CCP INFORMATION DOCUMENT FOR HOSPITAL HR DEPARTMENTS

In response to input from the ABCP Liaison Panel representatives, the ABCP developed the following information for HR departments in hospitals.

 

American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP) Certification Job Description Resource for the Certified Clinical Perfusionist (CCP) Credential

 

Perfusionist Definition

A "Perfusionist" is a person, qualified by academic and clinical education, to operate the extracorporeal circulation equipment during any medical situation where it is necessary to support or replace a person's cardiopulmonary, circulatory, or respiratory function. A perfusionist is responsible for the selection of appropriate equipment and techniques necessary for support, treatment, measurement, or supplementation of the cardiopulmonary and circulatory system of a patient, including the safe monitoring, analysis, and treatment of physiologic conditions under an order and under the supervision of a physician. A CCP validates his/her mastery of these clinical skills, knowledge, and abilities through certification and meets ongoing continuing education and practice requirements through recertification.

Certification Background

The American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP) is the certifying body for Certified Clinical Perfusionists (CCPs). Established in 1975, the primary purpose of the ABCP, and therefore its most essential function, is protection of the public through the establishment and maintenance of standards in the field of cardiovascular perfusion. To achieve this objective, the ABCP has established qualifications for certification examination and procedures for recertification. Its requirements and procedures are reviewed and modified by the Directors of the ABCP as necessary.

Certification

Certification in Clinical Perfusion is attained by meeting specific educational and clinical requirements and satisfactory performance on the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion certification examination. Certification in cardiovascular perfusion is evidence that a perfusionist’s qualifications for operation of extracorporeal circulation equipment are validated by his/her peers. Certification is not intended to define requirements for employment, to gain special recognition or privileges, to define the scope of extracorporeal circulation, or to state who may not engage in cardiovascular perfusion.

Extracorporeal technologies such as ECMO, VAD, autotransfusion, blood therapy, pediatric perfusion, and adult perfusion are included in the consensus curriculum developed by the Accreditation Committee of Perfusion Education (AC-PE) and are followed by The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited perfusion education programs. It is the ABCP position that all CCPs have acquired knowledge and have demonstrated through the certification process a validated level of knowledge in these areas.

To be eligible to sit for the ABCP examination process, a perfusionist must have graduated from an accredited cardiovascular perfusion education program. The certification examination is composed of two parts. Part I, the Perfusion Basic Science Examination (PBSE), is a 220-item, multiple-choice examination designed to cover perfusion basic sciences and cardiopulmonary bypass. Part II, the Clinical Applications in Perfusion Examination (CAPE), is also a multiple-choice format where a series of clinical scenarios are presented, each with a series of questions. The number of questions on the Part 2 examination may vary from 200 to 230, depending on the scenarios used. Both the Perfusion Basic Science Examination and the Clinical Applications in Perfusion Examination are given twice a year, in the spring and in the fall.

Recertification

Recertification is designed to ensure that Certified Clinical Perfusionists, through continuing education and clinical activity, continue to meet professional standards and possess current and adequate knowledge in the field. CCPs are required to recertify every year. A CCP is required to perform a minimum of 40 clinical activities annually. Of the 40 clinical activities, a minimum of 25 activities must be documented as Primary Clinical Perfusion Activities (PCPA). During each three-year reporting period, every CCP must earn 45 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). See the ABCP Booklet of Information for detailed recertification information.

Primary Source Verification

• The ABCP National Office provides primary source verification of the CCP credential through the following sources:
  • Currently certified perfusionists are listed and can be verified on the ABCP website.
  • Verification can be provided via telephone, fax, email, or USPS.
    • telephone number for a verbal verification: (414) 918-3088;
    • fax number: (414) 276-3349;
    • email address: info@abcp.org;
    • mailing address: 555 E. Wells Street, Suite 1100, Milwaukee, WI 53202
    • Website: www.abcp.org

• All the methods listed are considered "primary source" verification.
  • If you request written verification by email and require a mailed or faxed response on ABCP letterhead, please include a fax number and your address with your request.
  • The National Office will gladly respond using the preferred method in a timely manner.

For more information on perfusion certification, contact us: