Do the NCCA Standards require alternative pathways to eligibility?
Although the Standards do not require an alternative pathway in all situations, the certification program should have a standardized means of evaluating the equivalence of education, so that individuals who have obtained their educational preparation outside of the established pathways may have their qualifications evaluated for eligibility to obtain the certification. Specific examples of such a mechanism would be an option for the determination of foreign degree equivalence with a degree granted by a U.S. university or a standardized mechanism for assessing prior learning resulting from work experience in order to waive course or supervised practice requirements. One recommendation would be for the certification program to conduct a pilot study to assess the amount of experience or experience plus “lesser” education that would be required such that the candidates from this new pathway would pass the exam at a statistically equivalent or similar rate as those who enter through the “st
