NOTICE:

Academy Part 2 Diplomate examination is scheduled for September 29, 2012 at Northwestern Health Sciences University. Contact Dr. Jerry Wildenauer (aco@dcorthoacademy.com) for further details.

(Scroll down to see postgraudate letter for more details)

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Announcemnt: The Academy is working with the Brazilian college Faculdade America Latina in Caxais du Sol, Brazil. We have been working with the Post Grad department assisting with the college's Orthopedic Diplomate program. Completion is late 2013. The class name is Chiropractic Orthopedics and Traumatology. It is an advanced level program.

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The Academy Board has voted to make some significant changes in the Diplomate examination process. This is in keeping with the recommendations of our advisors and Board members. Beginning this summer (2012), the candidates will have access to a Part I examination. This will be a distance based multiple choice (MCQ) examination. The psychometric and testing organization that we are using has over 300 sites where the examination can be taken. This examination will be designed to follow the job description document that was completed by the Academy, American College of Chiropractic Orthopedists, Council on Chiropractic Orthopedists and the Texas Council of Chiropractic Orthopedists. The candidate must pass this examination prior to sitting Part II or the OSCE examination. These tests have been and are undergoing fundamental changes to meet the requirements. Should the candidate fail, they can reset the test as early as the following day. Three unsuccessful attempts will require 30 hours of postgraduate study in an orthopedic based Diplomate level program to qualify to take the examination again

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POST GRADUATE LETTER...

RE: Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists

       Diplomate Examinations - 2012

Dear Postgraduate Director,

The reason for this letter is to inform you and your departments of important changes in the Academy Diplomate examination process.  These changes are the result of 1) The Academy’s compliance with NCCA “Standards”, 2) changing chiropractic orthopedic graduate demographics, 3) examination economic realities, 4) technological advancements in examination processes, and 5) continuing development and refinement of the examination process.

The Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists (ACO) has been part of the chiropractic orthopedic landscape since 1984 and has conferred Diplomate certification (DACO) since 2004.  The Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists is an active member of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence and complies with the NCCA STANDARDS FOR THE ACCREDITATION OF CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS. The Academy is currently a full voting member of the American Educational Research Association (AREA).

In recent years, the Academy has examined approximately 175 candidates from multiple college and university programs.  The great majority of these candidates have been stellar; The Academy commends your programs for this academic pursuit

Beginning in mid-2012, the Academy will begin offering an online Part I examination. Once the candidate passes Part I, they are eligible to participate in the Part II, OSCE examination.  Essentially, with this format, the Academy is seeking to determine candidate knowledge base and competency before allowing participation in the skills based clinical examination settings.

Part I examinations dates and sites will be announced in late spring 2012; Part II OSCE examinations will be administered September 29, 2012 at NWHSU in Bloomington, MN. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Academy at 612-454-1472.

Sincerely,

Jerry Wildenauer DC, FACO

Executive Director,

Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists

ACADEMY OF CHIROPRACTIC ORTHOPEDISTS OBTAIN FULL MEMBERSHIP IN THE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION (AREA)

 The Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists formed a Committee on Programmatic Accreditation. The Academy appointed Dr. Ronald C. Evans as its Chair. This was a natural appointment as Dr. Evans' background on this issue goes back to the development of using the OSCE examination for chiropractic specialty use. This was presented at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School,  Dundee , Scotland. The presentation was at the International Conference Proceedings of the "Approaches to the Assessment of Clinical Competence". The presentation was on graduate level testing by specialty Boards.  Dr. Evans was the principal developer of incorporating the OSCE examination format into the chiropractic specialty process. In the audience at this presentation were representatives of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE), National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) plus other post graduate and undergraduate entities.

Dr. Evans has access on his Committee to educators (Masters and PhD), IT specialist, Diplomates, statistician and prior examiners.

The Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists is pleased to announce that the Academy is a full voting member of the American Educational Research Association (AERA).  This membership was completed on April 15, 2011. 

The American Educational Research Association (AERA), founded in 1916, is concerned with improving the educational process by encouraging scholarly inquiry related to education and evaluation and by promoting the dissemination and practical application of research results. 

