Steps to Apply for Accreditation by the NCCA
On September 11, 2008, the CSA designation was accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
This milestone marks the culmination of more than a year’s work to update the CSA certification program to align with NCCA’s 21
standards for accredited certification programs.
SCSA pursued an ambitious schedule to get its application ready in 14 months from the time it decided to seek accreditation, compared
to the 12 – 18 months most organizations typically take. NCCA accepts applications three times a year: January 31, April 30 and
September 30.
Below are the key steps that SCSA accomplished to align the CSA certification program with NCCA standards and to submit
our application.
Every step of the test design and development process required the use of CSA Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who represent the
health, financial and social professions.
Timeline: SCSA’s Process to Apply for Accreditation
November 2006 – February 2007
- SCSA performs an Accreditation Needs Assessment and meets with industry experts to determine SCSA’s readiness to apply for NCCA
accreditation of the CSA credential.
February – May 2007
- SCSA decides to seek accreditation for the CSA credential.
- SCSA contracts Seacrest Consulting to guide it through the accreditation process.
July 2007
- The Independent SCSA Certification Council is established to oversee the CSA certification program.
- The Certification Council holds its first meeting and begins work on CSA certification policies, procedures and requirements
for becoming a CSA and for recertifying.
- SCSA contracts with Schroeder Measurement Technologies (SMT), a testing company, to update the CSA exam according to NCCA’s
psychometric standards for test design and development; and to deliver the CSA exam at professional test centers.
August 2007
- SCSA submits its letter of intent to NCCA to submit its application for accreditation of the CSA designation in 2008.
- A Job Analysis Workshop is conducted with a group of CSA SMEs to identify the key knowledge elements of a CSA’s role.
September 2007
- A Job Analysis Survey is conducted by email with all SCSA members to gain additional data on the key knowledge elements
of a CSA’s role.
- The CSA Exam Outline is produced as a result of the Job Analysis Workshop and Survey.
October 2007
- An Exam Item Writing Workshop and follow up work sessions are held with a group of CSA SMEs.
- Updated exam items that match the CSA Exam Outline are the result.
November – December 2007
- SMT produces an updated exam for review and approval by a group of CSA SMEs.
- The Certification Council gives final approval to the exam.
January – March 2008
- The CSA Candidate Handbook and the CSA Policies and Procedures manual are completed.
- The updated CSA exam is given to a pilot group of CSA candidates to gather the psychometric data required to determine the
exam’s passing score.
- A group of CSA SMEs review the data and recommend a passing score.
- The Certification Council approves the passing score of 70%.
April 15, 2008
- SMT issues a Technical Report on the psychometric performance of the updated exam delivered to all candidates required for SCSA’s
application to NCCA.
April 30, 2008
- SCSA submits its application for accreditation of the CSA designation to NCCA.
May 1 - August 11, 2008
- NCCA commissioners review all applications for accreditation.
August 12-13, 2008
- NCCA meets to decide on the status of all applications.
September 11, 2008
- NCCA informs SCSA that NCCA has approved the CSA designation for accreditation.
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