1. Advancement Information Session
Becoming Board Certified in Healthcare Management as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives
Hello, and welcome to ACHE’s Advancement Information Session. Here you will learn about the requirements and process of becoming board certified in healthcare management as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives—the premier credential in the healthcare management field that indicates significant professional and personal achievement. Thank you for your participation today. Taking the time to learn about the ACHE advancement process and requirements is an important first step on the pathway to earning your FACHE credential. Our hope is that this session demystifies the Fellow advancement process and motivates you to take the next important step for your career by submitting your Fellow application, if you have not already done so.
The agenda for today’s program is as follows: The first half will be dedicated to reviewing the personal and professional benefits of attaining Fellow status and the core requirements and steps in this rigorous process. The second half will cover details on the Board of Governors Examination in Healthcare Management—one of the core requirements for advancement—and the study resources available to help you prepare for the Exam. We will also review how you can use your My ACHE page on ache.org to check your application status throughout the process after you submit your application. This page is a key resource in understanding the remaining steps you need to take to earn your FACHE credential.

2. President and Chief Executive Officer Catholic Health Initiatives
“Being board certified in healthcare management signifies your commitment to excellence and professional development. Fellows are recognized by their healthcare colleagues and employers as competent leaders who strive to make a difference.”
Kevin E. Lofton, FACHE
President and Chief Executive Officer
Catholic Health Initiatives
Denver, CO
Why should you invest the time and effort to earn your FACHE? This testimonial from a highly respected leader in the healthcare management field, Kevin Lofton, President and Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Health Initiatives, who holds his board certification in healthcare management, says it all. Having FACHE after your name demonstrates your commitment to excellence, professional development and competency.

3. What does it mean?
The FACHE credential demonstrates professionalism, ethical decision making, competence, leadership skills and commitment to lifelong learning.
The FACHE credential symbolizes a commitment to excellence; it is a rigorous credential based on multi-faceted criteria—including a valid and reliable examination.
Board certification provides the personal satisfaction of achieving a goal and achieving professional recognition.
Kevin’s testimonial captured the overall value of attaining your FACHE. Now let’s look a little closer at each of these keys benefits:
The FACHE credential demonstrates professionalism, ethical decision making, competence, leadership skills and commitment to lifelong learning.
There are multiple steps to becoming board certified in healthcare management that involve academic preparation, tenure, experience, continuing education and professional and community involvement. Although passing the exam is a major milestone in this endeavor, the other steps are of equal importance and are designed to lend credibility to you, the healthcare professional, and are a clear demonstration of your commitment to excellence.
Lastly, by earning your FACHE, you will be formally recognized by your colleagues and employers for your significant professional achievement. You will also gain personal satisfaction after completing the rigorous process.

4. The Credentialing System Is:
Rigorous and inclusive—encouraging healthcare executives to demonstrate their competence, commitment to ethical decision making and participation in ongoing professional development.
The credentialing program, with its multifaceted requirements, which include passing the Board of Governors Exam, is designed to be both rigorous and inclusive to demonstrate your competency, commitment to ethical decision making and dedication to lifelong learning.

5. ACHE Tenure & Experience Ongoing Professional Development
Single FACHE credential—based on multifaceted criteria
Academic Preparation
References
& Involvement
BOG Exam
ACHE Tenure & Experience
CEUs
Ongoing Professional Development
Here is a complete list of the multifaceted criteria involved in attaining the credential, and we’ll go into more detail on each one in the next few
slides. Please note that these components do not need to be completed in any particular order.
We are looking for affiliates with academic preparation, tenure with ACHE as a Member, a relevant position and healthcare management experience, references from active Fellows, continuing education credits, professional and civic involvement in your communities and, of course, passing the Board of Governor’s Examination in Healthcare Management.
Note: Components are not sequential

