In 1977, in cooperation with the federal government, the National Commission for Health Certifying Agencies (NCHCA) was formed to develop standards of excellence for voluntary certification programs in healthcare. In 1989 the name was changed to the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) to accommodate all professions and industries.
The NCCA’s Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs were the first standards developed by the credentialing industry for professional certification programs. The NCCA Standards were developed to help ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the public. They highlight the essential elements of a high-quality program.
The NCCA standards are consistent with The Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (AERA, APA, & NCME, 1999) and are applicable to all professions and industries. NCCA accredited programs certify individuals in a wide range of professions and occupations including nurses, automotive professionals, respiratory therapists, counselors, emergency technicians, crane operators and more. To date, NCCA has accredited more than 315 programs from more than 130 organizations.
Accreditation for professional or personnel certification programs provides impartial, third-party validation that your program has met recognized national and international credentialing industry standards for development, implementation, and maintenance of certification programs.
NCCA’s Vision & Mission
The NCCA will be an administratively independent resource recognized as the authority on accreditation standards for professional certification programs. Based on sound principles, NCCA standards will be optimal and comprehensive criteria for organizational process and performance. They will be broadly recognized, objective, and current benchmarks for certifying bodies to achieve and by which they operate. The NCCA helps to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the public through the accreditation of a variety of individual certification programs that assess professional competency. The NCCA uses a peer review process to:
- Establish accreditation standards;
- Evaluate compliance with these standards;
- Recognize programs that demonstrate compliance;
- Monitor and enforce continued compliance; and,
- Serve as a resource on quality certification.
With increasing demands on our healthcare system, the need for certified allied health workers has only increased, making our mission more vital than ever. Our goal has always been, and remains, improving the quality of patient care.
The simple notion of improving healthcare through greater competency is at the heart of our mission. We work every day to fulfill that mission through advocacy, education, and certification, leading to access to better care, better careers and better efficiency for providers and their patients.
Since 1989, NHA has prepared and awarded more than 750,000 certifications to healthcare students and professionals, providing them with nationally recognized measurements of competency paired with easy-to-use study tools and personalized customer service.
Our Vision
As the industry leader, we are passionately committed to develop, advance and advocate for the frontline healthcare worker, resulting in improved patient care.
Our Approach
Whether you’re a student, educator, employee or employer, NHA is driven to improve the quality of your career and business. By helping prepare the next generation of healthcare workers, we are helping individuals and healthcare businesses make a meaningful, positive impact.
At NHA we believe in always being industry advocates. We engage with both regulatory and legislative bodies to promote certification for the industry and for the people working in it. We are passionately committed to developing, advancing and advocating for the frontline healthcare worker.
NHA’s proven results elevate and impact the lives of individuals, schools, and businesses in allied health. Our comprehensive certification and preparation resources provide our clients with access to the professional success they desire. NHA provides continuity for educators and employers seeking a partner with multiple certification options, giving students and employers a trusted path to skills growth and career advancement.