ASHI's Latest Scam to Dupe the Public

[James H. Bushart]

You have probably never heard of NOCA. Many haven't, and none will ever hear of it again.

NOCA is the name of the company that ASHI paid a fee to in order for NOCA to "certify" the manner in which ASHI certifies its members. That's it. That's all they do.

Are ASHI members now "certified" by NOCA? No. NOCA, when it existed, only certified processes - not people.

NOCA, because no one had ever heard of it, was not doing well. Even after collecting money from ASHI, NOCA had no appeal to anyone in the business so this year they totally changed their name (Institute for Credentialing Excellence), their url address and email address.

Yes, folks....the agency that actually "certified" the manner in which ASHI certifies its inspectors (as if that were some kind of a big deal) no longer exists.

How good is your business....how prominent are you in the industry....when you can afford to totally change your name, your url, and your email address?

NOCA...er...excuse me, ICE was so excited after landing the ASHI account that they have now "evolved and expanded to serve a broader range of organizations".

Please pass this on and give it equal publicity with every blog you find that tries to pass this crap off as if it some kind of "independent" validation of something. You have my permission to cut and paste the above and post it everywhere you find an ASHI member bragging of his "new certification".

All of this information is directly from ASHI, as published in the ASHI Reporter. You'll find it in the fine print.

[Kevin M. Leonard]

James, Don't you mean "NCCA" National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

American Society of Home Inspectors’ Certified Inspector Program Accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by kleonard

James, Don't you mean "NCCA" National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

American Society of Home Inspectors’ Certified Inspector Program Accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies

ASHI can't make up its mind what they want to call this company.

In the January Issue of the ASHI Reporter on page 34 they announce the "New Name for NOCA" and identify it as "NOCA, the organization that recently recognized ASHI's credential program".

Must be a pretty important company when ASHI can't remember the old name prior to the name change.

According to their new web page, a video is available to help you understand the "NOCA to ICE" transition. The company in the article you linked to apparently never did exist. Just another part of the scam. Besides, a "national commission" sounds much more governmental, doesn't it?

[James H. Bushart]

Nick - I have a thought.

Pay ICE a few bucks to have them "certify" your procedure for identifying inspectors who need to be removed from the rolls (Project Deadwood).

Then all NACHI members can advertise that NACHI's process of eliminating inspectors is certified by the same folks that ASHI uses to "credential" them.

[Kevin M. Leonard]

Originally Posted by jbushart

ASHI can't make up its mind what they want to call this company.

In the January Issue of the ASHI Reporter on page 34 they announce the "New Name for NOCA" and identify it as "NOCA, the organization that recently recognized ASHI's credential program".

Must be a pretty important company when ASHI can't remember the old name prior to the name change.

According to their new web page, a video is available to help you understand the "NOCA to ICE" transition. The company in the article you linked to apparently never did exist. Just another part of the scam. Besides, a "national commission" sounds much more governmental, doesn't it?

I see what your saying. I would chalk it up as a typo.

About Us
In 1977, the National Commission for Health Certifying Agencies (NCHCA) was formed, in cooperation with the federal government, to develop standards of excellence for voluntary certification programs. In 1989, the scope of those standards was broadened to include certifications for individuals in all professions and occupations. At that time, the standard-setting and accrediting organization NCHCA became the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), and the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA) was formed as the membership association for credentialing bodies. For more than 30 years, NOCA, NCCA, and their predecessor have promoted excellence in credentialing through education, research, advocacy, standard setting, and accreditation. As NOCA became the worldwide leader in providing knowledge and information to assist certification professionals in developing and managing high-quality certification programs, the Board of Directors recognized its broadening scope and the need to redefine the organization. In 2009, the Board proposed a name change for the organization that was approved by the membership and NOCA became the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE).

