ICPA Final Exam Terms and Procedures
The following terms are integral to the participation in your examination. Please read carefully.
Purpose:
We recognize that chiropractors credentialed by the ICPA are leaders. The purpose of our post graduate program is to offer doctors the educational and clinical experiences to confidently and proficiently care for pregnant women and children. The intent of our programs is to empower the doctor to expand the understanding and practice of family chiropractic.
The ICPA graduates display their leadership role within the profession by their on-going participation in ICPA membership, educational programs, research and public education. They hold the honor, the privilege, and the responsibility of carrying out the ICPA mission, vision and values within their profession, their communities, their country and the world.
Agreement of Ethical and Professional Standards:
Please realize that failure to comply with any part of these ethical and professional standards may result in forfeiting your right to complete the exam, and proceed with certification. Your check box during your registration process confirms your agreement to these terms.
Once you receive your exam, its content and your subsequent answers are to remain confidential and private. This confidentiality is requested throughout the exam process and after your completion of the exam. Sharing questions and/or answers with colleagues (regardless of their affiliation with the ICPA) is unacceptable. Taking the exam with others is prohibited.
It is expected that your responses will be utilizing the academic and/or clinical material covered in class and in your notes, combined with your own clinical experience and research. It is important that your answers be your original work, in your own words. Extracts from your sources are not considered as your own work. In the instance where you may use quotes, sources and authors must be provided.
If you choose to utilize another person’s expertise to compliment your answers, the required citing is in NLM Format (National Library of Medicine).
Plagiarism will NOT be tolerated. If your work is found to be plagiarized from any source including the internet and/or taken from another candidate's exam, and/or taken from the notes without citation, you will fail the exam.
Please include a bibliography for each question (even if the only source was the seminar notes) at the end of each question.
Please format all exams in Times New Roman font, 12 pt font, single-spaced, justified, with 1" margins and please merge all answers in one complete Word document.
Protocol for Examination Request:
Please e-mail your request to take the final exam to: exams@icpa4kids.com
We will review your transcripts, attendance and payment records and if eligible, we will e-mail you your link to register.
The exam is $500 USD and is non-refundable.
Considerations for Successful Completion:
Exam format: The CACCP exam is a comprehensive essay exam. The exam will consist of one question from each module of the current curriculum. You should expect to write 800-1200 words for each question.
Preparation: Please review your notes extensively. One purpose of the exam is to provide you with the opportunity to revisit the class curriculum and recall information that you may have forgotten.
Time management: The ICPA/ CACCP exam takes an average of 35-40 hours to complete. Please manage your time within the 90 day deadline accordingly.
Correctness of information: Please make sure you are answering the question in the order asked, as it was posed, and addressing all clinical information relevant to the question. For example, when asked to respond to a parent or practitioner, correctness is determined by the knowledge presented in class, and your practical application of this material in the context of to whom you are presenting.
Thoroughness of information: Please clearly state your answers in essay format, leaving the question text intact. Short answers for each question will not be accepted (unless the question requests multiple short answers). While the length of your answer is not an indicator of content, it is our experience that most essay answers that are fully developed reach at least 600 words. That being said, miscellaneous information, resources and citations do not replace your own clinical expertise.
Depth: Please keep in mind that this exam requires adequate time to develop the knowledge learned in class, your point of view and your clinical expertise related to the question. It is advised that you read through the entire class notes to “re-experience” the class. This bigger perspective may be very relevant to clarifying your clinical practices relating to the question.
Strong Writing/Clarity of Point: While the grader will not be grading your personal writing style, your ability to communicate your argument and material clearly is important. See the rubric for how grammar, syntax and clarity of writing affect your grade. If English is not your first language, please indicate this next to your number and date of test completion.
Deadlines and Extensions:
All candidates receive 90 days to finish all the questions and return it to: exams@icpa4kids.com.
You may request (2) 30-day extensions. Each extension requires a non-refundable $100 administrative fee. If you do not turn your exam in by the (initial or extended) due date, your exam will be filed as a “failure for non-return.” This means you will need to re-register for the exam and start the exam process from the beginning. Emergency extensions may be approved without a fee, and must be requested and approved, in writing, from the Academy of Chiropractic Family Practice.
Please e-mail your completed exam back to exams@icpa4kids.com. You can reach the ICPA Certifications Coordinator at this email address if you have questions as well.
Grading:
Your identity is held in confidence. Only the ICPA Certifications Coordinator is aware of your name. In order to keep your identity confidential, please use the ID number given on your exam on the 1st page of the examination only. Please do not put your name or practice name on any part of the examination and do not include it in any of your answers.
Your exam is submitted to two graders, and your scores are averaged. An 80% or higher is considered a passing grade.
You will receive a grading rubric with your exam.
Examiners provide feedback on failed responses.
Notification of Passed Results:
You will be notified of your final grade via e-mail within 90 days of the date the test was received by the Academy Council of Chiropractic Pediatrics.
Notification of Failed Results and Exam Retake:
If you do not pass the exam, you will be made aware of the unsatisfactory submitted questions and answers. Each question that receives a failing grade must be retaken at $45 per question, capped at $300. You must retake all failed questions at the same time. You have 60 days to complete your retake, and no extensions are available. You should use the feedback the graders provided on your first attempt to strengthen your answers.
In the case of a second failed grade, you will be required to retake the class(es) (or current equivalent) of the failed questions before attempting the exam a third time.
Requests for retakes are to be addressed to: exams@icpa4kids.com.
Achieving Certification Status:
Once your certification exam has been graded and you have received a passing grade, and have completed all requirements, you will have earned your Certification from the Academy Council on Pediatrics and have completed the initial 200 hours required towards Diplomate status.
If your PBRN requirements have not yet been completed, your certification will be held until their completion.
Outstanding payment balances must be reconciled before certification status is achieved.
Maintaining Certification Status:
You are required to take a 12-hour course or do a PBRN with the ICPA every two years from your date of certification. (Should you choose to do a PBRN in lieu of taking a class, your NIH status may need to be updated.)
All certifications (such as Webster) within the 200 hour certification must be kept current. ICPA auto-renewal membership is required to maintain your Webster certification status. Read about your bienniel CE requirements here.
