Impartiality Statement
NCMA and its employees, volunteers, and contractors understand the importance of impartiality and the consideration of any potential conflict of interests in carrying out its certification activities.
Certification of individuals is based on objective evidence obtained by the NCMA through a fair, valid and reliable assessment, and is not influenced by other interests or other parties.
NCMA will identify and assess risks in all relationships which may result in a conflict of interest or pose a threat to impartiality. Threats to impartiality include, but are not limited to, the following:
- self-interest threats: threats that arise from a person or body acting in its own interest to benefit itself;
- subjectivity threats: threats that arise when personal bias overrules objective evidence;
- familiarity threats: threats that arise from a person being familiar with or trusting of another person, e.g. an examiner or certification body personnel developing a relationship with a candidate that affects the ability to reach an objective judgment;
- intimidation threats: threats that prevent a certification body or its personnel from acting objectively due to fear of a candidate or other interested party, and;
- financial threats: the source of revenue for a certification body can be a threat to impartiality.
Management conducts an annual risk assessment on impartiality and conflict of interest. The Governing Board is responsible for ensuring that threats to impartiality and conflict of interest are reviewed regularly.
Conflict of interest and objectivity is addressed further through binding agreements to ensure that all activities undertaken throughout the certification process are conducted in an independent and impartial manner.
NCMA endeavors to instill trust in its certification among its members and the general public by:
- Demonstrating impartiality.
- Utilizing skilled personnel.
- Responsiveness to complaints.
- Offering access to pertinent gathered information.
- Upholding objectivity.
- Ensuring transparency in processes.
- Safeguarding confidentiality.
Non-Discrimination
The National Certification Medical Association upholds a commitment to non-discrimination, ensuring fair treatment for all individuals without regard to age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. Our policies extend across all NCMA programs, including application and testing processes, as well as business operations. We adhere to applicable federal, state, and local laws and policies in a consistently fair and impartial manner. NCMA’s business practices encompass various aspects such as the selection of volunteers and vendors, staff conduct, certification staff hiring and termination, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Examinations are designed to be job-related, aligning closely with current role delineation studies and test specifications. NCMA strives to provide its services to all eligible applicants, candidates, and members according to publicly available procedures, with any limitations clearly defined in our policies.
Special Accommodation Requests
Candidates needing accommodations due to a disability must notify the NCMA in writing and provide supporting documentation to [email protected]. Documentation, issued on official letterhead from the diagnosing medical authority, specialist, or educational institution, should include: Description of the disability and its testing-related limitations Recommended accommodations/modifications Contact details (name, title, telephone number) of the medical authority or specialist Process for requesting special arrangements.
Conflict of Interest
The Board maintains a strict conflict of interest policy to uphold public and professional confidence in its integrity. Individuals involved in Board activities must refrain from activities that may present a conflict of interest or its appearance. This includes any outside activities or holdings that could influence the Board’s policy development, training program evaluation, or examination development. Board members are prohibited from participating in discussions or votes on matters where they or their immediate family have a conflict of interest. Employees and officers must disclose and avoid conflicts between their personal, professional, or business interests and those of the Board. Rather than regulating investments or employment, the Board manages potential conflicts by encouraging disclosure of financial interests and abstention from decision-making on related matters. Conflicts and potential conflicts of interest are disclosed annually by board and staff members, documented in meeting minutes, and effectively communicated to relevant parties. Individuals participating in review courses or contributing to examination preparation materials must abstain from serving as examiners or committee members for at least 12 months following their involvement.
Confidentiality
Your privacy is paramount to us. We ensure that all information you provide about yourself remains strictly confidential. Disclosure to external parties will only occur with your written consent, except where mandated by law. Legal exceptions include situations of clear and imminent danger to you or others, reasonable suspicion of dangerous conduct as defined by Illinois state statute, or suspicion of child or elder abuse. Information that may be released, with your permission, includes your name, member ID number, location details, credentials, credential status, and attainment/expiry dates. While NCMA staff may collaborate, they are bound by both ethical and legal obligations to maintain strict confidentiality regarding member information.
Appeals
For appeals of sanctions, the applicant, member, or academic institution must submit a written appeal to the Governing Board within ten (10) business days of grade release or sanction imposition. The appeal should include supporting documents for the specified circumstances described. Upon receiving the appeal, the board will acknowledge receipt within 10 business days and conduct a thorough investigation, which may involve interviews and document assessments. After evaluating the appeal and supporting materials, the Governing Board will notify the appellant of its decision within four weeks via email and/or certified mail. Once a party has regained good standing, previous interventions will not affect their current status, unless a pattern emerges or multiple similar complaints are received. The Governing Board ensures decisions are not based on discrimination, subjective reviews, or partiality, and will never retaliate in its decisions.
