Q - What do I do if I can't remember the courses I took last year and I can't repeat a course I have already taken?
A - When you complete your renewal requirements, you receive a transcript. Your transcript is the official record of your continuing education. You should maintain your transcript in a secure location. Refer to your transcript when selecting courses for the next renewal year to assure you do not take a course you have already completed. Before the end of 2007, you will be able to obtain your transcript from the NCCT website.
Q - What is a clock hour (CH)?
A - A Clock Hour is the actual number of hours a professional is involved with an actual CE activity. For example, if you are taking a 3 CH course, it should take you 3 hours to complete the course.
Q - How do you determine the number of clock hours (CH) a course is worth?
A - We determine the amount of Clock Hours for all courses by using the P.A.C.E.® formula for clock hour calculation for printed materials. This calculation is done by having an NCCT test group read the manuscript under timed conditions and using that number to calculate the clock hours according to the following formula:
(Average reading time x 1.5) + 1 minute/test question =
Clock Hours rounded down to the nearest hour or half-hour
Q - Why is there so much reading material?
A - Courses are developed to assure adequate information is presented for full discussion of the topic. As described in the question above, a 3 CH course should take 3 hours to read and complete the test.
Q - Why do I have to fill out a separate evaluation form for each P.A.C.E.® course?
A - The evaluations are designed to provide us with feedback about each course.
Q - I am not a phlebotomist in California. May I take a P.A.C.E.® course?
A - Yes, P.A.C.E.® courses may be taken by anyone.
Q - I think a question has more than one correct answer. What do I do?
A - Go to http://www.ncctinc.com/. Click on the Renewal/CE tab and select Updates/Renewals from the drop-down menu.
- Review the information in this section to see if the question and/or text has been revised.
- If no information is found, email conted@ncctinc.com and describe the problem. If you do not have access to a computer, call 800-875-4404 (8:30 AM – 5:00 AM CST (CDT when applicable) and speak with one of our Customer Service Representatives.
Q - When I open a CE course on the CD or on the website, the page is too small to read. What can I do to make it easier to read?
A - Use the Zoom button on the standard toolbar to increase the view to 100%, Page Width, or Text Width.
Q - Is a Clock Hour the same as a Continuing Education Unit (CEU) or a Contact Unit (CU)?
A - Yes and No. 1.0 Clock Hour = 1.0 CU; 1.0 Clock Hour = 0.1 CEU.
Q - Why can’t we get answers to the questions we miss?
A - Providing answers to CE tests would compromise the security of the exams.
Q - Why doesn’t NCCT offer “live” continuing education courses?
A - NCCT wants to ensure that all individuals have equal access to continuing education courses, whenever and wherever they need access. Therefore, CE courses are designed as self-instructional courses.
Q - Instead of tests, why can’t we do something fun like word searches or crossword puzzles?
A - Due to the large volume of individuals taking CE tests, the tests must be able to be graded by use of a computer. At present, there is no automated method to grade crossword puzzles, etc.
Q - Why haven’t you responded to my question that I wrote you on my P.A.C.E. ® evaluation form?
A - If you use a P.A.C.E.® evaluation to ask a question, please provide us with your name and address or an email address on the form so we can respond back to you.
Q - Why won’t NCCT accept CE credits I have taken at work or at a meeting?
A - NCCT cannot easily assess the quality, validity, and clock hour values for CE provided by anyone else at this time.
Q - Why doesn't NCCT offer continuing education testing online?
A - Online testing for continuing education is in development.