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REPORT FROM THE NBCE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT — MARCH 2007
1. NBCE Holds Student Forum In welcoming the student leaders, NBCE President Dr. Vernon Temple said he hoped they would leave with a better understanding of the NBCE and the testing process. He also emphasized the significance that testing has on the chiropractic profession and its future. The NBCE hosts the annual forum to increase its communication and collaboration with the student leaders and the student population. Another goal of the event is to give student leaders the opportunity to share their ideas and goals for chiropractic. “We appreciate your role as leaders who will some day stand here,” said Dr. Temple. “Good leaders develop through a never ending process of self study—every experience helps you to move forward. Your desire to help others and to offer to do extra work qualifies you for a special kind of leadership, which is just the kind of leader we need in our profession.” The student leaders listened to an in-depth orientation about the National Board’s processes for development and administration of the written and practical exams, as well as methods used in scoring exams. They also toured the NBCE facility and met staff members. In describing the staff, Dr. Temple said, “We are truly proud of the staff of the NBCE. They have become a testing organization that is considered to be the gold standard in the testing industry—not just in chiropractic.” At the end of the day, the students expressed their gratitude for the in-depth presentations as well as their commitment to help promote improved communications between their student bodies and the NBCE. The student forum attendees included: SACA: SICA: WCCS: 2. IBCE Offers Exam in Cyprus The International Board of Chiropractic Examiners (IBCE) has prepared an exam for chiropractic registration/licensure to be administered in Cyprus in the Greek language. Cyprus currently accepts the NBCE examinations Parts I, II, III and IV or the Special Purposes Examination for Chiropractic (SPEC) to assess the clinical competency and licensing eligibility of chiropractors who move into the country. Because the Cypriot Registrar of Professions also requires that licensure applicants demonstrate competency in the Greek language, the IBCE has now translated the SPEC Exam into Greek. The application process for the Cyprus SPEC will be the similar to the United States. The exam will be delivered on demand at the requirement of the Cyprus Chiropractic Association. The Cypriot Registrar of Professions will recognize only those practitioners who are approved by the chiropractic association. The IBCE was formed in 2003 by the NBCE to further worldwide acceptance of chiropractic education and practice. The IBCE assists chiropractic associations, organizations and colleges in addressing concerns held by members of regulatory authorities and the general public throughout the world. 3. International Affairs Committee Meets The International Affairs Committee (IAC) of the NBCE met on March 14-15. Chaired by District I Director and NBCE Vice President Dr. Jerry Blanchard, the IAC is developing the IBCE into an organization with a truly global focus. Meeting participants included committee members NBCE President Dr. Vernon Temple, NBCE Director and FCLB President Dr. Ed Weathersby, and President of the Cyprus Chiropractic Association Dr. Efstathios Papadopoulos. NBCE Executive Vice President Horace Elliott, NBCE Director of Testing Dr. Mark Christensen, and IBCE Manager of International Operations Dr. Martin Kollasch also attended. In addition, a new member of the IAC was welcomed, Dr. Susan King. Dr. King is head of the Welsh Institute of Chiropractic. She is a member of the U.K. General Chiropractic Council, the New Zealand representative for Chiropractic International Student Assessment, the New Zealand Chiropractic Board, and serves on the editorial committee of the European Journal of Chiropractic. Together with Dr. Papadopoulos, Dr. King's expertise will keep the IAC up-to-date on chiropractic in other parts of the world as well as provide direction in IBCE goal setting. According to IAC Chair Dr. Blanchard, “Drs. King and Papadopoulos have been granted full voting privileges on the committee; we are looking forward to their participation in bylaws revisions that will develop the IBCE into an organization distinctly separate from the NBCE.” Drs. King and Papadopoulos received full orientations of exam development and administration at the NBCE Greeley headquarters prior to this meeting. Dr. Temple said, “We would like for you as our international experts to hear the sentiment of a U.S. organization that has a service to offer—that of competency assessment. We need your help in uncovering opportunities to provide this service worldwide.” Recommendations from this IAC meeting will be presented to the full NBCE Board of Directors in May. 4. Part IV Standardized Patient Trainers Gather for Workshop The annual Part IV Standardized Patient Trainers Workshop was held at the NBCE on March 10 in Greeley. Executive Vice President Horace Elliott and Director of Practical Testing Research and Development Dr. Paul Townsend welcomed the patient trainers. Mr. Elliott said, “Our Board of Directors, Dr. Townsend and I appreciate