Transcript Special Purposes Examination for Chiropractic

Special Purposes
Examination for
Chiropractic
(SPEC)
Why a Special Purposes
Exam for Chiropractic?
Licensing Boards Routinely
Encounter Situations in Which
They Must Reevaluate Previously
Licensed DCs.
The NBCE Developed SPEC at the
Request of the Member Boards
of the FCLB to Meet Assessment
Needs in Limited and Specific
Circumstances.
Why a Special Purposes
Exam for Chiropractic?
State Licensing Boards Have a Need
for an Independent Assessment of
Competency of Individuals Seeking
Reciprocity or Endorsement.
State Licensing Boards Have a Need
to Evaluate the Competency of
Individuals Seeking Reinstatement
of Their License After Suspension,
Revocation, or Lapse.
WHAT SPEC IS NOT
The Special Purposes Examination
is NOT:
– An Initial Licensing Examination
– An Exam to Demonstrate Continuing
Competency for Those in Good
Standing or Those Not Seeking
Reciprocity or Endorsement
WHAT SPEC IS NOT
SPEC is NOT a
License Renewal
Examination!!
Press Release
The NBCE has not been asked
to develop, nor is the NBCE
planning to develop, an
examination designed for
routine license renewal.
Anything you may have heard
to the contrary is incorrect!
SPEC Eligibility
The Special Purposes Exam
is ONLY Administered to
Individuals Who Have:
– Authorization From a
Licensing Board to Take It
– Previously Held a License
For a Minimum of Two Years
SPEC is Computerized
The Special Purposes Examination
is Administered Six Times per
Year on the 3rd Thursday of:
Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct & Dec.
It is Delivered at over 350 Sylvan/
Prometric Secure Testing Centers
Nationwide.
Scores are Reported Within Three
Weeks.
SPEC is Computerized
Comments From the First Doctors to
Take the Computerized Version
– “This was my first time ever at a computer. It
was the best test I ever took as far as quality,
ease of taking, and understanding what you
wanted.”
– “Very good - and I’m not a super computer
guy.”
– “I took it in September paper and pencil, this
was much more pleasant.”
SPEC is Computerized
Comments From the First Doctors
to Take the Computerized Version
– “It was applicable to day-to-day practice.”
– “Great to not have to travel”
– “I liked the exhibits”
– “The Prometric staff was excellent.”
– “The facility was good.”
– “I was well watched and proctored.”
– “Prometric did a good job. Comfortable”
SPEC is Computerized
SPEC Applications and Information
are Available at
www.NBCE.org
or call
1-800-964-6223 (NBCE)
How SPEC is
Written
Many Questions are Written by
State Board Members; All of the
Questions on the Special
Purposes Examination are
Chosen by a Test Committee
Comprised of State Board
Members.
Committees are Selected From All
States on a Rotating Basis.
SPEC Specifications
200 Multiple Choice Questions
– 100 questions address nine areas of
clinical knowledge weighted in
accordance with the outcome of the
NBCE Job Analysis.
– 100 questions are grouped into 25
case management scenarios each
having 4 questions. These are also
weighted according to the Job
Analysis results.
SPEC Reliability
The Reliability Index of SPEC
Examinations Averages .92
Out of a Possible 1.00
• This Indicates That the Exam
Consistently Assesses
Competency in Chiropractic
Practice
• It Also Implies That the Questions
are Well Written
States’ Utilization of
SPEC
37 States Have Utilized SPEC as of
February, 2002
More Than 2/3 of SPEC Utilization Has
Been for Reciprocity or Endorsement
With SPECs Increased Availability and
With the Acceptance of Part IV by
Most States, We Expect More
Utlilization of SPEC for License
Reinstatement in Cases of
Disciplinary Action or Lapse
States’ Utilization of the
SPEC
Biggest Users of SPEC
– Utah - 48
– Maryland - 40
– Nevada - 30
– Washington - 24
– Tennessee - 16
– Illinois - 15
– Virginia - 14
– Wisconsin - 13
– California - 13
In Closing
SPEC is a Widely Available, Valid,
Reliable, and Defensible Tool That
You, As a State Board Member
Charged With Protecting the
Public, Have at your Disposal.
You May Use SPEC to Help You
Evaluate Individual DCs. Seeking
Reciprocity/Endorsement or
License Reinstatement.