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En Español | Become a Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist | | | Passing Candidates | | | Certification Guidelines | Click here for Recertification Guidelines
The Who, What and Why of Multiple Sclerosis Specialization Multiple Sclerosis is a lifelong neurological disease with far-reaching and variable implications for patients, their families and their social and vocational sphere of influence. The disease course remains uncertain for each patient; symptoms tend to wax and wane due to a variety of causes; and treatment concerns range from physical to social to emotional and back again when changes occur. This dynamic pattern of need and the necessity for appropriate care calls for a cadre of healthcare professionals worldwide to sustain wellness as well as to address the dynamic needs of all those affected by multiple sclerosis.
The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers supports this voluntary certification process that reflects knowledge in the specialization of MS care. This certification provides formal recognition that is necessary to provide optimal care to those individuals and families living with multiple sclerosis. Certification is intended to promote quality and consistent care to those living with multiple sclerosis by: - Recognizing the many specialists involved with MS care delivery
- Establishing a basic knowledge required for practice in the fields of MS
- Encouraging continuous learning so that those in MS care sustain a basic level of knowledge about the disease and its implications.
All licensed health professionals, with a recommended one year of experience caring for patients with multiple sclerosis, will be eligible to take a certification examination in multiple sclerosis. Those who successfully pass the examination will be called a Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist (MSCS).
Rehabilitation professionals, licensed nursing professionals, social workers, psychologists, neuropsychologists, and other licensed personnel are welcome to apply for this examination.
Clinical experience is necessary for candidates as follows: - At least one year experience in MS care
- At least 20% of professional time spent with MS patients and / or families
What Content Is Covered in the Examination - Fundamentals of MS - 25%
- Multidisciplinary MS Care 60%
- Patient Empowerment - 15%
What is the Cost for Applying - Application fee: $250.00 USD
- Payment by Visa, Master Card or check is accepted (Checks must be made payable to PTC). Even if you are applying for a scholarship, you must pay the full $250 fee to Professional Testing Corporation when you register. If you are approved for a scholarship, a check will be made payable to you.
- Scholarship is available (click to download the form)
- Online Registration is available at www.ptcny.com
When and Where will the Examination be Given
Examinations will be given in testing centers over two-week periods twice a year via computer. Check PTC (Professional Testing Corporation) for final schedule. The next examination dates are February 9 – 23, 2008 (application deadline is January 1, 2008) and August 9-23, 2008 (application deadline is July 1, 2008).
Scholarship
The CMSC is happy to announce that there are scholarships available for those who require assistance with the registration fee (support has been provided by an unrestricted grant from Teva Neuroscience). Download the MSCS Scholarship Application Form and mail it to:
Consortium of MS Centers
359 Main Street, Suite A
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Even if you are applying for a scholarship, you must pay the full $250 fee to Professional Testing Corporation when you register. If you are approved for a scholarship, a check will be made payable to you.
The deadline to submit a scholarship application to sit for the August exam is July 1st. The deadline to submit a scholarship application to sit for the February exam, is January 1st.
The Application Form requires an Adobe Acrobat Reader. The free software is available for download from Adobe Systems Incorporated.
For More Information
Obtain a Handbook for Candidates including all application materials by visiting the testing website: PTCNY
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| Recertification Guidelines | Duration of Certification
The Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist (MSCS) certification is recognized for five years. The expiration date of the MSCS certificate is Dec 31 of the fifth year after certification regardless of the month in which you wrote the examination (i.e., if the certification date was Aug 2004 or February 2004 then certification expires on Dec 31 2009. To renew certification, the applicant must choose one of the three options listed below. Eligible learning activities and practice hours must be obtained during the five-year certification period.
Prior to certificate expiration you will need to obtain an MSCS Recertification Application Form. This form will be available September of 2009 through the Professional Testing Corporation (PTC)* by written request or from their web site. It is the responsibility of the MSCS to initiate the recertification process and to notify PTC or the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers of any name or address changes.
Eligibility for Recertification
Current licensure as a health care professional or the equivalent country regulatory requirement. - Completion and filing of the MSCS Recertification Application form with required payment.
- There are three options available to fulfill recertification requirements:
- Option 1 - Retaking and passing the certification exam or
- Option 2 - Obtaining 75 MS learning activity hours over the previous 5 years or
- Option 3 - Having 1000 MS practice hours and 50 MS learning activity hours over the previous 5 years
What are MS Learning Activities
Multiple sclerosis professional learning activities include MS-related courses, presentations, conferences, publications, independent study, professional development and mentoring activities (see guidelines for learning activities).