6. Criteria Postbaccalaureate degree
Three years’ tenure as an ACHE Member
Five years’ healthcare management experience
40 hours of CEUs—at least 12 ACHE Face-to-Face Education credits
Three Fellow references—including a structured interview
Professional and community/civic participation
Board of Governors Exam
Let’s discuss the specific criteria for earning the credential.
You must hold a postbaccalaureate degree from an accredited university, either a master’s or another advanced degree.
You must have reached three years of ACHE tenure. This tenure may be gained at the Member, Faculty Associate or International Associate level, but you must be a full Member at the time of your application to be considered for advancement. Fellows should have an understanding of ACHE and the opportunities associated with being a Member of the premier professional healthcare association. To clarify, you do not need to have reached the three years of tenure at the time you apply. You can apply at any time once you have met the minimum application requirements of holding a postbaccalaureate degree and having two years of healthcare management experience.
You must have five years of healthcare management experience, as relevant work experience is an important component of advancing to Fellow status.
You must have earned 40 hours of continuing education credit in the last five years—12 of those hours must be ACHE Face-to-Face Education credit the remaining 28 hours can be ACHE Qualified Education credits.
Three Fellow references are also required from current ACHE Fellows. One of these references will be submitted in the form of a structured interview.
Another key requirement in the credentialing process is professional and community or civic participation. This participation must include involvement in two healthcare activities and two community activities.
And finally, you must pass the Board of Governors Exam—a core component that tests your knowledge in 10 key areas of healthcare management, which we will cover in just a few minutes.

7. Criteria Tenure with ACHE Position & Experience
Three years’ tenure as an ACHE Member
Position & Experience
Hold a healthcare management position in an acceptable organization as defined in the Regulations Governing Admission, Advancement and Recertification
Five years’ healthcare management experience
Now we’ll take a look at each criterion more closely:
Tenure
You must be an active member of ACHE for at least three years at the Member, Faculty or International Associate level in order to complete the advancement process. However, you do not need to meet this tenure requirement to apply as long as you meet the other requirements for submitting an application; these include having a postbaccalaureate degree, having a minimum of two years of healthcare management experience and holding a current healthcare management position.
Position & Experience
Your position and healthcare management experience are crucial to completing this process. You must currently hold a healthcare management position in an acceptable organization as defined in the Regulations Governing Admission, Advancement and Recertification.
New Fellows must have a minimum of five years of healthcare management experience to complete the advancement process. However, in order to apply, you need at least two years of healthcare management experience. Your application remains active for three years, during which time we’re sure you will meet this five-year requirement.

8. Definition of Healthcare Management Position
A healthcare management position is one which the person is employed by a healthcare organization or by an organization whose purpose is to influence the growth, development or operations of a healthcare organization. To be eligible for advancement, a candidate’s position must include planning, organizing, staffing, leading and controlling functions at the organizational or departmental level. Eligible positions include but are not limited to C-suite executives (CEOs, COOs, CMOs, CNOs, CIOs, etc.), associate and assistant administrative officers, directors as well as specialty management positions of comparable executive authority.
Please note that postgraduate residency or fellowship experience does not count toward the healthcare management experience requirement to advance. Other positions that do not qualify as management under this definition include coordinator and assistant-level positions. To summarize the formal definition, you must be in a position where you are managing your organization’s resources, which may include staff and a budget.
You may have specific questions about whether your current or previous experience qualifies as healthcare management based on this definition. In most cases we would need to see a copy of your job description and organization chart in order to make an assessment.

9. Criteria References Continuing Education
Three references from Fellows, one of which must be a structured interview
40 hours of CEU credits over the previous five years
12 credits must be ACHE Face-to-Face Education credit
Balance may be ACHE Qualified Education credit
Let’s move on to discuss the criteria for references and continuing education.
First, we’ll talk about the references.
We are looking for references from three active Fellows of ACHE. One reference must be what we call a “structured interview.” This may be either a face-to-face meeting or a telephone call between you and one of your three Fellow references. During the interview, your reference will ask you about your competence, judgment, ethics and integrity as an FACHE candidate. These questions can be found on the structured interview portion of the Fellow reference form, which can be completed online; downloaded from ACHE’s website, ache.org; or completed on the paper form. You will be required to answer these questions to be considered for advancement, and I encourage you to review them before you sit down for your face-to-face or telephone interview.
Now, if you do not know three Fellows who can serve as references for you, please go to ache.org and access the affiliate directory to locate Fellows in your area, or contact your Regent or chapter officials and ask for assistance with identifying Fellows who may be willing to provide references. When you attend ACHE education programs such as the Congress on Healthcare Leadership or cluster seminars, you will find plenty of Fellows to network with who will likely be more than happy to serve as a reference for you. Just give them a heads up that you will contact them in the future for a Fellow reference.
8. In the criteria for continuing education, we are looking to see that you have 40 hours of continuing education credit over the past five years. ACHE Fellows are lifelong learners who are committed to their ongoing professional development. A minimum of 12 continuing education hours must be ACHE Face-to-Face Education credit the remaining 28 hours can be ACHE Qualified Education credits.
ACHE Qualified Education credit are earned through programs offered by ACHE, chapters or other qualified sources, whether the programming is face-to-face or distance offerings (webinars, online seminars, self-study courses, etc). You will want to keep a record of your participation in such programs and report them as ACHE Qualified Education credit on your My ACHE page. Formal university or college education courses required for a degree do not count as ACHE Qualified Education credit. The total education hours are calculated by instruction time and do not include break times. For example, if you attended a one-day seminar for a total of 8 hours that included an hour-and-a-half lunch, then you would report 6.5 hours of education credit.

10. Criteria
Professional & Community Involvement
Minimum of two examples of professional participation required over the previous three years, such as in the affairs of ACHE and its independent chapters, or national, regional and state healthcare associations
Minimum of two examples of participation in community organizations required over the prior three years, such as in national, state or community nonprofit organizations
Because ACHE Fellows are leaders who go above and beyond not just in their everyday work but also in the larger healthcare community, professional and community involvement is also a requirement for advancement.
We are looking for two examples of your professional participation from the previous three years, such as in the affairs of ACHE and its chapters or in national, regional and state healthcare associations. This involvement can range from serving on your state hospital association board to participating in a one-time event such as being a speaker for an ACHE chapter meeting. In addition, participation in two community organizations is required over the prior three years, such as in national, state or community nonprofit organizations. Examples of participation that meet this requirement include coaching a Little League team, volunteering at a one-time fundraising event for a homeless shelter or serving on a church or synagogue board.

11. Changes in Continuing Education Credit Terminology
Healthcare Management Continuing Education credit - the credit in total that is required for Fellow advancement and recertification
ACHE Face-to-Face Education credit (formerly known as Category I) – credit that is earned through ACHE approved chapter panel discussion and programs offered by the national organization
ACHE Qualified Education credit (formerly known as Category II) – credit that is earned through programs offered by ACHE, chapters or other qualified sources
There were some recent important changes made to the continuing education requirement which started in 2012 and will be completely phased in by These changes are intended to strengthen the FACHE credential’s significance as an indicator of advanced professional achievement. The changes were approved by ACHE’s Board of Governors, who undertook a review of the credentialing process, focusing on ensuring rigor in obtaining and maintaining the status of board certification in healthcare management as well as the ongoing role of fellowship in one’s professional development.
The terminology used to describe ACHE continuing education credit formerly termed Category I credits changed in 2012 to Face to Face credits. These credits will be awarded only through ACHE face-to-face learning. The fundamental concept underpinning the credential’s meaning is that Fellows are leaders in their community who interact and learn alongside each other.
Distance learning – whether offered by ACHE chapters, ACHE or other qualified sources will earn ACHE Qualified Education credit – formerly known as Category II credit.

12. Upcoming Change in Continuing Education Requirement
After January 1, 2014
36 total hours over the previous three years will be needed for advancement and recertification
12 hours must be ACHE Face-to-Face Education credit
Remaining 24 hours may be ACHE Qualified Education credit
The number of education credits required in the time frame in which to earn them will also change. Beginning January 1, 2014, a total of 36 hours of continuing education from the previous three years will be needed to advance and recertify. Twelve hours must be ACHE Face-to-Face Education credit and the remaining 24 hours can be ACHE Qualified Education credit. When the Board reviewed ACHE’s credentialing requirements and compared them with other healthcare associations that offer a credential, they found that our continuing education requirement fell slightly behind what other associations were requiring, so this change makes the FACHE credential more competitive and on par with similar associations.

13. How will these changes affect your application for advancement to Fellow?
If application is submitted:
Between now and Dec. 31, 2013 – 40 hours of Healthcare Management Continuing Education credits over the previous five years: 12 hours must be ACHE Face –to-Face Education credits; balance may be ACHE Qualified Education credits
After Jan. 1, 2014 – 36 hours of Healthcare Management Continuing Education credits over the previous three years: 12 hours must be ACHE Face-to-Face Education credits; balance may be ACHE Qualified credits
If you are curious about how the changes will affect your current or future application, here are some key details.
If you apply for the FACHE credential now through December 31, 2011, your application will not be affected by these changes.
Between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2013, the number of education credits required will still be 40 hours earned in the prior five years. However, 12 hours must be ACHE Face-to-Face education credit. Note that unexpired distance learning credits earned before December 31, 2011, will still count as ACHE Face-to-Face Education credit.
Beginning January 1, 2014, 36 hours from the previous three years will be required to achieve or maintain certification, and 12 of those hours must be ACHE face-to-face credit.

