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James O. Wear: Certification in the United States, Canada and Asia

Technology Foundation (HTF) to reestablish a CCE pro- are developed by the Board of Examiners and are based
gram. A US Board of Examiners was created to develop a on the BOK developed by the ACCE. The oral exam is
written and oral exam. The written exam was based on about 2 hours and given by two members of the Board of
the American College of Clinical Engineering (ACCE) Body Examiners and is based on practical knowledge needed
of Knowledge (BOK) determined by an ACCE survey of to function on the job.
practicing clinical engineers. This survey asked the clinical
engineers about the work that they were doing and the CAnAdA CeRtifiCAtion
knowledge requirements. The new certification program
Canada uses the ICC for certifying BMETs and they
accepted anyone from a previous certification program
add the requirement that an individual must have a BS
who demonstrated that they were current in the field by 9
in biomedical technology to take the exam. The exam is
continuing education for a one-year period. There were
developed by the Canadian Board of Examiners under
112 individuals that were accepted in the new program
the ICC
from the previous program. The first exam was given in
Under the laws of the Canadian provinces and terri-
2004 with three individuals taking the exam.
tories, the use of the title “engineer” in a job description
In 2013 the HTCC begin looking for a new sponsoring
requires that the incumbent be licensed as a professional
body since new US tax policies were such that a non-profit
engineer in that jurisdiction. Canada has always taken the
foundation such as HTF could not have an income producing
position that to be eligible to seek certification in clinical
unit like the HTCC. They looked at various organizations
engineering; an applicant must first obtain licensure as
as sponsors as well as considering becoming a stand-alone
a professional engineer. Once a person is licensed as a
organization without a sponsor. Finally, AAMI and ACCE
professional engineer and is working in the field of clini-
indicated an interest in becoming a sponsor and each
cal engineering, then he or she can apply to the Canadian
presented their proposal. The ACCE was accepted as a
Board of Examiners for Clinical Engineering Certification.
sponsor since they guaranteed the exam process could
By 1980, it was recognized that engineers working
continue to have the oral exam. AAMI was not sure they
in the clinical engineering role required a distinct but
could continue to sponsor with the oral exam since they
unrecognized BOK to perform their tasks competently.
were trying to obtain ANSI recognition of their exam
Since there was no licensing process in place specifically
program. Thus, ACCE became the administrative sponsor
for clinical engineering, leaders in Canada decided to
for HTCC in 2014. At that time there were a little over
establish a certification process that would be adminis-
200 individuals certified by the HTCC from the US and
tered by competent members of the profession. In order
the Canadian Board of Examiners.
to begin such an effort, discussions were held with col-
Individuals must meet the following qualifications to
leagues in the United States who had undertaken a similar
take the CCE exam:
approach under the leadership of the (AAMI). Canadians
• Three years of clinical engineering experience with established track records working in the profession
plus
were grandfathered as certified and established the first
• Profession Engineer License or Canadian Board of Examiners for Clinical Engineering
Certification. They developed a written exam and an
• MS Eng or
oral exam.
• BS Eng plus 4 years total engineering experience or
This process of certification continued for several
• BSET in engineering technology plus 8 years total
years. However, the initial rush of applicants dwindled,
engineering experience.
and it remained a voluntary activity with limited visibility
They also must provide three professional references. amongst the health care community. By the late 1990s,
The written exam is 150 multiple choice questions admin- the work of the Board had effectively ceased with very
istered by a professional testing company. The questions few applicants coming forward.

J Global Clinical Engineering Special Issue 1: 15-22; 2018 18