Exam Development Committees

Committee Policies

Exam Development Committee members are content or subject matter experts who write items or text questions relative to a Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center certification examination's detailed content outline. Individuals involved in examination development and item review sessions should be representative of the appropriate hospice and palliative profession and possess areas of expertise, appropriate educational background, and years of experience in this specialty. All individuals involved in this process must be certified by HPCC. Experience in examination writing is desirable. 

ACHPN® Exam Development Committee Composition (ACHPN® EDC)

The Chair shall be appointed for a one (1) year term. The Committee shall contain not less than five (5) additional ACHPN® members, each appointed by the national office for a three (3) year term. All ACHPN® EDC members may be appointed to one (1) additional three (3) year term, for a total of six (6) consecutive years. One member must have knowledge and expertise in hospice care; one member must be practicing as a CNS, one member must be practicing as an NP; one member should have less than five (5) years experience in advanced practice hospice and palliative care.

CHPN® Exam Development Committee Composition (CHPN® EDC)

The Chair shall be appointed for a one (1) year term. The Committee shall contain not less than five (5) additional CHPN® members, each appointed by the national office for a three (3) year term. All CHPN® EDC members may be reappointed to one (1) additional three (3) year term, for a total of six (6) consecutive years.

CHPPN® Exam Development Committee Composition (CHPPN® EDC)

The Chair shall be appointed for a one (1) year term. The Committee shall contain not less than five (5) additional CHPPN® members, each appointed by the national office for a three (3) year term. All CHPPN® EDC members may be reappointed to one (1) additional three (3) year term, for a total of six (6) consecutive years.

CHPNA® Exam Development Committee Composition (CHPNA® EDC)

The Chair shall be an ACHPN® or CHPN® and appointed for a one (1) year term. The NA EDC shall have one (1) additional ACHPN® or CHPN® and not less than four (4) additional CHPNA® members, each appointed by the National Office for a three (3) year term. All CHPNA® EDC members may be reappointed to one (1) additional three (3) year term, for a total of six (6) consecutive years.  CHPNA® members of their respective EDCs shall always represent more than 50% of the total membership for that EDC.

CPLC® Exam Development Committee Composition (CPLC® EDC)

The Chair shall be appointed for a one (1) year term. The Committee shall contain not less than five (5) additional members, each appointed by the National Office for a three (3) year term. All CPLC® EDC members may be reappointed to one (1) additional three (3) year term, for a total of six (6) consecutive years. 

Exercise Development Committee Composition (SJ EDC)

The Chair shall be appointed for a one (1) year term. The Committee shall contain not less than six (6) HPCC certified members, each appointed by the National Office for a three (3) year term. All SJ EDC members may be reappointed to one (1) additional three (3) year term, for a total of six (6) consecutive years.

Member Responsibilities and Functions

  • Assess developments in hospice and palliative care and administration annually to determine their implications for the examination program. Make appropriate recommendations for changes in the examination in line with these developments.
  • Review the content specifications of the examination annually and confirm current relevance or suggest revision through a practice analysis as needed. Ensure that the specifications and the individual examination items appropriately reflect both the tasks and activities needed for practice, as well as the knowledge, skills and abilities needed for safe and effective practice. 
  • Write and solicit written items, review and revise new items, and review item pool. Review items identified as potentially problematic through a preliminary item analysis, and create new versions of such items, as appropriate.
  • Suggest and/or develop new item types.
  • Review examinations assembled by testing agency personnel, and approve final forms of examination before printing.
  • With guidance from the testing agency and following established psychometric protocols, participate in establishing the cut score for examinations forms developed according to new specifications resulting from a practice analysis. This score represents the minimum professional knowledge, as tested by this examination.
  • Conduct periodic review of the entire examination item pool to assure that items are current and relevant as related to examination specifications and weighting. Determine need for new items and plan item writing activities accordingly. 
  • Participate in Item Writer Workshops as needed.
  • Perform annual review of the candidate handbook in collaboration with the testing agency. Items of review shall include a reference list for new inclusions or deletions, and sample questions for content and substitution of new items,
  • Maintain security of examination materials, and meet established deadlines.
  • At the conclusion of each meeting, the Chair or designee will provide the national office and the President with a committee meeting summary, including a record of attendance, a cursory statement of work, and a list of any projected significant calendar dates for the EDC.

Apply to an Exam Development Committee

Eligibility Requirements for Applicants

  • Current HPNA membership at time of application
  • Valid HPCC certification for the year in which you are applying for appointment 

Committee Member Expectations and Commitments

HPCC recognizes the value of certification. It is the responsibility of the applicant to communicate to their employers the time and travel commitments and responsibilities associated with the HPCC Examination Development Committees.

  1. Members must accept the obligation to perform the functions of the role and produce written examination items as specifically requested by the Board or EDC in addition to meetings. This includes the following:
    • Attend committee meetings as scheduled, which occur twice per year. Inability to attend the committee meetings must be discussed directly with the Chair of the EDC. Repeated absences will result in removal from the committee
    • Be available to participate in 2-4 telephone conferences annually.
    • Willingness to write 15-30 questions each year varying on the needs of the exam.
    • Review 100 to 150 exam questions on exam form twice a year.
    • Participate in mentoring process by reviewing 10-15 items written by other EDC members.
    • Be responsible for additional activities related to the certification exam, as assigned.
  2. Maintain strict confidentiality of all exam items and committee work, both during and after the time served on the committee.
  3. Understand that you may not endorse or participate in review courses, publications, videos or any other programs designed specifically to prepare individuals for the HPCC Certification Examination during the time of service and for two (2) years afterward.
  4. Discouraged from service on other related National Boards or Committees during the term of service. Plans should be discussed with the Board President/Chair prior to making a commitment that would coincide with the term of service.
  5. Maintain accessibility to the Internet and email in order to complete EDC assignments.
  6. Perform other duties as assigned.
Elected/selected candidates are expected to comply with the above throughout their committee terms.

Apply for an Exam Development Committee