• What is IBHRE Certification?

• Certification Credentials

• Recertification

• Reporting Grievances

• Accreditation New!

Established in 1985 as NASPExAM, the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE) is a self-governing, credentialing organization of the Heart Rhythm Society that provides competency certification in the fields of cardiac rhythm device therapy and cardiac electrophysiology for physicians and allied professionals.

In 2007, IBHRE made the strategic decision to reposition its time-honored competency recognition examinations as certification examinations. Now IBHRE continues its rich tradition of upholding the highest standards of excellence in heart rhythm management by offering its renowned examinations as means of achieving professional certification on a global scale.

IBHRE offers three unique certification examinations designed to demonstrate a mastery of knowledge in cardiac rhythm management:

• Certification Examination for Competency in Cardiac Rhythm Device Therapy for the Physician
• Certification Examination for Competency in Cardiac Rhythm Device Therapy for the Allied Professional
• Certification Examination for Competency in Cardiac Electrophysiology for the Allied Professional

The scope of IBHRE Certification covers a broad knowledge-base in the sub-specialties of cardiac pacing and electrophysiology and is defined by each certifications respective exam content outline. Successful completion of an IBHRE examination certifies that a practitioner is professionally competent in their respective sub-specialty. Achieving and maintaining IBHRE Certification validates a practitioner’s clinical and technical knowledge in essential areas of practice, their ability to interpret and understand interventions and therapies administered to patients and critical competencies essential for safe, optimal care in the management of arrhythmias.

The IBHRE certification program reflects our ongoing commitment to fostering professional excellence and upholding the highest standards of care in the field of heart rhythm management. Heart rhythm professionals who achieve our certifications demonstrate their expertise by meeting requirements that are supported by high quality standards in certification testing. The quality and validity of our certification standard are supported by our Certification Policy and requirements for maintaining and renewing certification. IBHRE is also in the process of applying for accreditation with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Pursuing accreditation signifies to our certificants, exam candidates and the medical community that the IBHRE certification program adheres to the highest standards in credentialing.

For more information about how to become IBHRE Certified, visit the Exam Information section of this website and review the IBHRE Certification Candidate Bulletin for the Physician and Allied Professional.

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• Purpose
• Recertification Requirements—New in January 2010
• Professional Development Activity Submission
• Re-Examination Process (every 10 years)
• Reinstatement of ‘Testamur Designation’ (Policy Change)
• Transition Timeframe
• Professional Development Activity Forms (NEW!)

The Purpose of IBHRE Recertification

The International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE) competency certification examinations have long served as a benchmark for professional excellence and its recertification program promotes enhancement of the knowledge and skills essential to the delivery of optimal patient care through career-long learning and re-examination. Due to significant advances that continue to be made in cardiac pacing, defibrillation and electrophysiology, it is essential for physicians and allied professionals to maintain and demonstrate continued competency in their respective field to ensure a high standard in treatment of patients.

IBHRE recognizes continued competency of its certificants through evidence of the following activities:

• Ongoing participation in professional development activities (i.e. Completion of CME/CE credit)
• Maintaining good standing and involvement in the heart rhythm management field
• Successful re-examination every ten years

Recertification Requirements: (Effective January 1, 2010)

Recertification is required every ten (10) years for all IBHRE certification designations. Five (5) years after passing the exam, certificants must attest to having completed 45 contact hours of professional development activities that are applicable to their IBHRE certification. Ten (10) years after passing the exam, certificants must re-certify by re-examination. Candidates must also attest that they are currently active and involved in the field of cardiac rhythm management and that they remain in good standing within the medical community. Candidates who do not meet these requirements will lapse in their certification.

Professional Development Activity Submission

All IBHRE certificants are required to file a professional development activities form and pay a processing fee by December 31 of the fifth year of their respective recertification period in order to maintain their credential. The professional development activities form will be available to all certificants on the IBHRE website.

