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1. PresentsThe Jimmy A Young Memorial Lecture Sunday, July 18, 2010
8:30 to 9:30 AM
Marco Island, FL 1 
2. 2 
3. Jimmy Albert Young, MS, RRT was one of the professions most outstanding and dedicated leaders
1935  born in South Carolina
1960  1966  served as Chief Inhalation Therapist at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston
1965  earned the RRT credential, Registry #263
1966  1970  served in many roles including Director of the Program in Respiratory Therapy at Northeastern University in Boston
1970  became Director of the Respiratory Therapy Department at Massachusetts General Hospital
1973  became the 22nd President of the American Association of Respiratory Care
1975  was serving as an NBRC Trustee and Member-at-Large of the Executive Committee when he passed away unexpectedly 3 
4. The New Decade  Challenges and Opportunities in Credentialing 4 
5. Presenters Lori M Tinkler MBA
NBRC Associate Executive Director
Gregg L Ruppel MEd RRT RPFT FAARC
NBRC President
Robert C Shaw Jr PhD RRT FAARC
NBRC Assistant Executive Director and Psychometrician 5 
6. Five-Step Process This is the only way a new NBRC specialty examination can be started
The steps
Viability study
Personnel study
Job analysis study
Test specification development
Criterion-related validation study 6 
7. 2000 TO 2009 A Reflection 7 
8. 2000 Transitioned six credentialing programs to administrations by computer
On-line application submission
Year-round availability with self-scheduling of administration appointments
Release of examination outcomes on the day of each administration
Conducted job analysis studies
Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist
Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist 8 
9. 2001 Developed study guide and self assessment examinations
Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist
Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist 9 
10. 2002 Implemented policies for a continuing competency program
Conducted job analysis studies
Certified Respiratory Therapist
Registered Respiratory Therapist
Neonatal Pediatric Specialist 10 
11. 2003 Conducted criterion validation and test bias studies for multiple-choice examinations
Certified Respiratory Therapist
Registered Respiratory Therapist
Developed study guide and self assessment examinations
Certified Respiratory Therapist
Registered Respiratory Therapist
Neonatal Pediatric Specialist
 11 
12. 2004 Conducted criterion validation and test bias study
Clinical Simulation Examination
 12 
13. 2005 Conducted a viability study for a potential new specialty examination
Sleep Disorders Specialist 13 
14. 2006 Conducted job analysis studies
Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist
Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist
Conducted a personnel study for a potential new specialty examination
Sleep Disorders Specialist
Conducted a viability study for a potential new specialty examination
Adult Critical Care 14 
15. 2007 Conducted job analysis studies
Certified Respiratory Therapist
Registered Respiratory Therapist
Sleep Disorders Specialist
Conducted a personnel study for a potential new specialty examination
Adult Critical Care
Developed study guide and self assessment examinations
Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist
Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist
Managed credential renewal for the first therapists, specialists, and technologists under the continuing competency program 15 
16. 2008 Conducted criterion validation and test bias studies for multiple-choice examinations
Certified Respiratory Therapist
Registered Respiratory Therapist 
Developed the first test forms for the sleep disorders specialist program 16 
17. 2009 Launched the sleep disorders specialist program
Conducted job analysis studies
Neonatal Pediatric Specialist
Adult Critical Care
Developed study guide and self-assessment examinations
Sleep Disorders Specialist 17 
18. Summary of Studies 12 job analysis studies
5 criterion validity and test bias studies
Added two specialty examination programs
2 viability studies
2 personnel studies 18 
19. Summary of Policy Changes Implemented  
Associate degree entry
continuing competency program
three-year limit on RRT eligibility 19 
20. Who Does the Work? 
21. Board Work Load 2 week-long meetings each year to develop items for test forms
20 meetings total for the decade
31 trustees and 9 staff averaged 4 days per meeting for a total of 320 per year
1 week-end meeting each year for the Executive Committee of the Board
Numerous hours of homework and conference calls 21 
22. Resources Consumed to Accomplish this Work Time 
Volunteers and the employers who make these people available
Money
Fees to take examinations, maintain active status, and renew credentials
Examination fees have not increased since 2000 22 
23. Responsibilities of a typical board member Pamela L. Bortner, MBA, RRT, FAARC
Examination committee member
Chairperson for the Clinical Simulation
Member for the Adult Critical Care
Standing committee member
Admissions
Nominations
Examination Committee Chairmen 23 
24. Time Commitment in 2010 Clinical Simulation  5 full days
Adult Critical Care  12 full days
Nominations   of a day
Admissions   of a day
Examination Committee Chairmen   of a day
 24 
25. The New Decade  Challenges Maintain high standards for credentialing, balancing healthcare cost reductions AND quality improvement
Provide examinations that meet states needs to protect the public AND promote excellence in Respiratory Care 
Promote respiratory care credentials in healthcare workplaces 25 
26. The New Decade  Opportunities Develop credentialing examinations for areas of specialty practice in respiratory care as they emerge
Adapt content of examinations to
reflect evidence-based respiratory care
meet changing needs of healthcare consumers
evaluate respiratory therapists in an era of changing competencies 26 
27. New specialty examinations Neonatal / Pediatric
Adult Critical Care 27 
28. What is New? Some items will engage judgment about ethics to select the best answer
5 out of 150 for the adult critical care specialty 
3 out of 120 for the neonatal / pediatric specialty 28 
29. Example from ACC 29 
30. Example from NPS 30 
31. Secondary Specifications are New for ACC 31 
32. And for NPS 32 
33. Primary Specifications for ACC 33 
34. ACC Item Distribution by Cognitive Level 34 
35. Primary Specifications for NPS 35 
36. NPS Item Distribution by Cognitive Level 36 
37. Summary Challenges and opportunities continue
The credentialing system continues to evolve
The NBRC continues to build on the hierarchical structure of the credentialing examination system 37 
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39. 18000 W 105th St
Olathe, KS 66061-7543
Phone (913) 895 4900FAX (913) 895 4650
www.nbrc.org Contact Information 39