By James X. Stobinski
Often in these columns I provide updates on the credentialing work done by the Competency and Credentialing Institute (CCI) and our certifications. This month, I would like to share information about credentialing, but I will not be speaking to certifications held by perioperative nurses nor about new programs being developed by CCI.
In the first four decades that CCI has been in existence we had customer service representatives who were the primary point of contact for our applicants and certificants. These representatives worked closely with a small group of nurses employed by CCI, but the focus was on the administrative tasks needed to earn and maintain credentials such as registering for certification examinations. The customer service team did not have a career path as do many perioperative nurses.
CCI is a member of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE) which is, “… a professional membership association that provides education, networking and other resources for organizations and individuals who work in the credentialing industry.”(ICE, a) In 2008, ICE began the formalized study of the tasks performed by staff, such as the customer service representatives at CCI, working in the credentialing industry. It was established that the work of credentialing could be delineated and that there was a distinct body of knowledge. ICE began developing training courses for these staff and in 2018 work began on developing a certification process for those working in the credentialing industry. In a parallel effort ,CCI was also re-thinking the role of the staff who worked with our certificants.
Through committee work with ICE, CCI staff had a small role in defining a career path for credentialing workers. An ICE task force identified, “… six career pathways with associated general and technical competencies that credentialing professionals can use to identify and guide their desired journey.”(ICE, b) Among these six roles are credentialing associate or coordinator and director. CCI, in its reorganization efforts, had established these roles which were now validated by the ICE task force. The CCI credentialing team, which now numbers five staff members, can now align with the ICE findings and further formalize their career paths. As a first part of that journey, all CCI credentialing team members have completed the Certificate for Credentialing Specialist Program from ICE.
The collective efforts of the ICE committees and task forces culminated in the ICE-CCP (Certified Credentialing Professional) certification program which launched in late 2021. A CCI staff member was in the first group to be granted the credential. Using the career development resources promulgated by ICE, we have now charted a career development path for the CCI credentialing team. The path we envision is similar to the clinical ladders which are so familiar to perioperative nurses. Upon becoming eligible, each of the CCI credentialing team members will be reimbursed the fees for the ICE-CPP certification examination.
The CCI staff has a long history of engagement and volunteer service in the credentialing industry to include work with our accreditation and membership boards. The credentialing team has now joined the CCI nursing staff in that service. This volunteer service gives us a seat at the table as policy and accreditation standards are shaped. Ultimately, planned career development and engagement in the credentialing industry will enhance the quality of service offered to our perioperative nurses. The senior leadership of CCI and our board of directors are grateful for the hard work and dedication of our credentialing team and we are delighted to provide the resources to facilitate this career progression.
– James X. Stobinski, Ph.D., RN,, CNOR CNAMB, CSSM(E), is CEO of the Competency and Credentialing Institute.
References
Institute for Credentialing Excellence. (n.d., a). About us. Accessed March 1, 2022 at: https://www.credentialingexcellence.org/About
Institute for Credentialing Excellence. (n.d., b). Credentialing Associate and Coordinator Career Pathway. Accessed February 27, 2022 at: https://www.credentialingexcellence.org/My-Career/Career-Pathways/credentialing