Recertification candidates must complete a minimum of 45 contact hours of professional development activities five (5) years following initial certification. Contact hours must be directly applicable to the competencies listed in the certification exam content outline. Recertification candidates must complete professional development activities applicable to at least three (3) different exam competency areas in order to be approved. Recertification candidates may complete any combination of contact hours from the list of approved professional development activities provided below. Some options are limited in the number of contact hours that may submitted toward recertification:

SECTION A: Continuing Medical Education and Continuing Education Credit

• Continuing Medical Education (CME) or Continuing Education (CE)—Recertification candidates may satisfy some or all of the required contact hours by completing CME/CE educational activities given by an approved provider of continuing education credit. All CME/CE educational activities must be directly applicable to the candidate’s certification specialty. Candidates who choose this option to satisfy the entire requirement must submit CME/CE educational activities that are drawn from a minimum of 3 different topic areas on the IBHRE exam content outline. 1 contact hour= 60 minutes of instruction. Applicants may be asked to provide CME/CE certificates as proof of completion.

Approved Providers of continuing education credit include (without being limited to):

• Heart Rhythm Society (HRS)
• American Council on Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)
• American Nurses Credentialing Commission (ANCC)
• American College of Cardiology (ACC)
• American College of Physicians (ACP)
• American Heart Association (AHA)
• American Medical Association (AMA)
• American Nurses Association (ANA)
• Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals (SICP)
• Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS)
• Canadian Society of Cardiology Technologists (CSCT)
• Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists (CSRT)
• Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)
• European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
• European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA)
• Heart Failure Society of America (HFS)
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
• Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS)
• Japanese Heart Rhythm Society (JHRS)
• Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)
• Any state, provincial, local or national medical or nursing board/association at the discretion of IBHRE

SECTION B: Professional Development Contact Hours

• Option 1: College or University Credit—Recertification candidates may earn some or all of the required contact hours by completing relevant coursework provided by an accredited college or university. Course work must be applicable to the competencies of the exam. Candidates who choose this option to satisfy the entire requirement must submit academic credit that is applicable to the field of cardiac pacing and electrophysiology and must represent a minimum of 3 different topic areas on the exam content outline. 1 semester credit hour= 15 contact hours. Applicants may be asked to provide an official transcript and syllabus as proof of completion.

• Option 2: Lecture/Presentation—Recertification candidates may earn some of the required contact hours by giving an original lecture or presentation on a subject directly applicable to their certification specialty. Presentations must be given in an academic institution or have been approved for CME or CE credit by an approved provider of continuing education. Original lecture/presentation may only be submitted once for recertification credit; repeated lectures will not be counted for additional credit. Lectures/presentations must be extra-professional and may not be a requirement of the applicant’s employment. 1 hour of lecture/presentation= 5 contact hours. Applicants may submit up to 15 hours of Lecture/ Presentation toward meeting the recertification requirement. Applicants may be asked to provide a presentation outline and written verification of the date and time of the presentation as proof of completion.

• Option 3: Publication—Recertification candidates may earn some of the required contact hours by authoring or co-authoring a white-paper, scholarly article, book or chapter of a book applicable to their certification specialty and publishing it in a peer- reviewed academic journal, text-book or reputable web site. 1 article, white-paper, or chapter in a book= 10 contact hours, 1 authored or co-authored text book= 20 contact hours. Applicants may submit up to 15 hours of publication credit toward the recertification requirement.

• Option 4: Test Writing Committee Service—Recertification candidates may earn all of the required contact hours by serving on an IBHRE Test Writing Committee or participating in IBHRE sponsored Item Writing activities. 1 year of active service on a Test Writing Committee = 10 contact hours. Applicants may submit an unlimited number of hours of Exam/ Item Development activities toward meeting the certification requirements.

Professional Development Processing Fees

Certificants due to submit professional development activities must pay a processing fee upon filing their forms. The processing fees for filing professional development activities will be as follows:

Certificants due to re-certify by way of re-examination shall only be required to pay the application fee to take the examination. Exam application forms must be filed by their respective registration deadlines

Application Deadlines

Candidates due to file completion of professional development activities must submit the Professional Development Activities Submission Form documenting their professional development activities and submit it with appropriate fees by December 31 of the fifth year of their certification period. Applicants will not be required to attach certificates, letters of completion or other supporting documentation from their professional development activities to their submission form.