Today, ICE is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing educational, networking and advocacy resources for the credentialing community. ICE’s accrediting body, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), evaluates certification organization for compliance with the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs. NCCA's Standards exceed the requirements set forth by the American Psychological Association and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

ICE is accredited by the American National Standards Institute as a Standards Developer.

[Scott Patterson]

Jim, this is a short list of who has been accredited as ASHI has done. I think you may have heard of a few of them:

National Commission For Certifying Agencies

Accredited Certification Programs as of September 2009

Dates listed indicate that program's accreditation expiration date.

Academy of Applied Personal Training Education

• Certified Personal Fitness Trainer 3/31/14

Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation

• Accredited Business Accountant 11/30/13

American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program

• Adult Nurse Practitioner 11/30/12
• Family Nurse Practitioner 11/30/12
• Gerontological Nurse Practitioner 11/30/12

American Academy of Wound Management

• Certified Wound Specialist 4/30/12

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Certification Corporation

• CCNS 8/31/09
• CCRN 8/31/09
• Progressive Care Certified Nurse 8/31/09
• Cardiac Surgical Subspecialty Certification 8/31/12
• Cardiac Medical Subspecialty Certification 8/31/12

American Association of Medical Assistants

• Certified Medical Assistant 10/31/11

American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics

• Certified Orthotist (CO) 8/31/12
• Certified Prosthetist (CP) 8/31/12
• Certified Prosthetist-Orthotist (CPO) 8/31/12
• Certified Pedorthist 4/30/10

American Board for Occupational Health Nurses

• Case Management 8/31/13
• Certified Occupational Health Nurse 8/31/13
• Certified Occupational Health Nurse - Specialist 8/31/13

American Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry

• Primary Care in Podiatric Medicine 8/31/13
• Diabetic Foot Wounds and Foot Wear 8/31/13
• Podiatric Surgery 8/31/13

American Board of Registration of EEG and EP Technologists

• Certification in Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring 4/30/13

American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians

• Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician 10/31/11
• Diplomate American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physician 10/31/11

American Chiropractic Neurology Board

• Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Neurology Board 7/31/14

American Clinical Board of Nutrition

• Diplomate American Clinical Board of Nutrition 11/30/10

American College of Sports Medicine

• Certified Personal Trainer 4/30/11
• Exercise Specialist 4/30/11
• Health/Fitness Instructor 4/30/11
• Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist 4/30/11

American Council on Exercise

• Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist 10/31/13
• Group Fitness Instructor 10/31/13
• Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant 10/31/13
• Personal Trainer 10/31/13

American Medical Technologists

• Medical Technologist 5/31/13
• Medical Laboratory Technician 5/31/13
• Registered Phlebotomy Technician 5/31/13
• Registered Medical Assistant 5/31/13
• Certified Medical Administrative Specialist 5/31/13
• Registered Dental Assistant 5/31/13
• Certified Office Laboratory Technician 5/31/13

American Midwifery Certification Board

• Nurse Midwifery 8/31/11
• Midwifery 8/31/11

American Nurses Credentialing Center Commission on Certification


The following programs are accredited under the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs:

• Acute Care Nurse Practitioner 7/31/14
• Adult Nurse Practitioner 7/31/14
• Family Nurse Practitioner 7/31/14
• Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 7/31/14
• Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 7/31/14
• Gerontological Nurse Practitioner 7/31/14
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner 7/31/14
• Ambulatory Care 7/31/14
• Cardiac/Vascular 7/31/14
• Gerontological 7/31/14
• Informatics Nurse 7/31/14
• Medical-Surgical Nurse 7/31/14
• Nurse Executive 7/31/14
• Nurse Executive Advanced 7/31/14
• Nursing Case Management 7/31/14
• Nursing Professional Development 7/31/14
• Pediatric Nurse 7/31/14
• Pain Management 7/31/14
• Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse 7/31/14
• CNS Adult Health 7/31/14
• CNS Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 7/31/14
• CNS Child and Adolescent Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 7/31/14
• CNS Gerontological Nursing 7/31/14
• Advanced Public Health Nurse 7/31/14

American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

• Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer 9/30/14
• Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer 9/30/14
• Registered Vascular Technologist 9/30/14

American Registry of Radiologic Technologists

• Nuclear Medicine Technology 5/31/13
• Radiation Therapy 5/31/13
• Radiography 5/31/13
• Sonography 5/31/13
• Registered Radiologist Assistant 5/31/13

American Society for Home Inspectors

• Certified Inspector 6/30/14

Association for Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors

• Certified Drug, Alcohol and Addiction Counselor 8/31/12

Behavior Analyst Certification Board

• Board Certified Behavior Analyst 8/31/12
• Board Certified Associate Behavior Analyst 8/31/12

Board for Certification of Addiction Specialists

• Certified Alcoholism & Other Drug Addictions Recovery Specialist 3/31/12

Board for Orthotist/Prothetist Certification

• Certified Mastectomy Fitter 9/30/10
• Certified Orthotic Fitter 9/30/10
• Orthotist 9/30/10
• Prosthetist 9/30/10
• Pedorthist 5/31/14

Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics

• Certified Professional Ergonomist/Certified Human Factors Professional 3/31/14

Board of Certified Safety Professionals

• Certified Safety Professional 11/30/14

Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties

• Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacist 11/30/13
• Board Certified Nutrition Support Pharmacist 11/30/13
• Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist 11/30/13
• Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist 11/30/13
• Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist 11/30/13

Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists

• Registered Polysomnographic Technologist 8/31/12

The Breining Institute

• Registered Addiction Specialist 7/31/11

California Association for Alcohol/Drug Educators

• Certified Addiction Treatment Counselor 9/30/12

California Association of Drinking Driver Treatment Programs

• Certified Alcohol & Other Drug Counselor 9/30/12

California Certification Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors

• Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor II 10/31/11

California Certification Board for Chemical Dependency Counselors

• Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor 9/30/12

Center for Criminality Addictions Research, Training, and Application

• Forensic Addictions Corrections Treatment 9/30/12

Certification Board for Music Therapists

• Music Therapy Board Certification 10/31/11

Certification Board for Radiology Practitioner Assistants

• Radiology Practitioner Assistant 5/31/14

Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution

• Certified Sterile Processing Distribution Manager 5/31/13
• Certified Sterile Processing Distribution Supervisor 5/31/13
• Certified Sterile Processing Distribution Technician 5/31/13

Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology

• Certified in Infection Control 8/31/10

Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission

• Certified Disability Management Specialist 4/30/10

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.

• Certified Financial Planner 11/30/14

Certified Fundraising Executives International Credentialing Board

• Certified Fundraising Executive 3/31/14

Certified Mine Safety Professional Certification Board

• Certified Mine Safety Professional 11/30/10

Certifying Board for Dietary Managers

• Certified Dietary Manager 4/30/10

Commission for Case Manager Certification

• Certified Case Manager 11/30/14

Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association

• Dietetic Technician, Registered 11/30/11
• Registered Dietitian 11/30/11
• Board Certified Specialist on Renal Nutrition 11/30/11

Commission on Paraoptometric Certification

• Certified Paraoptometric Technician 3/31/12
• Certified Paraoptometric Assistant 3/31/12
• Certified Paraoptometric 3/31/12

Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification

• Certified Rehabilitation Counselor 6/30/10

Competency & Credentialing Institute (formerly Certification Board Perioperative Nursing)

• CRNFA 8/31/10
• CNOR 8/31/10

The Cooper Institute

• Personal Trainer Certification 11/30/11

Council on Certification of Health, Environmental and Safety Technologies

• Occupational Health and Safety Technologist 4/30/10
• Safety Trained Supervisor 4/30/10
• Construction, Health, and Safety Technologist 4/30/10

Crane Institute of America Certification, Inc.

