Advancement to Diplomate

Information Session

Reasons for Advancing

• CHE® credential is highly regarded in the healthcare field

• Advancement demonstrates your commitment to the profession and to ACHE

• Advancement process continues your professional development

Professional Development

The process by which you broaden your management skills and talents through self-assessment, self-development, and continuing education.

Professional DevelopmentExamples:

• Keeping abreast of change

• Contributing to literature in the field

• Interacting with other healthcare professionals

• Participating in civic and community affairs

• Pursuing leadership opportunities

Advancement Process

• Submit application

• Receive authorization to sit for Board of Governors Examination in Healthcare Management

• Successfully complete Board of Governors Examination in Healthcare Management

Submitting Your Application

• Application should be submitted with $200 exam enrollment fee to ACHE’s Division of Membership

• Applications are reviewed monthly

• Applications are either authorized or deferred by the Committee

Application Criteria• Education• Healthcare management

experience• Current position• Organization type• Continuing education

• Involvement in healthcare affairs

• Leadership activity• Participation in

community/civic affairs• References

Application Criteria -Education and Experience

• Master’s degree and two years’ healthcare management experience

• Bachelor’s degree and five years’ healthcare management experience

Application Criteria -Continuing Education

• 20 hours of continuing education credit over the most recent two-year period

• Credits may be either Category I (ACHE) or Category II (non-ACHE)

Application Criteria -Participation and Leadership

• Community, state, regional/national level, including annual meetings

• Healthcare executive group meetings, state and local hospital and healthcare association meetings, lunches, etc.

• Community, civic, religious, public service, e.g., United Way, Lions Club, scouting

Application Criteria -References

• One reference from an ACHE Fellow(As part of the reference process, the candidate must participate in a structured interview with the Fellow.)

• One additional reference from an ACHE Diplomate or Fellow

Once Authorized• Register to take the Board of Governors

Examination in Healthcare Management(Exam site selection form is included with authorization notification.)

• Application is valid for two years from the date of submission

Reconsideration• Do not need to submit a new application

• Submit a letter providing the missing information or evidence that you have fulfilled the criteria

• Letter should include your request for reconsideration

Taking the Exam

• Offered at Congress and throughout the year at computer-based testing locations across the U.S., U.S. territories, and Canada

• $200 exam registration fee to take the exam

• Must be authorized to sit for the exam

Exam Content• 170 multiple-choice questions

• Developed and pilot-tested with guidance from outside testing consultant

• Addresses 10 healthcare knowledge areas

Exam Content (continued)

• Knowledge areas represent the specifications for which the exam questions were developed

• Each knowledge area is assigned a particular degree of importance

Preparing for the Exam

• The Reference Manual

• Study groups

Preparing for the Exam (continued)• Online Tutorial program

• Knowledge areas

Exam Tips

• Exam is four hours long

• For each question there is only one correct answer

• There is no penalty for wrong answers

Exam Tips (continued)• Evaluate questions from a general healthcare

perspective

• Exam is national in scope and not defined in terms of individual state laws or regulations

• Do not become discouraged by difficult questions. Because this is a general knowledge exam, you are not expected to be an expert in every area.

Notification of Exam Results

• Receive score sheet by mail 8-10 weeks after Congress exam and immediately following any exam taken in the computer-based format

• Score sheet indicates performance in each of the 10 knowledge areas

Exam Scoring

• Score is based on overall percentage correct

• “Pass point” determined annually, based on exam statistics

Exam Retakes• Must retake exam at a scheduled site or at a

computer-based testing site

• Retake fee of $200

• Application is only valid for 2 years

• You must wait 60 days before retaking the exam at a computer-based testing site

Benefits of Advancing to Diplomate

• Board Certified in Healthcare Management

• May use CHE® credential• Complimentary frameable certificate • Next step…Fellow!

If You Have Questions -

• Call Membership at 312/424-9400

• E-mail membership membership1@ache.org

• Visit our web site www.ache.org