Incomplete Applications

Filing forms that do not meet the required number of contact hours will be considered incomplete until the certificant addresses the deficiency by completing or providing additional contact hours. Candidates will be duly notified of deficiencies on their applications. Applicants must address the deficiency by the application due date. Applications that remain incomplete by the application due date will be considered ‘Not Approved’ until corrective action is taken by the applicant

Audit

All professional development forms will be reviewed and approved based upon the criterion stated above. Although supporting documentation is not required upon submission of the forms, IBHRE will randomly select professional development forms for audit. Upon selection, the certificant will be notified by letter and asked to mail or fax copies of all certificates, letters of verification or other documents confirming the completion of all professional development activities on their application. Candidates who do not respond to the audit within 30 days will risk failing the audit. Candidates who do fail the audit may request a one-year extension to correct the deficiency on their form. IBHRE reserves the right to hold all professional development forms subject to audit on a random or objective basis at the discretion of the reviewers.

Re-Examination Process

Ten years after achieving initial certification, certificants must achieve re-certification by re-taking and passing the respective examination associated with their certification. Recertification candidates must complete the exam by the year they are due to recertify. Upon applying for the exam, candidates must indicate on their exam application that they are taking the exam to recertify. Candidates who take the examination to re-certify must submit the applicable exam fees and provide all necessary documentation to meet the stated exam eligibility requirements in order to qualify for the exam.

For more information about the examination process consult the Certification Candidate Bulletin for the Physician and Allied Professional and the IBHRE Application Information page of the IBHRE website.

Upon successful completion of the exam, recertification candidates will be automatically re-certified in the IBHRE database. Re-certification candidates who need to recertify by re-examination may only register for the exam administered during their year of recertification or one year prior. Recertification candidates who do not pass the exam must take the examination again to re-instate their credential.

Extensions

Recertification candidates who notify IBHRE of any reasonable circumstances which may prevent them from meeting their re-certification filing deadline may request one (1) one-year extension of their re-certification. Candidates seeking an extension must make this request in writing (by mail, fax or e-mail) at least 30 days prior to the deadline. Candidates with extensions may continue to use their IBHRE credential until their extension due-date. If a candidate has not yet filed a professional development activities form or re-taken the exam when the extension expires, the candidate will lose their credential indefinitely.

Consequences for Not Recertifying

Candidates who choose not to recertify or do not pass the examination will no longer be permitted to use the IBHRE credential or designation. The names of candidates who lapse in their certification will be removed from the IBHRE website.

Thirty (30) days following the final recertification deadline, any candidate who has not met the requirements and submitted their recertification form will be notified in writing that they may no longer use their IBHRE designation. Any former certificants found to be inappropriately utilizing the IBHRE credential may be prevented from re-instating their credential in the future at the discretion of the Board.

Reinstatement

Certificants who wish to reinstate their credential after lapsing must retake the examination to reinstate their certification. Candidates who seek re-instatement after lapsing must still file a professional development activities form and pay a reinstatement fee of $100 in addition to passing the exam. Candidates who successfully re-instate their credential within 1 year of being lapsed will be required to recertify 10 years from the date their former certification lapsed. Candidates who successfully re-instate their credential after one year will be issued a new recertification due date ten years from the date of their reinstatement.

Exemption of Test Writing Committee Members

Certified professionals who serve on an IBHRE test writing committee shall not be required to re-take the IBHRE certification exam. Committee members who currently serve or have recently served on a committee within the last five years may submit their test writing experience as a professional development activity in lieu of taking the exam. Former committee members, who have been removed from the committee for a cumulative minimum of five (5) years during any ten (10) year recertification period, will not be exempt from taking the exam to re-certify.

Reinstatement of ‘Testamur Designation’

The International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners acknowledges previous policies which guaranteed perpetual recognition to those who passed the Physician Pacing exam prior to 1997, the Allied Professional Pacing exam prior to 1998 and the Allied Professional Electrophysiology exam prior to 1999. In recognition of the commitments made by NASPExAM, Inc. for periods prior to 1997, 1998 and 1999 with respect to the tests administered at that time, these individuals shall not be required to complete the aforementioned recertification requirements. While IBHRE strongly encourages all certificants to opt-in to the new recertification standards, professionals who choose not to recertify may maintain their recognition of having passed the exam by keeping the designation ‘IBHRE Testamur.’

This is consistent with the commitment made by NASPExAM, Inc. during that period. This designation will apply only to those who were granted perpetual recognition under the previous policy and will not apply to other certificants who choose not to recertify in the future. In addition, the use of the CCDS or CEPS designation is not allowed unless the certificant chooses to recertify by examination.

This requirement is consistent with the guidelines for competency established by other professional organizations. IBHRE recertification is a mark of career excellence that affirms your commitment to quality and demonstrates your current expertise and knowledge.

