NOCA
2025 M Street, N.W., Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20036-3309
202-367-1165
FAX 202-367-2165
www.NOCA.org.