AERA is the most prominent international professional organization, with the primary goal of advancing educational research and its practical application. Its more than 25,000 members are educators; administrators; directors of research; persons working with testing or evaluation in federal, state and local agencies; counselors; evaluators; graduate students; and behavioral scientists. 

The broad range of disciplines represented by the membership includes education, psychology, statistics, sociology, history, economics, philosophy, anthropology, and political science. 

Academy is deeply involved in the AERA activities as they pertain to continuing the Academy mission and vision of excellence in credentialing chiropractic orthopedists.  Academy is also a member of 4 special interest groups within the AERA domain of activities.  Each SPIG offers education and guidance in specific areas pertinent to Academy examination processes.  

Academy is in Division H of AERA, the division focused on Research, Evaluation, & Assessment in Schools.

Increasingly, education researchers in every state and school district, and many countries around the world, are striving to make their work useful and relevant to improving decisions about educational policies and practices.  Academy has seen the evidence from recent cross-state and international studies which clearly show the strong and positive relationship between educational attainment and individual accomplishment, as well as gains in economic performance and improved well-being of a society.

Over the past three years Division H, with its unique interaction between members working in applied and academic settings, has experienced a significant percent increase in membership, due to its focus on key applications for education research -- including student assessments (both for accountability and classroom use), program evaluation studies, and applied research as they directly relate to improving the quality of education. These are goals and attributes consistent with Academy activities. 

Further, Academy participates in the special interest groups of: 1) Advanced  Studies of National Databases; 2)  Cognition and Assessment, 3)  Professional Licensure & Certification and 4) Test Validity Research & Evaluation. 

The Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists is a national examining body that strives to advance knowledge about chiropractic clinical orthopedic education, to encourage scholarly inquiry related to education, and to promote the use of research to improve education and serve the public good.  Membership in the American Educational Research Association (AERA) is consistent with this mission. Academy will be participating in upcoming national and regional meetings of AERA.

The Academy continues to strengthen your educational achievements, strengthen our specialty and provide credibility to that process. Thank you to Dr. Evans and the Programmatic Accreditation Committee. They are not resting on their success, but are continuing their mission that they have been outlined to follow.

ACADEMY AND INSTITUTE FOR CREDENTIALING EXCELLENCE (ICE)

The Committee on Programmatic Accreditation is pleased to report that the Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists achieved full organizational membership in the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE), as of April 21, 2011. 

As the Academy and this committee understands, in 1977, the National Commission for Health Certifying Agencies (NCHCA) was formed, in cooperation with the federal government, to develop standards of excellence for voluntary certification programs. Credentialing processes for chiropractic orthopedics began in the mid 1960's, well ahead of NCHCA activities.  

In 1989, the scope of those standards was broadened to include certifications for individuals in all professions and occupations. At that time, the standard-setting and accrediting organization NCHCA became the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), and the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA) was formed as the membership association for credentialing bodies. This coincides with the participation of chiropractic orthopedics certifying bodies in the continuing discussions and conferences on assessment of clinical competence.  These conferences took place at the Royal Academy of Physicians and Surgeons, Ottawa, CN, and culminated in presentations concerning OSCE refinements in chiropractic orthopedics, at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee Scotland in 1992 by Drs. Ronald Evans and James Brandt.  It is encouraging to note that a great deal of the guiding principles espoused by the chiropractic orthopedic certifying body at that time exists in today's national and international credentialing literature.

For more than 30 years, NOCA, NCCA, and their predecessor have promoted excellence in credentialing through education, research, advocacy, standard setting, and accreditation. As NOCA became the worldwide leader in providing knowledge and information to assist certification professionals in developing and managing high-quality certification programs, the Board of Directors recognized its broadening scope and the need to redefine the organization. In 2009, the Board proposed a name change for the organization that was approved by the membership and NOCA became the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE).

