The Rigors of Exam Development Phil Dickison
Levels of Regulation I - Designation II - Registration III - Certification IV – Licensure APRNs will be licensed independent practitioners who are expected to practice within standards established or recognized by a licensing body. The Consensus Model for APRN Regulation; Licensure, Accreditation, Certification, and Education, July 7,2008
Steps in developing a defensible credentialing exam 1. Job Analysis/Role Delineation/Test Blueprint 2. Item Writing 3. Item Review 4. Test Development 5. Standard Setting 6. Statistical Analysis, Scoring, Equating, and Scaling
Deliberate and synchronized plan for exam development Current Practice Job Analysis/Role Delineation Test Plan
What certification looks like for APRNs under Consensus Required element of eligibility to practice Tests in a role and population Test measures entry level Test measures current practice Exam is psychometrically sound and legally defensible Exam/program is accredited Passing standards are established and regularly reevaluated Testing practices are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act A retake policy is established Exam security is maintained Exam is reviewed and accepted by a regulatory authority