14. Board of Governors Exam Fee Waiver Offer: Apply March 1–June 30 and Save $200
There is added incentive for you to submit your application now—the opportunity to save $200 on the Board of Governors Exam fee when you submit your completed Fellow application and $250 application fee by June 30. Pending approval of your application, ACHE will waive the $200 exam fee. The waiver is valid for up to 6 months after receipt. All follow-up materials, such as your references, must be received at ACHE by August 31 for the waiver to be valid.
I encourage you to pick up an application today at the Membership Booth in the exhibit hall, or you can conveniently apply online at ache.org/FACHE.
Now, I will turn the presentation over to Pat Griffith to talk about the Board of Governors Exam.

15. Board of Governors Exam in Healthcare Management
Successful completion of the Board of Governors Examination in Healthcare Management
The Board of Governors Exam consists of 230 multiple-choice questions covering general knowledge of management principles in 10 healthcare knowledge areas
The Board of Governors Examination in Healthcare Management consists of 230 questions questions are actually scored, while the remaining 30 are pretest questions to be evaluated as future exam questions. You will not be able to differentiate the pretest questions from the actual, scored questions.

16. Knowledge Areas Governance and Organizational Structure 5% 6%
Human Resources % 11%
Finance % 11%
Healthcare Technology and Information Management 5% 6%
Quality and Performance Improvement 10% 10%
Laws and Regulations 8% 7%
Professionalism and Ethics 8% 8%
Healthcare % 17%
Management % 15%
Business % 9%
August 2013
Ten knowledge areas are covered in the BOG Exam. Each area covers a specific percentage on the exam. For example, the Finance topic is covered in 10 percent of the questions, or 20 questions; Management knowledge is tested in 15 percent of the questions, or 30 questions; and Healthcare is covered in 18 percent of the questions, or 36 questions.
The percentages were determined by a job analysis survey that was conducted with several thousand ACHE affiliates.
As a result of a more recent job analysis, there were changes made to the percentages. These changes will be reflected in the updated version of the exam in August 2013.

17. Applying to Take the BOG Exam
The application for Fellow also serves as the application to take the exam
Application is good for three years
Before taking the exam, you must meet the following subset of criteria for Fellow status:
Master’s or other advanced degree
A healthcare management position and two years’ healthcare management experience
Three references from Fellows, including one structured interview
Completed Fellow application with $250 fee
$200 examination fee at time of exam registration
Advancement to Fellow is a two-step process. The first step is passing the BOG Exam. The second step is meeting the continuing education and tenure requirements. In order to sit for the exam, you must have a master’s degree, a healthcare management position and two years of healthcare management experience, three references and the submission of your application.

18. Exam Scoring The BOG Exam is a pass/fail exam
A candidate’s reported score in the written exam equals the total number of correct responses
It is to your advantage to answer every question
Your score on the BOG Exam is determined by the number of correct answers. There are no points taken away for incorrect answers. Therefore, it is to your advantage to answer each question.
The Board of Governors Exam is what is known as a criterion-referenced test. The criteria are a set score for passing the test as determined by ACHE’s Examination Committee. The set score, or standard, represents a fixed standard of knowledge and is independent of candidate performance on the test. In other words, a passing score is set by our content experts and varies from year to year based on the difficulty of the exam. In contrast, traditional academic grading systems typically use the norm-referenced testing method. In this method the test compares the performance of each candidate to others taking the same test. The passing score for the norm-referenced test is determined by the performance of all candidates. Examples of norm-referenced test are the GRE and SAT college entrance exams.

19. Testing Sites
Offered at Prometric computer testing sites
Prometric testing sites are located throughout the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico
The exam is also offered internationally for military and civilians
The BOG exam is offered at computerized testing sites throughout the United States and in Guam and Puerto Rico. Most of the major cities have several sites.
The exam is also offered internationally through Prometric testing centers. These sites are open to members of the military as well as civilians.

20. Exam Preparation
Allow approximately 3 to 6 months to prepare, depending on your expertise and experience
Determine your most effective studying style
Review the 10 key knowledge areas
Contact your local chapter regarding a study group
Consider enrolling in the Online Tutorial course or the BOG Exam Review Course
Review “Study Tips from ACHE Affiliates” and other online resources in the Credentialing area of ache.org
Everyone has a preferred method for studying. We recommend that you start by familiarizing yourself with the 10 knowledge areas covered on the exam. We offer several resources to assist you, which we describe in the following slides.

