FAQs about Specialty Credential Alternate Pathway Recertification
Specialty Credential Alternate Pathway Recertification FAQs
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How many CEs do I need to display to NMTCB if I want to take advantage of this limited time offer?
Specialty certificants who have a CURRENT credential can extend their specialty credential another seven (7) years from the date of approval by submitting documentation of the completion of 24 specialty-specific continuing education hours and completing an Alternate Specialty Recertification Application.
Specialty certificants who have an EXPIRED credential need to refer to the chart below as to how many CEs are due based on the number of years the credential has been expired.
Specialty Continuing Education due by December 31, 2020:
Expired 4 or Less Years Expired Greater than 4 Years 24 CEs in specialty area 6 CEs in specialty area for each year expired - If my credential is due to expire in 2023 and I submit an my application NOW, will the seven years be added on to my current expiration, so my credential would now expire in 2029?
No, the seven years is from the date of approval of your recertification application. For example, if your recertification application is approved on October 1, 2019 your certification period would be extended to October 1, 2026, regardless if it was previously set to expire in 2023 (or another year, as an example).
- Can the CEs I obtain for my specialty credential also be used towards the CEs for my CNMT credential CE cycles?
Yes, the CEs you obtain for your specialty credential can be used towards the CEs for your CNMT credential within the CE cycle in which you obtained the specialty CEs. For example, if your CE cycle was 2/1/2019-1/31/2021, any specialty CEs you obtained during this timeframe can be applied towards the CEs for your CNMT credential.
- I am a specialty certificant in both PET and NCT. Can I use the same CE hours towards both specialty credentials?
You may be able to use some CEs for both specialty recertification pathways as long as the CE topic pertains to the area of your respective credential(s). Acceptable CME credits that are applied to the alternate pathway MUST be directly related to the topics that would be on the specialty exam. It is important to pick CME credits that include clearly in the title what was covered OR have documentation of the items that were discussed. Unclear CME credits will require additional information before being accepted.
- Am I able to use a CE with the same reference number more than once for the specialty recertification CE required if I took the CE in different years during my recertification period?
No, you are not able to use a CE with the same reference number multiple times for this alternate specialty recertification pathway. Each CE must have a unique reference number during your recertification period.
- Does vendor equipment training count towards CEs for my specialty credential?
Yes, vendor equipment training will be recognized as 2 CEs maximum per four year period on PET/CT machines for the PET credential and PET/CT or SPECT machines for the NCT credential. The CEs must be recognized by an approved organization recognized by the NMTCB.
- Does ACLS count towards CEs for my specialty credential?
Yes, ACLS training counts as 6 CEs one time during the recertification period for NCT and PET credentials.
- Does BLS count towards CEs for my specialty credential?
No, only ACLS training counts as 6 CE one time during the recertification period for NCT and PET credentials.
- How far back can I go to find CE that may be related to my specialty credential?
If you have a current PET or NCT credential, you may use CE hours that you have obtained after your most recent certification date. If you have an expired specialty credential, you can use CEs that have been obtained within the past seven years. For example, if your credential expires in 2019, specialty CEs obtained after you were certified in 2012 will count; CEs you may have obtained prior to your specialty certification date will not be allowed to count towards the recertification requirements.
- The Specialty Recertification requirements state that no more than half of the CE can be obtained in the last year of the credential. Does this requirement apply to the limited time alternate pathway recertification opportunity as well?
Under the current limited time recertification offer, expired specialty certificants can obtain all required specialty CE within the same year, if necessary. This statement is referencing the alternate recertification requirements that will be in place after January 1, 2021 for all specialty certificants who wish to recertify with the 42 hours of CE in the future.
- My specialty credential expires after December 31, 2020 – which is after the limited time alternate pathway recertification offer will end. Will I be able to recertify my credential using 24 specialty CEs after this date?
No, starting January 1, 2021, current specialty certificants who want to recertify for an additional seven years will be required to (1) successfully pass the specialty examination OR (2) display 42 hours of acceptable specialty-specific continuing education for each year of certification. (The equivalent of 6 hours per year of certification.) Please note that no more than half of the specialty CE hours should be obtained in the 12 months prior to credential expiration.
- After this time limited offer ends, if I have an expired credential how can I get it back?
Effective January 1, 2021, any individual who has an expired credential or lets their specialty credential expire without completing the alternate rectification route will only have the option of successfully passing the specialty exam in order to regain the credential. Specialty certificants will be expected to submit all of the CEs related to their specific exam at the time of recertification and prior to their credential's expiration date.
- How do I know what types of CE will count towards my specialty credential?
PET CE:
In order to qualify, CE used for PET recertification must:
- Be specific to PET topics.
- Pertain to topics listed on the PET Specialty Exam Content Outline
- CE activities must be obtained from a CE approval organization that is recognized by NMTCB
If the word “PET” or the name of a PET radiopharmaceutical is not in the title of the CE activity please include a written explanation along with your attestation form as to why you believe it should count as PET specific CE. You will need to show one of the following:
- A paragraph from the CE vendor website describing what topics are covered in the CE activity
- The CE activity objectives from the vendor website that clearly indicate PET topics were part of the CE activity.
NCT CE:
In order to qualify, CE used for NCT recertification must:
- Be specific to Nuclear Cardiology topics.
- Pertain to topics listed on the NCT Specialty Examination Content Outline
- CE activities must be obtained from a CE approval organization that is recognized by NMTCB
The title of the CE activity should readily identifiable as Nuclear Cardiology related. Examples are CE titles including words like “pharmacological stress, MPI, cardiac sarcoidosis, the name of a cardiac radiopharmaceutical, etc.” If the title of the CE activity title does not easily identify the activity as pertaining to the Nuclear Cardiology topics, please provide a written explanation to us why you believe it should count as NCT specific CE. You will need to show one of the following:
- A paragraph from the CE vendor website describing what topic is covered in the CE activity
- The CE activity objectives from the vendor website that clearly indicate NCT topics were part of the CE activity.
- Once my specialty credential(s) is renewed for an additional seven years, when do I turn in my CEs?
Specialty certificants will be expected to submit all of the CEs related to their specific credential at the time of recertification with an application and payment and prior to their credential's expiration date. Please allow up to 4 weeks to process a recertification application.
- Once my specialty credential is renewed for an additional seven years are there any other fees that I have to pay?
Yes, you have an annual renewal fee for your specialty credential in order to maintain an active credential.
- What is the cost difference between the exam and the alternate pathway recertification option?
Currently, the fee is $225 for the examination and $250 for the alternate pathway option. These fees may change in future years.
- How do I get an application for this time limited alternate pathway recertification option? I don’t see it on the website.
The time limited alternate pathway application is only available by written request to recertifications@nmtcb.org. Please make sure to notate if you have an expired credential or current credential as there are separate applications.
- Do I submit the application and payment now and the CE attestation form when I finish them?
No, please submit your application, payment, and CE attestation form together by December 31, 2020.
- If I want to recertify via the alternate pathway recertification option after December 31, 2020 is there an application form available yet that I can download?
No, at this time the time limited alternate pathway recertification application is only available by sending an email request to recertifications@nmtcb.org.
Please check back in 2020 for the application that will be used for the alternate pathway recertification starting January 1, 2021 and onwards. This information will be posted on the NMTCB website once it is available.
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