Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For any questions regarding remotely-proctored exams please reference our VACC ProProctor FAQ document.

Certification by examination at a testing center is open to candidates living in the United States (U.S. Territories) and Canada. Remotely-proctored exams are available to those outside of these two regions and to those preferring to test remotely. All testing is offered in English. Practice in the area of vascular access is required for initial certification. Current practice in vascular access must use the knowledge and skills described in the content outline. Each candidate should assess their own body of knowledge, skills and understanding of the specialty in deciding when to sit for the exam.

The Vascular Access Board Certification (VA-BC™) is designed for clinical professionals to include but not limited to; MD’s, PA’s, NP’s, RN’s, LPN/LVN’s, RT’s, RRT’s, Infection Control, Educators, EMS professionals, that actively work in the field of vascular access. Having a thorough and sound foundation of the knowledge and skills required for competent practice in vascular access is essential. Knowledge can be obtained through work experiences and independent learning, as well as through formal educational programs. These components afford the candidate exposure and professional development and education in the vascular access specialty.

All candidates must:

• Have a minimum of a post-secondary education (e.g.: LPN, nursing diploma, associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, PhD, MD).
• Have a minimum of 1 year of professional experience. Practice in the area of vascular access is required for initial certification.
• Attest they meet one of the following criteria:
  • Health care professional in the field of vascular access involved in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating the care and needs of patients and clients who require vascular access in the course of their care.
  • Professional working in a field that complements Vascular Access, such as educators, administrators, infection control professionals, nutrition support professionals.

In addition, current clinical practice must include at least two (2) of the following activities:

1. Assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating the care and needs of patients and clients who require vascular access in the course of their care
2. Education of individuals in best practice as it pertains to vascular access
3. Development and revision of vascular access policies and procedures
4. Management of vascular access activities
5. Provision of consultation of vascular access activities
6. Self-employed individuals must meet the same practice criteria as above

Certification is open to all qualified candidates.

Note: This certification is NOT intended for sales, marketing, or other non-clinical industry professionals, and all candidates must attest that they meet education and practice requirements, which is subject to verification by the Vascular Access Certification Corporation. For industry professionals interested in furthering their knowledge of Vascular Access, please review the Vascular Access Industry Partner™ Program .

Vascular Access Industry Partner™ Program 

Candidates that sit for and pass the Vascular Access Certification exam are granted Vascular Access-Board Certified (VA-BC^™) credential.

The test is administered every June and December
Applications for the June seating begin March 1st through April 15th
Applications for the December seating begin September 1st through October 15th

The exam is a computer based test administered at Prometric™ centers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Remotely-proctored exams may be available during certain windows.

Prometric™ is a wholly-owned, independently operated subsidiary of Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA). Prometric™ provides computer based testing sites in more than 3000 locations across the globe and remotely-proctored exams during certain windows.

No prior computer experience is necessary. At the beginning of an examination, each candidate will receive a brief tutorial on how to use the computer to answer questions and review responses. Test center staff members are also always available to answer questions. The complete tutorial lasts 15 minutes and does not count against your overall testing time.

For those taking the remotely-proctored exam, additional technology supports and system checks are required.

The exam is currently offered in the U.S. (including the U.S. Territories) and Canada. Candidates may take the examination at many of the hundreds of test sites that our testing partner, Prometric, operates. For those who live outside of those two major geographic areas, or who do not wish to visit a testing center, a remotely-proctored exam is available during certain testing windows. When you apply to take the exam, you will be able to access a full list of test sites so that you may choose the location and testing environment most convenient for you. You can also go to the Prometric website to view testing sites.

Yes, go to www.prometric.com/VACC and follow the instructions under “Locate a Test Center”

The exam consists of up to 150 multiple choice questions. Of these questions, 125 are scored and the remainder are non-scored. The content outline provides information about what is on the exam. You have two and one half (2.5) hours to complete the examination. The computer has a clock to monitor your time. The 2.5-hour clock will begin as soon as you complete the pretest tutorial. The clock will count down the time remaining.

First review the content outline to familiarize yourself with the subject areas that will be on the test. Focus your studies by identifying your strengths and weaknesses. Review the list of references available in the Candidate Handbook. Many of these references were used to write the exam questions. VACC does not endorse any method of study or education.

Pricing subject to time of submission and potential discounts. Details can be found on the VACC website.

You can apply for the Vascular Access Board Certified exam online at
https://www.vacert.org/ (preferred) or by mailing or faxing their application to the Vascular Access
Certification Corporation. Candidates who mail or fax their applications will be charged a $25.00 administrative fee. See the Candidate Handbook for detailed information.

For the June seating, early registration applications must be submitted and all fees paid by March 20th and all applications must be submitted and all fees paid by April 15th.

For the December seating, early registration applications must be submitted and all fees paid by
September 20th and all applications must be submitted and all fees paid by October 15th.

All registrations must arrive at VACC (not postmarked) by the application receipt deadline. Faxed applications will be accepted.
Late applications may be assessed a late fee, in addition to the $25 administration fee.

You may submit the application by fax or e-mail attachment or mail. A $25 administrative fee applies. We will not process any applications until we receive the check. All the same deadlines apply as with the online application.

