Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions about Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, Certification and the CBCCT
Questions on Applying to Sit for the Exam
Questions on the Exam
Questions on Certification Status
Recertification

General Questions about Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, Certification and the CBCCT

From the ACCF COCATS Guidelines for Training in Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging (Computed Tomography), 2006:
Computed tomography (CT) is one of the most rapidly evolving techniques for assessing cardiovascular anatomy. The complex nature of the imaging devices and anatomy as well as the rapidly advancing uses of these modalities requires the trainee to be introduced to this modality. Clinical application of CT encompasses non-contrast (coronary calcium evaluation), contrast (CT angiography and function), and hybrid studies (combining nuclear cardiac scanning with CT). Computed tomography, like invasive catheterization, provides information concerning cardiovascular anatomy and function (i.e., ejection fraction).

What is certification and what is its purpose?

Certification provides practice-based standards against which members of the profession can be assessed. The purposes of the CBCCT Certification Program are as follows:

• to establish the domain of the practice of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography for certification;
• to assess the level of knowledge demonstrated by Cardiovascular Computed Tomography specialists in a valid manner;
• to encourage professional growth in, and enhance the quality of, the practice of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography;
• to recognize formally individuals who meet the requirements set by CBCCT; and
• to serve the public by encouraging quality patient care in the practice of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

What is the address of the CBCCT?

101 Lakeforest Boulevard, Suite 401
Gaithersburg MD 20877

USA Telelephone: +240.631.8151
Fax: +240.631.8152
Email: info@cbcct.org

How should I notify CBCCT of an address change?

Notification must be in writing and include a signature. Candidates are requested to include change in phone/fax and cell numbers as well. Candidates should inform CBCCT of address changes so that important correspondence is received at the correct address. Diplomates [those who have passed the CBCCT exam] should inform CBCCT of address changes so that the Who Is Certified database lists diplomates in the correct location.

Questions on Applying to Sit for the Exam

CBCCT can mail you a copy of the Bulletin and Application forms. A PDF version has also been posted on CBCCT website for download.

Application must be made on the original forms and must include the applicant's original documentation. Therefore, CBCCT cannot fax or email the Bulletin to applicants and applications must be sent by mail or UPS or Fedex overnight services.

What are the eligibility criteria to sit for the CBCCT Exam?

In general, application criteria include the following:

• Current Medical License
• Current Board Certification in Cardiology, Nuclear Medicine or Radiology (alternate pathway available, see details)
• Training/Experience in the Provision of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography
• Continuing Medical Education

Specifics on eligibility can be found here and in the Candidate Bulletin.

Can I apply online?

Not at this time. PDF forms are available which can be filled in on your computer and printed out for mailing, however.

Can I fax in my application?

No, CBCCT must have the original documents.

When is the application deadline for the certification exam?

The CBCCT certification exam is given once a year in September. The dates for the current years exam can be found at http://www.cbcct.org/about_exams/dates.cfm. Applications and supporting documents must be postmarked or overnight shipped by the deadline. The late application deadline carries a $200 late application fee. If applications are not postmarked on or before the deadlines, the entire application will be returned and you will not be eligible to sit for the exam in the current year.

What are the fees to sit for the exam?
The regular application fee is $895 (U.S. Funds) for the certification exam. The late application fee is $1095 (U.S. Funds). These fees can be paid by check payable to CBCCT or by credit card (Master Card, VISA, AMEX or Discover).

Does the application have to be typed?

No, but it must be legible. It is the Candidate's responsibility to complete the application in such a way that it can be read by staff.

I see verification documents are required with my application. What exactly must be included?

Please visit the Eligibility section of the CBCCT site for details on submission requirements. We have also developed template letters to be used by Program Directors to verify training, which can be found at http://www.cbcct.org/resources/forms.cfm.

I will not meet all the eligibility criteria by the application deadline, but plan to complete them by the time of the exam. May I still apply?

No; all eligibility criteria must be met at the time of application. Applications will be considered incomplete if any of the material is missing or incorrect and the applicant subject to a resubmission fee. Neither applications nor material will be accepted after the final deadline.

I missed the final deadline for applying... can I apply late?

No, applications received postmarked after the final application deadline are returned unopened to candidates. No exceptions to the policy are made.

Questions on the Exam

The CBCCT certification exam dates can be found at http://www.cbcct.org/about_exams/dates.cfm. Prospective candidates must apply directly to CBCCT. Once deemed eligible, applicants receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter, which provides instruction on how to schedule a test time at Prometric Testing center.

At what location(s)?

The exam will be held at Prometric test centers across the United States and abroad. For more information on locations, visit www.prometric.com. Interested individuals can learn where Prometric has test centers in their area, but until a candidate has an Authorization to Test letter and a CBCCT-issued ID number, the website will not be able to show possible examination times.

What happens after I am approved to sit for the exam?

If your application is complete and you meet all the eligibility criteria, you will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter indicating that your application has been approved. The ATT letter will provide instruction on scheduling a test time within the CBCCT testing window.

If your application is incomplete or any part is incorrect, the CBCCT office will notify you of what is needed. We encourage applicants to provide an active email address so that we can contact you quickly with what is required to complete your application. It is the responsibility of the candidate to obtain or correct any outstanding or incorrect materials and submit them to the CBCCT office. Applications with missing or incorrect documentation will be subject to a resubmission fee before they are deemed eligible. CBCCT reserves the right to return incomplete applications and withdraw the applicant as of August 1. Applicants that are withdrawing will receive a refund of $795 of their registration fee.

How should I prepare for the exam?

The CBCCT website provides information on the exam content outline, sample questions and a list of references. Visit the Resources section of the CBCCT site.

What courses does the CBCCT recommend for preparation for the exam?

