IN THE NEWS

AE-C exam questions are all currently based on the EPR2 guidelines from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) under the National Institutes of Health. Exam questions related to the newly released EPR3 guidelines will be “tested” on the exam version released during the second half of 2008. However, those questions will be pre-test items only and will not contribute to a passing or failing score on the examination. Most likely, the exam content based on the EPR3 guidelines will be released in the 2009 summer exam version.

The development, assessment, and validation of examination items involves a lengthy and extensive process. New question items appropriate for the examination must be written. After that, the items undergo a formal review first by an exam committee member, then by the entire examination committee. The next step is to include the item as a pre-test item on an exam version. For every exam version there are 25 pre-test items. Performance on these items is critically evaluated by the professional testing company that administers the exam and the NAECB exam committee. If the item appears valid, reliable, and appropriate, it can be added to the item bank for future examinations.

With all of this said, please note that the very nature of the examination is based on the role of the asthma educator, and although the guidelines may reflect a shifting emphasis, the basic concepts are consistent among different versions of the National Guidelines.

We hope that this clarifies why the exam is still based on the EPR2 guidelines as well as the complexity and the extended amount of time that it takes to make changes to the exam. If you have additional questions regarding this matter, please contact our office toll free at 800-317-5206 or via email at info@nacb.org.