Whenever a new credential is established, individuals already working in the field need to be included. This is generally done by grandparenting or accepting people already in the field for a specified amount of time. In our case, these are individuals who meet the educational and experience requirements established for the grandparenting period. These people will be required to take the norming exam, so that criteria can be set for future examinees applying after the grandparenting period. The grandparenting period for the HS-BCP has begun and will remain open until April 1, 2010.

No. The information provided from the survey becomes a reference that the “test developers” will use to create questions for the test. The JA Survey and the certification exam are two different things.

Part of the Job Analysis is a survey of “job behaviors” or tasks that make up the work of the profession. The results of the survey are used to develop test items that represent work behaviors that human services professionals actually do. To be credible, a test must be based on actual job performance. Since the Job Analysis Survey finds out exactly where human services professionals work and the components of their jobs, it helps the “test developers” create an exam that reflects the profession.

Those who apply and meet the requirements in place during the grandparenting period need to take the “norming version” of the exam, but pass/fail criteria will not apply. Scores during this time will be used to check the overall validity of the exam. However, anyone applying AFTER the norming/grandparenting period will be required to pass the exam. The dates and locations for the norming examination will be announced on CCE’s HS-BCP site as the exam date approaches.

The applicants applying under the grandparenting period will all be required to take the test. The results of this group of scores will be used to establish which test items best measure what human services professional do and assist the test developers in improving the test items so that they best represent the job or work performed by human services workers. The test items will be developed by individuals representing NOHS, CHSHE, and CCE. The dates and locations for the norming examination will be announced on CCE’s HS-BCP site as the exam approaches.

After an application for the HS-BCP credential is submitted, individuals who meet all of the requirements including education and experience will be eligible to sit for the exam. The exam will not represent information only (what recent graduates will know), but also knowledge based on experience (what experienced human services workers know). So, individuals without the experience component will be ineligible for the credential until they have met the experience requirement.

During the grandparenting period, a qualifying degree is ANY that has been earned at a regionally accredited college or university, or a state approved community or junior college. To be an HS-BCP, all applicants must have met both the degree and experience requirements outlined in the application. Degree requirements will become more stringent once the grandparenting period has ended.