About Certification As An
Asthma Educator through NEACB
Certification Update
The National Asthma Educator Certification Board (www.naecb.org) has accomplished what many said was impossible—a national certification for Asthma Educators! The test went on-line September 19, 2002 and as of
March 1, 2010, 3,007 individuals have successfully become certified with a 66.8% pass rate.
Individuals who have taken and passed the test are allowed to use the designation AE-C. Anyone using these initials without passing the NAECB test are at risk of being barred from taking the test in the future. The Association of Asthma Educators would like to compile a list of members who have earned the designation AE-C. Please notify us if you have passed the test so that we can publish your name on our website.
Applied Management Professionals (AMP) has been hired by the NAECB to administer the exam. They have produced a test handbook, which explains the test process, outlines areas covered by test questions, and helps the candidate to prepare for the test. Tests are administered at H&R Block offices across the country and scheduled during the week at a variety of times. Tests are administered on a computer and scoring will be done by AMP. The cost of the test is $275 and certification will be valid for 7 years. Requirements for sitting for the exam have been established by the Board.
Individuals may be admitted to the examination based on either of the two following qualifications:
- Licensed or credentialed health care professionals OR
- Individuals providing professional asthma education and counseling with a minimum of 1,000 hours experience in these activities. The
following is a list of those currently licensed or credentialed health care professionals that may be admitted to the examination under
the first requirement:
Physicians (MD, DO)
Physician Assistants (PA-C)
Nurse Practitioners (NP)
Nurses (RN, LPN)
Respiratory Therapists (RRT, CRT)
Pulmonary Function Technologists (CPFT, RPFT)
Pharmacists (RPh)
Social Workers (CSW)
Health Educators (CHES)
Physical Therapists (PT)
Occupational Therapists (OT)
Reimbursement
Beginning in 2006, CPT codes were approved for asthma coordination/counseling, as done by an asthma educator. The submission for codes by the NAECB was the first step in obtaining third party reimbursement for asthma education. For the latest information on reimbursement for your state or local area, asthma diagnosis codes, medication guidelines, medicare guidelines, and much more, visit the NAECB's comprehensive reimbursement coding website at www.naecb.org/cbr.