national test

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from their web site:

 

NCCAOM TAKES MEASURES TO PRESERVE CERTIFICATION STANDARDS

 

Alexandria, VA ¨C On February 7, 2006, NCCAOM confirmed that a breach of

security has

occurred involving a number of examination questions intended for use in the

February

2006 examination administration. NCCAOM believes that these test questions have

been

available to an unknown number of persons registered for the February 2006

examinations. As a result of this unfortunate incident, NCCAOM has canceled the

February 2006 examinations. All old exam questions will be retired and replaced

with a

new set for future examinations.

 

The NCCAOM is dedicated to legitimate, reliable, and relevant professional

testing in that

our mission is to establish, assess, and promote recognized standards of

competence and

safety in acupuncture and Oriental medicine for the protection and benefit of

the public.

¡°We were faced with the painful duty of canceling scheduled examinations. A

compromised test would not give us assurance that every successful examinee is

competent to practice safely. Commitment to our mission required us to follow

this

difficult path,¡± stated Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kory Ward-Cook, Ph.D., CAE.

 

To remedy this situation and guarantee that it does not arise in the future,

NCCAOM has

launched a program to deepen our pool of reserve examination items and begin the

enhancement of security measures relating to the database and examination

procedures.

This includes a move to administering future examinations by computer, rather

than the

current pen and paper method. Each test administration will be held at a secure

test center

with stringent entry and exit identification, along with video and audio taping

of all

examinees during the test administrations.

 

The NCCAOM is deeply committed in maintaining the professionalism and integrity

of its

examinations and will be investigating this incident to the fullest extent of

the law. Anyone

associated with the stealing of the NCCAOM examination questions will be

vigorously

prosecuted. NCCAOM recently settled a lawsuit against Mr. Decheng Chen for using

NCCAOM examination questions in his review courses and books. Meanwhile, the

staff and

Commissioners of the NCCAOM are dedicated in assisting all of the scheduled

February

2006 test takers through this process. ¡°We recognize the disappointment that

this

postponement will be to many candidates who have worked hard to prepare

themselves

for the February examination date. Obviously, their study will never be in vain.

We feel it is

our ethical duty to act consistent with our organization¡¯s stated mission of

protecting the

public through recognized standards and we feel that we owe it to our examinees

to offer

a fair and equal examination,¡± said Board Chair, Bryn Clark, Dipl. O.M.

(NCCAOM)

 

The next examination will be administered in June 2006 and all those scheduled

for the

February examinations have the choice of taking their examinations in June 2006

or

October 2006. Other positive news is that starting in June 2006 there will be a

two-week

window in which candidates may take their examinations. As more information

becomes

available we will post it on our website, or will send it to candidates by

electronic mail or

U.S. Postal Service.

 

We appreciate your patience as we work through this very difficult situation.

If you have

further questions, please feel free to contact Mina Larson, Director of

Communications and

Marketing at 703-299-5893 or by email at mlarson .

 

 

The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

(NCCAOM)

is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization established in 1982. The mission of

NCCAOM is

to establish, assess, and promote recognized standards of competence and safety

in

acupuncture and Oriental medicine for the protection and benefit of the public.