Recertification

By meeting the standards below, candidates demonstrate that they continue to apply the highest level of ethical standards in their practice. The expectation is that these renewing applicants demonstrate advanced clinical and professional skills. Only applicants who achieve high standards of excellence, display professionalism, are committed to continuous advanced learning, and display clinical skills and characteristics that reflect achievements above and beyond the standard practice are approved to recertification.

• Good standing with professional boards.
• Agree to abide by practice standards and code of conduct (ASHA, AOTA or similar).
• 150 hours treating with NMES-D within 3 years prior to recertification.
• 15 hours continuing education within 3 years prior to recertification on the topic of dysphagia (by an approved ASHA and/or AOTA provider) (teaching or attending).
• 5 hours continuing education within 3 years prior to recertification on the topic of NMES for dysphagia (approved by a professional board or provided by an approved provider of a professional board; can be a PT, OT or SLP modalities course) (teaching or attending).

Pricing

• $125.00
• $75.00 late fee There is no late fee for NDCs who recertify after the NDC issue date yet prior to the end of the expiration calendar year.

Credentialed Term

• Credentials are active for a period of 3 years from the NDC issue date. This date may be found at the top of the applicant's letter of notification and certificate.
• Those who do not renew certification by the end of the calendar year of expiration, may not continue to use the credentials NDC.
• Professionals whose credentials lapse beyond the end of the calendar year of expiration may not use the credentials, but may recertify with a late fee at any time during the following calendar year.

Professional who do recertify in the calendar year following the year of expiration, will be considered initial candidates, and must meet the eligibility criteria for initial certification should they re-apply to receive the NDC credentials in subsequent years.

Requirements to test for Initial Certification

By meeting the standards below, candidates demonstrate that they have applied the highest level of ethical standards in their practice. The expectation is that these applicants can demonstrate advanced clinical and professional skills. Only applicants who achieve high standards of excellence, display professionalism, are committed to continuous advanced learning, and display clinical skills and characteristics that reflect achievements above and beyond the standard practice are approved to sit for the credentialing exam.

Candidates must successfully complete an NMES for Dysphagia competency training course or its renewal, accredited through ICE/NCCA within 5 years prior to application. To help ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the public, ICE created its accrediting body, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and set the first standards for professional certification programs developed by the industry.
• That training course will include applications on the face and anterior portion of the neck and other placements shown to be effective in the treatment of Dysphagia.
• In order to avoid a conflict of interest, the course may not be provided by a manufacture or distributor of NMES for Dysphagia devices or electrodes.

That competency training course must:
• Include a minimum of 10 hours of anatomy/physiology
• Include a minimum of 10 hours of theory, safety, and application
• Include two or more channel electrode placements
• Assess and document competency in application and theory
• Be an evidence based training to include instruction in current research in the use of NMES for Dysphagia


In ADDITION to the above course:
• Candidates must have 250 hours of treating with NMES-D within 1 year prior to the application.
• Candidates must have 5 hours of continuing education within 1 year prior to the application, on the topic of dysphagia (by an approved ASHA and/or AOTA provider) (teaching or attending) not including the certificate course.
• Candidates must have 2 hours of continuing education within 1 year prior to the application on the topic of NMES for dysphagia (approved by a professional board or provided by an approved provider of a professional board; can be a PT, OT or SLP modalities course) (teaching or attending) not including the certificate course.
• Candidate must have an active license or an international equivalent for 1 year prior to the application.
• Candidates must be in good standing with professional boards.
• Candidates must agree to abide by practice standards and code of conduct (ASHA, AOTA or similar).