Important change to PCB recertification

Effective January 1, 2012, PCB recertification will move to an audited process whereby only those individuals randomly selected will be required to submit documentation of the required recertification training/education hours.  PCB will randomly audit 25% of those currently certified in each credential to verify completion of continuing education/training.  Those not selected for audit will not be required to document their continuing education/training but will be signing a statement that the required continuing education/training was received. 

An audit is a process to determine compliance with requirements for credential recertification.  An audit consists of a review of documentation of required continuing education/training.  Certified professionals chosen to be audited will be asked to submit documentation of continuing education/training completed in the appropriate accrual period.  The documents must be submitted within 30 days of the date the written request is mailed to the certified professional.

Audits will occur twice per year (every January and July).  Those selected for audit must submit documentation of the appropriate number of hours of education/training that they completed in the prior two-year period.  Audit notices to those selected for audit in January will be for those who recertified their credential in the previous six month period (July through December).  Audit notices to those selected for audit in July will be for those who recertified their credential in the previous six month period (January through June).  Candidates for audit will be given a 30-day time period from date of notice to submit documentation of their required recertification hours.  Since the audit process is random, individuals may be selected for audit multiple times. 

Non-compliance with the required education/training for recertification is viewed as a breach of professional ethics.  All those selected for audits who have not received the required education/training within the necessary timeframe will experience the following actions:

 1)      PCB credential will be immediately suspended the day following the 30-day deadline for submitting documentation of recertification of their credential;  

2)      The issue of non-compliance directly violates PCB Code of Ethics Rule 3.2 under “Fraud-Related Conduct” which reads: “An individual shall not use misrepresentation in the procurement of certification or recertification or assist another in the preparation or procurement of certification or recertification through misrepresentation.  The term “misrepresentation” includes but is not limited to the misrepresentation of professional qualifications, education, certification, accreditation, affiliations, employment experience, the plagiarism of application and recertification materials, or the falsification of references,” and Rule 5.3 under “Professional Standards” which reads:  “A certified professional shall meet and comply with all terms, conditions, or limitations of a certification or license.”   

3)      Completing all of the requirements for recertification of credentials is a condition of certification.  The credential will remain suspended until such time as the certified professional addresses the ethics violation to the satisfaction of the PCB Ethics Committee and seeks reinstatement of said credential.  Suspensions for non-compliance with the audited recertification process are a matter of public record and will remain on the candidates’ certification history and, as a result, can be accessed by the general public from the PCB website.

 Reinstatement includes:

·        The audited candidate submitting the required education/training. 

·        The recertification fee.

·        The reinstatement fee. 

Candidates cited for failure to submit required education/training and are then reinstated will automatically be audited for their next recertification period.  Further, PCB reserves the right to apply additional sanctions to those audited and who fail to obtain the necessary education/training.  

All candidates for recertification will sign a statement verifying that the education/training requirement for their particular credential(s) has been met.  This signed statement will be included on the recertification application.  Candidates for recertification will also be required to submit a complete list of all trainings attended in their two-year recertification period.  A new page in the recertification application will be included for this purpose.  List must include date of training, title of training, provider of training, name of trainer(s), and number of hours awarded for training.  Signature of candidate attesting to candidates’ participation in the trainings must be included on the training page.

The PCB recertification application will be revised to reflect the new audited process.  If you have any questions regarding this new process, please contact PCB via email at info@pacertboard.org or phone at 717-540-4455 extension 102.