the job you do to ensure a standardized Part IV Examination.” Dr. Townsend emphasized to the trainers that, “This is the examination that this organization is measured by.” Staff Chiropractic Specialist Dr. Judi Gerstung led the workshop. Standardized patient trainers reviewed DVDs and manuals, and discussed procedures regarding the training and consistency the standardized patients must employ at chiropractic colleges administering the May Part IV Examination. Standardized patient trainers prepare and train standardized patients in simulating specific conditions commonly encountered in practice. Standardized patients are used during the case management portion of the exam to assess examinees’ interactions with the simulated patient and their ability to recognize and diagnose the patient’s condition. The patient trainer is also responsible for the orderly rotation of standardized patients as well as their safety and debriefing on the day of the exam. The standardized patient trainers are selected based on their expertise in the chiropractic profession or for their previous experience as standardized patients for other professions. Those who attended the workshop were:
5. Test Administrators Learn to Boost Security Measures at Test Sites Exam security screening, test site procedures and other administrative issues were the focus of a two-day seminar for NBCE test site administrators and assistant test site administrators in Greeley on March 2-3. These administrators oversee every aspect of exam administration at their respective test sites, including supervision of the proctors who remain in the room with test takers at all times. It is therefore imperative that they are routinely and uniformly trained on new policies and procedures of the NBCE. Within the past year, new exam security measures have been implemented at the written and Part IV Practical Exam testing sites due to increased threats of modern technology such as cell phones, digital cameras and personal digital assistants. The NBCE first piloted the Part IV metal detector screening at Logan College in November 2005. Metal screening was also added at Western States Chiropractic College in May 2006 and at Parker College of Chiropractic in November 2006. The NBCE will implement metal screening at Palmer College of Chiropractic, Life University, College of Chiropractic, and Northwestern Health Sciences University in May 2007. Cleveland Chiropractic College Los Angeles, Southern California University of Health Sciences and Life Chiropractic College West will be implementing the metal screening in November 2007. NBCE Director of Practical Testing Research and Development Dr. Paul Townsend listed these reasons for implementing metal detection screening at test sites:
Any electronic devices found using the detection wands and/or metal detectors must be surrendered before candidates can enter the testing area. Any candidate who refuses to submit to screening will be denied entrance into the testing area. The consequences of cheating on NBCE exams are serious and range from invalidating a test result to barring the candidate from taking all future NBCE examinations. NBCE Director of Administration Pam Kurtz expressed to the administrators in attendance, “You are the key to a successful test administration. Your ongoing training and excellent tenure provides the basis for yours and the NBCE’s success,” she said. Those who attended the seminar included:
6. Part III and Ethics and Boundaries Test Committees Convene The annual Part III and Ethics and Boundaries (E&B) Test Committees met on Feb. 23-24, 2007, at the headquarters of the NBCE in Greeley. Test committee members are nominated by members of the NBCE Board of Directors or by their chiropractic colleges based on their expertise in clinical practice. During the meeting, the committee members developed exams that will appear on the Part III Examination in fall 2007 and spring 2008, and future administrations of the E&B Examination. “We were privileged to have an outstanding group of clinicians and college faculty members from across the United States participate in this test committee,” NBCE Director of Written Examinations Dr. Ray Townsend said. The Part III Exam is part of a battery of tests that candidates must pass prior to becoming licensed doctors of chiropractic. The NBCE Part III Exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions that address nine clinical knowledge areas: case history, physical examination, neuromusculoskeletal examination, roentgenologic (X-ray) examination, clinical laboratory and special studies examination, diagnosis or clinical impression, chiropractic techniques, supportive techniques, and case management. The E&B consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, organized into two sections: 1) questions that address the application of general knowledge and understanding required for ethical chiropractic practice, and 2) questions relating to boundaries issues including sexual misconduct and sexual harassment. Those in attendance were:
7. 2007 National Board Days
National Board Day is facilitated by a member of the NBCE Board of Directors along with a management team member from the NBCE. The NBD presentation focuses on:
8. 2007 National Board Days
National Board of Chiropractic Examiners
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