Transition Timeframe

If you hold (or expect to hold) one or more IBHRE certification credential(s) you must adhere to one of the following time-frames as it applies to you:

10 Year Certificants: 10-Year Certificants are those who passed the Physician’s CCDS exam between 1997 and 2009, the Allied Professional CCDS exam between 1998 and 2009 or the Allied Professional CEPS exam between 1999 and 2009 and were assigned an expiry date ten years following their initial examination. These certificants may proceed to recertify during the year originally assigned to them under the previous policy. All subsequent recertification cycles shall require these candidates to meet the five (5) year professional development activities requirement going forward.

New Certificants: Certificants who pass the exam in 2010 or later will be required to submit proof of 45 contact hours of professional development activity after five (5) years and re-take the exam after ten (10) years.

‘Testamurs’/ Opt-in Candidates: Those persons who were granted perpetual recognition under the previous policy are those who passed the Physician Pacing exam prior to 1997, the Allied Professional Pacing exam prior to 1998 and the Allied Professional Electrophysiology exam prior to 1999. Those persons who fall under this category may choose to opt-in to the new certification cycle by submitting 45 contact hours of professional development activities from within the last five (5) years. These persons will have until December 31, 2011 to bring their certifications up-to-date by submitting professional development activities. Upon initially renewing their certification, these certificants will be issued new certificates that are valid for five years. These certificants must recertify by re-examination by the new expiration date or risk lapsing in their certification.

Persons who choose not to opt-in to the new certification cycle will retain the designation ‘IBHRE Testamur’ in recognition of their achievement of having passed the applicable exam prior to 1997, 1998 or 1999, as applicable. A list of all IBHRE Testamurs will post to the IBHRE website. IBHRE ‘Testamur’ status will only be applicable to certificants who were previously granted perpetual recognition under the previous policy and will not apply to other future candidates whose certifications shall be subject to the requirements of this policy as it may be amended from time to time by the Board of Directors of IBHRE.

Professional Development Activity Forms

Forms are now available for submission of professional development activities. At this time, forms are only required from those who were granted perpetual recognition under the previous policy who would like to opt-in to time-limited certification (See Reinstatement of ‘Testamur Designation’). Those who already have certification expiration dates do not need to complete this form at this time.

To opt-in to time-limited certification, please download and complete the form that corresponds with your respective certification(s). Forms can be submitted by fax or mail to:

(202) 464-3401

or

IBHRE
Attention: Exam Coordinator
1400 K St NW Ste 500
Washington, DC 20005

NOTE: Copies of certificates do not need to be attached to the form at this time. A select percentage of applications will be selected for audit. If selected, you will be asked to provide copies of certificates or supporting documentation of your professional development activities.

Forms:

Certified Cardiac Device Specialist—MD Professional Development Forms (PDF)
Certified Cardiac Device Specialist—AP Professional Development Forms (PDF)
Certified EP Specialist—AP Professional Development Form (PDF)

If you have questions, please contact us at 202-464-3400 or IBHRE@hrsonline.org.

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The International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners takes reports of the misconduct its certificants very seriously. The IBHRE Grievance Policy defines our procedure for addressing reports of misconduct and violations of the IBHRE Code of Ethics.

To report a grievance regarding an IBHRE certificant, please submit a formal letter to:

International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners
Attention: Board of Directors
1400 K St NW Ste 500
Washington DC 20005

Or

Send an e-mail to IBHRE@HRSonline.org.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Rachel Miller-Bleich, Exam Coordinator at 202-464-3414.

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The International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE) is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) under ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024 (General Requirements for Bodies Operating Certification Systems of Persons) for all three of its certification examinations (ANSI accredited Certifier- #0787). ANSI is a global leader in operating standards and conformity assessment systems. Due to its rigorous assessment process, ANSI represents the highest standard in personnel certification accreditation. Achieving and maintaining accreditation is part of an ongoing commitment to add value to the exam body and signify to our certificants, exam candidates and the medical community that the IBHRE certification programs adhere to the highest standards in credentialing.

Accredited certification examinations include:

• Competency in Cardiac Rhythm Device Therapy for the Physician
• Competency in Cardiac Rhythm Device Therapy for the Allied Professional

• Competency in Cardiac Electrophysiology for the Allied Professional

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