Multiple sclerosis professional learning activities include MS-related courses, presentations, conferences, publications, independent study, professional development and mentoring activities (see guidelines for learning activities).
Definition of MS Practice Hours
Multiple sclerosis professional practice hours include clinical practice, consultation, research, administration or education related to the field of multiple sclerosis. - Candidates for recertification who fail the examination can not then recertify with learning activities or practice hours and learning activities.
- One learning activity hour equals one clock hour.
Guidelines for Learning Activities
All learning activities must be obtained during the 5-year certification period.
• Academic Courses - The course must be applicable to MS professional care.
- Courses taken toward degree completion can be counted if they apply to MS care. For example, a MSCS taking a family studies course towards a degree has focused one’s assignment on family issues in MS care.
- Allow one LA hour for every hour you spend attending the course (i.e., 2 hours/week X 10 weeks=20 LA hours).
- Academic courses shall not exceed 20 LA hours over the 5-year certification period.
- PhD degree/dissertation equals 40 LA hours. Must be completed within the 5-year certification period.
- Master’s degree/thesis equals 20 LA hours. Must be completed within the 5-year certification period.
- Conferences, Teleconferences, Videoconferences, Seminars, Workshops and Internet Offerings
- Must be related to MS care. One LA for 1 hour in attendance.
- Maximum 50 LA hours.
- In-Service for Staff
- Attendance at a staff MS-related education session (i.e., medical grand rounds or physiotherapy in-service on the benefits of stretching exercises for spasticity). One LA for 1 hour in attendance.
- Maximum 10 LA hours.
- Participating in Certification Specialist Exam Development
- Examples include translating exam, participating in item review and item writing for the exam.
- Exam content must be MS-related.
- Five exam items are worth 3 LA hours.
- Item writing and item review are worth 10 LA hour
- Maximum 10 LA hours.
- MS Practice
- Involved in the development, implementation or publication of MS practice guidelines, pathways or protocols.
- One LA for 1hour of participation.
- Maximum 15 LA hours.
- Independent Study
- Completing the requirements for continuing education credits related to MS articles in professional journals, on-line journals, on-line MS education monographs. Follow the continuing education credit submission guidelines as outlined by the journal.
- Learning activity hours will equal credits allotted by the journal.
- Maximum 50 LA hours.
- • Preceptorship
- Preceptorship is a formal one-on-one relationship of pre-determined length, between an experienced professional (preceptor) and novice professional (preceptee). The preceptor facilitates learning activities with the preceptee to develop MS knowledge and practice experience.
- Maximum number of LA hours claimed by either the preceptor or preceptee is 15.
- Research
- Research activities must relate to MS professional care.
- Research activities are defined as conducting a study, participation in collaborative study, or utilization of research in practice (critique of research article; implement evidence-based care).
- Participation in clinical drug trials does not fulfill the LA criteria.
- Each hour of research activity counts as one LA hour for maximum of 15 hours.
- Publication
- Publication of material relevant to MS care.
- LA hours allotted:
- For authorship or co-authorship of a book, 20 LA hours.
- For contribution to a book chapter, journal article, monograph, or patient education pamphlet, 10 LA hours.
- Maximum 40 LA hours.
- Poster Presentation
- One poster equals 3 LA hours.
- Maximum 15 LA hours.
- Presenter/Lecturer
- Presentations or lectures to other health professionals or community groups on topics related to MS.
- Each presentation hour is worth one LA (e.g., 1 hour presentation + 2 hours preparation = 3 LA hours).
- Duplication of presentation cannot be counted toward LA unless the presentation was revised.
- Maximum 15 LA hours.
- Professional Committee Membership
- The committee must be applicable to MS care.
- Maximum 15 LA hours.
Keeping Track of Learning Activities
Professionally and ethically you are the best judge of which learning activities apply toward recertification. - Keep a list of all learning activities identifying activity, sponsor or provider, date of activity and hours of activity. For example: attended CMSC 2003 annual conference, sponsored by the Consortium of MS Centers, May 28 to June 1, 5hrs/day for 25 hours or 25 LA hours.
- Submit your list at the time of application for recertification.
- Maintain a file of all LA documentation (e.g., educational certificates, course outlines etc.).
Quality Assurance Audits
MSNICB will randomly audit 10% of the candidates applying for recertification by learning activities. If you are audited, you will be required to provide documented proof of learning activities so keep your file up to date.
All learning activities must be obtained during the 5-year certification period. Professionally and ethically you are the best judge of which learning activities apply toward recertification. MSNICB will randomly audit 10% of the candidates applying for recertification by learning activities. If you are audited, you will be required to provide documented proof of learning activities so keep your file up to date.
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