21. Special Programs
For those like me who prefer face-to-face learning, look into the 2½-day Exam Review Course. This is a popular method of study, and you will receive 19 hours of ACHE face-to-face education hours upon completion. These classes fill up quickly, so consider registering early if this is your preferred method of study. The next one Exam Review Course is scheduled for April 15 in Chicago.

22. Online Tutorial
You may also register for the Online Tutorial if you have self-discipline to study on your own. This method is for those who need the flexibility to work around your busy schedule. The Online Tutorial is a 12-week program that allows you to study at your own pace within a specified time frame. It is a convenient way to prepare for the Board of Governors Exam. The tutorial uses an online self-study format to help refine your knowledge and improve your study skills. This program provides a detailed look at the different topics covered on the exam and resources to focus your preparation. The next session begins in April 15 – July 6

23. Online Community
Lastly, we offer the Exam Online Community on our website. If you are a Member, you have probably received information on how to reach this community. If you are not an active Member, you must become one to access this area of ache.org. ACHE has place several resources on the Exam Online Community page, and community participants include healthcare professionals, Fellows and those who have recently passed the exam. They are there to help you and give you the support you need to successfully complete the exam. Moreover, they will answer specific questions you have based on either their professional knowledge or their experience when taking the exam.

24. Registering for the Exam
After your application for Fellow status is accepted, you will receive an exam registration form.
Return the exam registration form to ACHE along with your exam registration fee or coupon.
Select an exam site—Prometric.com
Follow the directions on your confirmation letter to register at the desired site.
* Please pay close attention to the Prometric rules, which are included in your confirmation letter as well as at the online Prometric site. They are very specific, and Prometric will not deviate from them.
You will need to submit an exam registration form with the fee or coupon to ACHE. If you like, you may review the testing sites available in your area by going to the website Prometric.com. You will receive a confirmation letter from ACHE with directions for registering for the exam. Prometric sites have very strict rules. Please pay close attention to the rules, which are included in your confirmation letter as well as at the online Prometric site.

25. Taking the Exam You have six hours to complete the exam.
The computer testing is easy to navigate. You will have the ability to mark items you wish to return to.
At the conclusion of the exam, you will receive a printout stating whether or not you passed the exam.
The printout includes a breakdown of the 10 knowledge areas and the percentage of questions answered correctly in each area.
Computer testing is easy to navigate. You will have 6 hours to complete the test. You will be able to mark questions you wish to return to, which will be listed for you as a reference. You will receive a printout at the conclusion of the exam. It will inform you whether you passed or failed the exam. It will also break down the 10 knowledge areas and the percentage of correct answers in each area. This will give you an indication of the areas you may wish to focus on for improvement. If you do not pass the exam the first time around, please don’t get discouraged. You are in good company. Brush up on the areas you scored the lowest in, and try again.
You must wait 2 months before retaking the exam.

26. Additional Information
Once you pass the exam, you may refer to yourself as a Fellow designate.
After you complete all of the requirements for Fellow status you will advance to Fellow.
Track your status online at you My ACHE page.
Once you successfully pass the BOG Exam you may refer to yourself as a Fellow designate.

27. MY ACHE TRACKING YOUR ADVANCEMENT
Personalized messages that include:
When an applicant can register for the exam and, after he/she registers with ACHE, when he/she must take the exam by (exam expiration date)
A congratulatory message after an affiliate passes the Board of Governors Exam
Advancement Status Bar
Shows steps an applicant has completed and those that have not been completed
Detailed information about the final requirements that must be met after passing the Board of Governors Exam:
Each requirement is listed as “Complete” or “Incomplete”
Personalized information from each applicant’s ACHE database record
Track your advancement process on My ACHE. The personalized messages will guide you through the Fellow application process. They will notify you when you are eligible to submit an application, take the Board of Governors Exam and if you are missing any documents in your application.

28. To help you determine the status of your application, review the FACHE graphic at the bottom of the page. For additional information, click on the FACHE Application Status link.

29. The FACHE Final Steps page will inform you about the final steps in your advancement process. In the scenario shown on this slide, the applicant has met the experience requirement as well as healthcare and community activity requirement.
At this stage, this individual has not met the tenure requirement or the continuing education requirement.

30. Additional Information
Customer Service Center
(312)
Credentialing area of ache.org
Exam Online Community at
Bogcommunity.ache.org
For additional information please contact ACHE using these resources.