Today, ICE is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing educational, networking and advocacy resources for the credentialing community.  ICE’s accrediting body, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), evaluates certification organization for compliance with the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs. NCCA's Standards exceed the requirements set forth by the American Psychological Association and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  The Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing credentialing and educational resources for the chiropractic orthopedic community. The Academy ascribes to the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs.  Academy applications for program accreditation are in process.

ICE is accredited by the American National Standards Institute as a Standards Developer.

This committee recognizes that certification of specialized skill-sets affirms a knowledge and experience base for practitioners in a particular field, their employers, and the public at large.  Academy certification represents a declaration of a particular individual’s professional competence.  In some professions, certification is a requirement for employment or practice; doctors, mechanics, accountants, professional secretaries, surveyors and many others are all required to go through a certification process of some kind.  In all instances, certification enhances the employ-ability and career advancement of the individual practitioner or employee.

Many organizations in today’s competitive and challenging economy have recognized their workforce as their most valuable asset.  Likewise, individuals, whether employed or self-employed, know that now more than ever before they must acquire and maintain more comprehensive skill-sets to ensure their own attractiveness and ability in the workplace. 

Certification affects employers, employees, and consumers. These groups can appreciate the following benefits:

• Employers recognize the establishment of a professional standard for individuals in a particular field
• Employers can make better informed hiring decisions based on these professional standards
• Employers experience a more productive, highly-trained workforce
• Employees gain prestige and a competitive advantage over non-certified individuals in the same field
• Employees gain employment opportunities as a result of this competitive advantage
• Employees may receive higher wages in the form of bonuses, education assistance, or higher salaries
• Consumers can make more informed decisions about qualified providers
• Consumers are protected from incompetent and unfit practitioners

Equal to the benefits of certification is the importance of establishing an underlying certification program based on best practices and recognized processes and procedures developed by the field of certification.  ICE serves as the member-based organization for the field of certification to enhance professional excellence and ensure the competency of certification.

The following certifying boards are members of ICE:

• Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists
• American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians
• American Chiropractic Registry or Radiology Technicians
• National Board of Chiropractic Examiners
• American Chiropractic Neurology Board

The Academy helps to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the public through its certification program that assess professional competency in chiropractic clinical orthopedics. The ACO uses a peer review process to:

• Establish proficiency standards;
• Evaluate individual competency within the specialty standards, and
• Serve as a resource on quality chiropractic clinical orthopedic certification.

 The Academy is an administratively independent resource recognized as the authority on professional certification in chiropractic clinical orthopedics . Based on sound principles, Academy standards are optimal and comprehensive criteria for competency examinations.

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Orthopedic Specialty Board Certification Examination

September 29, 2012 at Northwestern Health Sciences University

Contact Dr. Jerry Wildenauer for more information.

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Please visit the new Personal bio-page for Academy members!

Members will be able to put information on the members page about their practices as well as a link to their personal office website.  This will be a benefit for patients to find a chiropractic orthopedist near them or for a referring doctor to find a doctor in a specific location.

Fellowship Defined:

The designation of Fellow of the Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists recognizes board certified chiropractic orthopedists who are active members of the Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists.  Fellows of the Academy have distinguished themselves among their colleagues through advanced training and high levels of clinical excellence.  They are committed to the specialty of Chiropractic Orthopedics and their communities through their dedication to ongoing research, continuing education and improved clinical outcomes. 

The title of Fellow was established in 1980 by the Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists as a means for recognition of those members who have demonstrated a dedication to the established goals and ideals of the Academy. Fellows are committed to the advancement of Chiropractic Orthopedics as a non-operative alternative to surgical orthopedic healthcare relative to treatment of disorders of the human spine and extremities. 

Upon meeting the requirements of advanced post-graduate training and successful completion of Chiropractic Orthopedic specialty board examinations, Fellows of the Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists are entitled to all privileges and honor bestowed by the Fellow designation (FACO).

The Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists
ATTN: Executive Director
Jerrold R Wildenauer DC, FACO
1859 Warrior Drive
Mendota Heights, MN  55118

TEL: 612-454-1472
FAX: 651-846-5590
E-mail: aco@dcorthoacademy.com