As in the case of many medical specialties, certification helps distinguish a professional as an expert in the field. In healthcare simulation, there are a few certifications that help identify clinical simulation technicians and educators as being more extremely knowledgeable on the practice. Such certifications have also been developed as a service to the healthcare simulation community, preparing simulationists for leadership roles across clinical simulation institutions. In particular, this article explains the Society for Simulation in Healthcare’s Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist-Advanced (CHSOS-A) certification, as well as discusses the organization’s Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator-Advanced (CHSE-A) certification.
CHSOS-A Certification
The CHSOS-A certification is a portfolio-based certification for leaders in healthcare simulation operations. The certification distinguishes those who have proven themselves to be advanced operations specialists in their practice in healthcare simulation and serve as mentors and examples to others in the field. Ultimately, the certification process entails six steps:
- Step 1: Determine CHSOS-A Eligibility
- Step 2: Prepare CHSOS-A Portfolio
- Step 3: Submit CHSOS-A Application
- Step 4: Evaluation of CHSOS-A Application
- Step 5: Recognition of CHSOS-A
- Step 6: Renewal of CHSOS-A
According to SSH, individuals who are interested in obtaining this certification and demonstrating their high level of expertise are encouraged to apply. The Certification Council has application cycles for CHSOS-A applications, and applications are due as follows:
- March 1: Applications Due (May 1 notifications of decision)
- September 1: Applications Due (November 1 notifications of decision)
Consistent with the organization’s mission, SSH developed the certification process for operations specialists focused on healthcare simulation. This program has been developed over a number of years with the input of many individuals representing a wide variety of backgrounds and experience in healthcare simulation. Individuals from the international healthcare simulation community including other simulation societies contributed to the success of CHSOS-A Certification.
CHSE-A Certification
The CHSE-A certification is a portfolio-based certification for leaders in healthcare simulation. This certification distinguishes those who have proven themselves to be advanced educators in their practice in healthcare simulation and serve as mentors and examples to others in the field.
SSH states that individuals who are interested in obtaining this certification and demonstrating their high level of expertise are encouraged to apply. The Certification Council has application cycles for CHSE-A applications. Applications are due March 1 for May 1 decision and September 1 for a November 1 decision.
The certification process similarly includes six steps:
- Step 1: Determine CHSE-A Eligibility
- Step 2: Prepare CHSE-A Portfolio
- Step 3: Submit CHSE-A Application
- Step 4: Evaluation of CHSE-A Application
- Step 5: Recognition of CHSE-A
- Step 6: Renewal of CHSE-A
Benefits of SSH Certification
The benefits of both the CHSOS-A and CHSE-A certifications are that they improve healthcare simulation education through the identification of best practices and recognition of practice, and improve healthcare simulation education through providing standardization and a pool of knowledge of best practices. The certifications also help strengthen patient safety efforts through the support of clinical simulation modalities.
Further CHSOS-A and CHSE-A certifications provide external validation of individual educator knowledge, skills, and attitudes. They strengthen organizational, community, and learner confidence in the quality of education as well. Added benefits include that these certifications garner local support, resources, and commitment; foster a feedback loop between education and practice; and encourage performance improvement and knowledge expansion of the individual educator.
Additionally, programs with certified healthcare simulation professionals receive a competitive edge in the community, program offerings, and grant funding. The certification also helps these professionals be recognized for their expertise in healthcare simulation above and beyond domain expertise.
The National Commission on Credentialing Agencies (NCCA) has reviewed the CHSE and CHSOS certification programs and found at the time of the review that the program met the NCCA accreditation standards. The SSH Certification Council must submit annual reports to NCCA and must undergo a reaccreditation every five years.
SSH received NCCA accreditation of its CHSE and CHSOS certification programs by submitting an application demonstrating the program’s compliance with the NCCA’s Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs. NCCA is the accrediting body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (formerly the National Organization for Competency Assurance). Since 1977, the NCCA has been accrediting certifying programs based on the highest quality standards in professional certification to ensure the programs adhere to modern standards of practice in the certification industry.
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More About the Society for Simulation in Healthcare
With over 4,000 members SSiH, aka The Society for Simulation in Healthcare, is the world’s largest organization dedicated to medical simulation. The nonprofit’s mission is to advance the application and promote the art, science, and practice of healthcare simulation through global engagement. SSiH seeks to reduce errors in patient care and improve clinical performance through the use of simulation.
Stemming from the 1998 Society for Technology in Anesthesia, in 2001 the inaugural International Meeting for Medical Simulation was held. The Society was officially founded in 2004 by clinical professionals advancing the use of simulation for education and training in healthcare. Eventually, the organization changed its name in 2007 to include “healthcare” instead of “medicine” to better represent members in a variety of backgrounds including medicine, nursing, allied health, emergency medical services, researchers, and armed services.
Based in the United States, SSiH hosts the annual healthcare simulation conference entitled “International Meeting for Simulation in Healthcare” (IMSH) each year bringing together around 3,000 Simulation Educators, Administrators, and Sim Techs for networking, educational courses, medical simulator exhibition opportunities, and more. Vendors always in attendance include CAE Healthcare, Laerdal, Gaumard, EMS SimulationIQ, B-Line Medical, SIMStation (Level 3 Healthcare), KBPort, 3D Systems, Pocket Nurse, and more!