• Telescoping Boom Crane Over 75 Tons 8/31/13
• Lattice Boom Carrier 8/31/13
• Lattice Boom Crawler 8/31/13
• Large Telescoping Boom Crane 8/31/13
• Small Telescoping Boom Crane 8/31/13

Dental Assisting National Board

• Certified Dental Assistant 8/31/12
• Certified Orthodontic Assistant 8/31/12

Healthcare Quality Certification Board

• Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality 11/30/13

Human Resource Certification Institute

• Professional in Human Resources 4/30/13
• Senior Professional in Human Resources 4/30/13
• Global Professional in Human Resources 4/30/13

Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians

• Certified Pharmacy Technician 5/31/13

Indian Alcoholism Commission of California

• Certified Substance Abuse Counselor 9/30/12

International Fitness Professionals Association

• Certified Personal Fitness Trainer 10/31/12

International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners

• International Board Certified Lactation Consultant 3/31/14

International Foundation for Retirement Education

• Certified Retirement Counselor 7/31/14

Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology

• Certified Ophthalmic Assistant 6/30/10
• Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist 6/30/10
• Certified Ophthalmic Technician 6/30/10
• Ophthalmic Surgical Assisting 6/30/10

Lamaze International

• Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator 4/30/12

National Academy of Sports Medicine

• Certified Personal Trainer 11/30/10

National Alliance of Wound Care

• Wound Care Certified 8/31/13

National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts

• Certified Valuation Analyst 4/30/13
• Accredited Valuation Analyst 4/30/13

National Association of Forensic Counselors

• Clinically Certified Forensic Counselor 11/30/10
• Clinically Certified Sex Offender Treatment Specialist 11/30/10

National Association Medical Staff Services

• Certified Provider Credentialing Specialist 5/31/13
• Certified Professional Medical Services Management 5/31/13

National Athletic Trainer's Association Board of Certification

• Entry-Level Athletic Trainer Certification 10/31/10

National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences

• Board Certified in Hearing Instrument Sciences 8/31/13

National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses

• Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant 4/30/10
• Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse 4/30/10

National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists

• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist 4/30/12

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy

• Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant 8/31/13
• Occupational Therapist Registered 8/31/13

National Board for Certification of Orthopaedic Technologists

• Orthopaedic Technologist - Certified 4/30/11

National Board for Certified Counselors

• Master Addictions Counselor 4/30/13
• National Certified Counselor 4/30/13

National Board for Respiratory Care

• Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist 11/30/12
• Certified Respiratory Therapist 11/30/12
• Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care Specialty 11/30/12
• Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist 11/30/12
• Registered Respiratory Therapist 11/30/12

National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting

• Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) 4/30/10
• Certified First Assistant (CFA) 4/30/10

National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Body Work

• National Certification for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork 3/31/14
• National Certification for Therapeutic Massage 3/31/14

National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing Specialties

• Electronic Fetal Monitoring 4/30/10
• Inpatient Obstetric Nursing 4/30/10
• Low Risk Neonatal Nursing 4/30/10
• Maternal Newborn Nursing 4/30/10
• Menopause Clinician 4/30/10
• Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing 4/30/10
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner 4/30/10
• Telephone Nursing Practice 4/30/10
• Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner 4/30/10

National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

• Acupuncture 8/31/12
• Asian Bodywork Therapy 8/31/12
• Chinese Herbology 8/31/12
• Oriental Medicine 8/31/12

National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators

• Certified Crane Operator 7/31/14
• Tower Crane Operator 7/31/14

National Commission for Health Education Credentialing

• Certified Health Education Specialst Exam 5/31/13

National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification, Inc.

• Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist 5/31/13

National Council on Strength and Fitness

• National Certified Personal Trainer 4/30/10

National Examining Board of Ocularists

• Board Certified Ocularist 4/30/12

National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association

• Certified Personal Fitness Trainer 3/31/13

National Exercise Trainers Association

• Certified Personal Trainer 4/30/12
• Certified Group Exercise Instructor 4/30/12

National Federation of Professional Trainers

• Certified Personal Fitness Trainer 11/30/10

National Healthcareer Association

• Certified Phlebotomy Technician 3/31/14

National League for Nursing

• Certified Nurse Educator 3/31/14

National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians

• NREMT-Basic 5/31/13
• NREMT-First Responder 5/31/13
• NREMT-Intermediate/85 5/31/13
• NREMT-Paramedic 5/31/13

National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)

• Certified Personal Trainer 10/31/13
• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist 10/31/13

North American Registry of Midwives

• Certified Professional Midwife Program 11/30/11

Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board

• Nuclear Medicine Technologist Certification 4/30/10

Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation

• Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist 8/31/10
• Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse 8/31/10
• Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner 8/31/10
• Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse 8/31/10
• Oncology Certified Nurse 8/31/10

Operating Engineers Certification Program (formerly the Southern California Crane & Hoisting Certification Program)

• Boom Truck Crane 11/30/14
• Lattice Boom Crane 11/30/14
• Telescopic Boom Crane 11/30/14
• Tower Crane 11/30/14

Ophthalmic Photographers' Society, Inc. Board of Certification

• Certified Retinal Angiographer 3/31/10

Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, Inc.

• Certified Pediatric Nurse 4/30/11
• Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care 4/30/11
• Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care 4/30/11

Pharmacy Technician Certificaton Board

• Certified Pharmacy Technician 11/30/11

Radiology Coding Certification Board

• Radiology Certified Coder 08/31/09

Society of Certified Senior Advisors

• Certified Senior Advisor 8/31/13

Training and Wellness Certification Commission

• Advanced Certified Personal Trainer 3/31/14

Transportation Professional Certification Board

• Professional Traffic Operations Engineer 4/30/12

Union Pacific Railroad*

• Mobile Crane Operator 11/30/13
• Boom Truck Specialty 11/30/13
• Multi Crane Specialty 11/30/13
• Lattice Boom Specialty 11/30/13

*Note: These accredited UPR programs are employee-specific credentials and are not transportable.

Veterinary Hospital Managers Association

• Certified Veterinary Practice Manager 11/30/11

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board

• Certified Continence Care Nurse 3/31/11
• Certified Ostomy Care Nurse 3/31/11
• Certified Wound Care Nurse 3/31/11
• Certified Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse Certfied 3/31/11

[James H. Bushart]

Actually, I have not heard of many of these occupations. I don't hang around hospitals.

I notice that "Wedding Planners" are also "certified", now, with the process of certifying them being blessed (for a fee) by NOCA or ICE or whatever they are.

It means nothing other than they have validated that ASHI follows a process and, when the check cleared, they approved of the process. It is NOT to say that other processes are not better, more efficient, or more meaningful.

[Scott Gilligan, CMI]

I wonder how much this certification costs? I would like to certify the process of wiping my ***. Think they would review and approve my process if I sent them a check?

[James H. Bushart]

Sometimes we all need to be reminded that ICC Certification is considered to be one of the highest level of credentials in the building inspection profession....and it is obtained by passing an open book test given on a computer....and is not accredited by NOCA, or whatever its name is this week.

The scam requires that ASHI members now spread the word that ONLY ASHI's certification is meaningful because they paid some obscure company (that has since changed its name and location on the internet) to approve the process by which they certify their members. In the usual ASHI tradition, all other manners of certification is worthless and only theirs is of value.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by sgilligan1

I wonder how much this certification costs? I would like to certify the process of wiping my ***. Think they would review and approve my process if I sent them a check?

You're too late.

"Certified A ss-Wipe" is already taken.

[Mark H. Roe]

Originally Posted by jbushart

You're too late.

"Certified A ss-Wipe" is already taken.

LOL Jim. Good one