The CBCCT does not recommend particular courses. The sponsoring organizations of the CBCCT (the American College of Cardiology; the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology; The Society for Angiography and Interventions; and the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography) each have a number of courses in CCT available. Check their websites for details (www.acc.org; www.asnc.org; www.scai.org; www.scct.org).

I saw the list of References in the Candidate Bulletin. How can I obtain those publications?

The Reference document is also published on the CBCCT website, where we have included a link to the publishers or associations who produced the material listed.

What is the general content of the exam?

Please see the content outline: Examination Outline.

Does the CBCCT examination carry CME credit?

No, CBCCT is not an ACCME-accredited sponsor of CME credit.

What can I bring with me to the exam?

You will need your Admission Document and a valid government-issued ID bearing a photo and signature to be allowed to sit for the exam. A small locker is provided for your use. No calculators, electronic devices (e.g. cell phone, beeper, Blackberry, IPhone, ITouch, etc) or books or papers of any kind are allowed in the testing room. The testing vendor will provide scratch paper or a small white board which and will be collected at the end of the exam. There are no scheduled breaks but candidates may take a restroom break as needed. Notes may not be taken from the test room, nor may notes be retrieved and reviewed from a locker during a break. Candidates should also not use their electronic devises, nor should they leave the testing center during breaks. No additional testing time is added for unscheduled breaks. Proctors at the Prometric testing sites will supervise the administration of the exam and candidates may be video and/or audio taped to maintain the strictest security throughout the testing period.

What forms of ID are acceptable?

Acceptable forms of government issued ID bearing a photo and signature for North American residents are a current valid driver's license, passport, military ID, or state ID. Non-North American residents must present a valid passport for identification. These are the only forms of photographic identification that will be accepted. YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE THE EXAMINATION WITHOUT PROPER PHOTOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION. If you are unsure as to whether your ID is acceptable, please contact CBCCT in advance of your exam date to make alternate arrangements.

It is now less than 10 days prior to the exam and I do not have my admission documentation. What should I do?

Immediately call the CBCCT office [+240.631.8151 or e-mail info@cbcct.org] for replacement documentation.

I lost my admission document – what should I do?

Immediately call the CBCCT office [+240.631.8151] for replacement documentation. You will need to obtain another signed photo.

Something has come up and I need to cancel my application, what do I do? Can you hold my application for next year?

Applicants must first cancel their examination appointment with Prometric. To do this, you will need your Prometric-issued confirmation number.

You must then cancel IN WRITING to the CBCCT office and include a copy of your Prometric cancellation documentation. Faxed and signed cancellations are accepted; email cancellations cannot be accepted.

All submitted materials will be returned to you. CBCCT is not able to retain your application material; reapplications for subsequent years must be made in full and applicants must meet whatever eligibility criteria are in place in that year. If cancelled by the prescribed deadline you will receive a refund of $795 of your registration fee. Candidates who cancel after that date will not receive any refund.

If I'm late for the exam, will I be permitted to sit?

Candidates must understand that Prometric schedules examinations throughout the day. If you are late, it may cut into the scheduled time of the person following you. It is up to Prometric whether they are able to accommodate late arrivals. No refunds will be made to candidates who appear late and are denied entry.

CBCCT strongly recommends arriving 30 minutes early. Most Prometric testing centers have a small lobby area which accommodate early arrivals and small lockers for your valuables.

I was not able to sit for the exam but I didn't inform CBCCT before the exam that I needed to cancel. Can I get a refund of my application fee?

Cancellations must be made with both CBCCT and Prometric before the prescribed deadline. CBCCT must have evidence of cancellation with Prometric before we can issue any refund. Refunds can not be offered to applicants who are no-shows or who cancel after the prescribed deadline.

I sat for the recent exam. How can I find out whether I passed?

Approximately ten weeks after the exam, candidates will receive by mail a letter indicating whether the candidate passed or failed, along with a diagnostic score report indicating how the candidate scored in each of the content areas. These documents cannot be faxed and scores cannot be given over the phone or by email.

Why does it take so long to get my test results since they are computer graded?

The examination committee reviews each question after the exams are scored. Questions are discarded if they do not meet predefined performance criteria. If statistical evaluation raises a concern about the validity of a question (for example, if a large number of people consistently answer with a different response), then these questions are individually reviewed again to make sure they are accurate. When inaccuracies are identified, these questions may be re-scored or discarded. For these reasons, the entire score process takes approximately ten weeks.

I failed the exam. Can the CBCCT hold my application for next year?

CBCCT cannot hold applications from one year to the next due to the fact that Eligibility Requirements can and do change. All materials submitted are returned to the applicant and a new application and supporting documentation must be submitted to reapply.

Questions on Certification Status

CBCCT can provide replacement certificates up until 6 months following the examination. After that, a fee of $20 is required in order to produce a replacement certificate.

In addition, the CBCCT website has a Who Is Certified searchable database – Click Here.

Does the CBCCT provide verbal verification of certification status?

Yes, you may contact the CBCCT office at +240.631.8151.

Does the CBCCT provide written verification of certification status?

Yes, you may contact the CBCCT office at +240.631.8151 and staff will be happy to fax or mail verification of certification status on corporate letterhead. Requestors must allow 24 hours to complete the request.

I seem to have lost my certificate. How can I get a replacement?

CBCCT can have a replacement certificate made for you. Please be aware that the CBCCT office does not maintain copies of certificates and that any new certificate will need to be produced. Therefore, it will take 2-3 weeks from receipt of the request to have the replacement mailed.

Cost for replacement is $20. Orders will be placed once the request and check or money order is received in the CBNC office.

Recertification

The CBCCT certification period is 10 years.