You may submit the application by fax or e-mail attachment or mail along with the payment information. A $25 administrative fee applies. We will not process any applications until we receive the check. All the same deadlines apply as with the online application.

NO, participation in the certification program is voluntary and open to anyone meeting the eligibility requirements in the US and Canada. Membership in the Association for Vascular Access is not required. In order to take advantage of the reduced member rate you must be an active NO, participation in the certification program is voluntary and open to anyone meeting the eligibility requirements in the US and Canada. Membership in the Association for Vascular Access is not required. To take advantage of the reduced member rate you must be an active member before beginning the application process.member before beginning the application process..

You will receive immediate notice that your application has been submitted and you will be e-mailed a receipt of payment. If you do not receive a notice check your spam folder. All communication will be handled by e-mail only. To ensure that you receive all notices we recommend you add info@vacert.org to your email safe senders list.

Upon confirmation of eligibility to take the certification exam, the candidate will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter, via e-mail only. This may take 7-10 days. The ATT letter authorizes the candidate to take the VA-BC™ exam, and will include the following information:

• The contact information for Prometric™, so the candidate can schedule an examination based on the identified testing window
• Details on how to schedule an examination date with Prometric™
• Information on how to reschedule or cancel an examination, should that become necessary

Valid photo identification and the Authorization to Test Letter (ATT) are required for admission to the examination test site. Examples of acceptable forms of photo identification include: driver’s license, employee identification card, passport, or bank card with a photo ID. NOTE: your first and last name on your photo identification must exactly match the first and last name on your ATT letter and online application. If your name changes for any reason prior to the exam date you must contact VACC before going to the test site. Individuals who arrive at the testing site without first notifying VACC will be considered “no show” and will forfeit all fees.

You will receive an official result report via e-mail within one (1) hour of completing your exam to the e-mail address that Prometric has on file.  The result report provides information on whether you passed or failed the examination. You will NOT receive a result report by mail.

The results report gives the candidates their pass/fail status.
If you pass the exam your score report will simply indicate PASS.
For individuals who fail the exam, the scaled score will be provided along with diagnosis information will help identify strengths and weaknesses in each of the content areas covered by the VACC examination. Candidates should use the information to identify areas where additional study may be needed before retesting. The diagnostic level definitions are:

• Proficient – The score obtained is at or above the acceptable level, demonstrating an acceptable understanding of the content. A review of this area may be helpful prior to re-taking the exam.
• Marginal – The score obtained is marginally unacceptable, indicating that understanding of this content does not appear to be strong. Additional study is suggested.
• Deficient – The score obtained is below an acceptable level. Substantial study of this content area is recommended prior to re-taking the exam.

Due to the need to maintain test security, examination questions and answers will not be released to candidates. Under no circumstances will scores or pass/fail information be released over the phone or by fax.

VACC tests are scored using a scaled score. A scaled score of 90 is the passing score for the exam. The 90 equates to different raw scores on various forms on the test depending on the difficulty of the form.

A scale score is transformed from raw test score (the number of test questions answered correctly). This is something like transforming inches into centimeters – the distance measured does not change, only the units used to express that distance. A scale score of at least 90 is required to pass the VA-BC examination. To interpret any test score, a uniform frame of reference is required. Scale scores provide that frame of reference based on the standard adopted by the VACC of the amount of knowledge necessary to pass without regard to the specific test form or version taken. Scale scores range from a low score of 30 to a high score of 140. Please note that a scale score is neither the number of questions answered correctly, nor the percentage of questions answered correctly.

The reason for calculating scaled scores is that different forms or versions of the exam may vary in difficulty. As new versions of the exams are introduced, a certain number of questions in each content area are replaced by new questions. These changes may cause one version of the exam to be slightly easier or harder than another version. Please note that a scale score is neither the number of questions answered correctly not the percentage of questions answered correctly.

A criterion-referenced or standard-setting procedure and expert judgment are used to identify the passing point. A candidate’s ability to pass the exam depends on the amount of knowledge he or she displays, not on the performance of other individuals taking the exam.
The reason for calculating scaled scores is that different forms or versions of the exam may vary in difficulty. As new versions of the exams are introduced, a certain number of questions in each content area are replaced by new questions. These changes may cause one version of the exam to be slightly easier or harder than another version.
To adjust for these differences in difficulty, a statistical procedure called “equating” is used. The goal of equating is to ensure fairness to all candidates. In the equating process, the minimum raw score (number of correctly answered questions) required to equal the passing scaled score is statistically adjusted (or equated). For instance, if the exam is determined to be more difficult than the base form of the exam, then the minimum raw score required to pass will be slightly lower than the base passing raw score. If the exam is a bit easier, then the passing raw score will be slightly higher. Equating helps ensure that the passing scaled score represents the same level of knowledge, regardless of which version of the exam a candidate takes.

You may begin to use your VA-BC™ designation on the first of the month after passing your exam; July 1 for test taken in June and January 1 for tests taken in December.

You may retake the exam during the next regularly scheduled exam cycle by submitting a new application. There is no limit on the number of times a candidate may take the VACC examination, however, if you do not pass the examination after three attempts in a row you must wait a minimum of one year before retaking the examination.

Yes. If you have scheduled your exam with Prometric, you must first cancel with them at least five (5) calendar days BEFORE your scheduled appointment date prior to canceling with VACC (fees may apply). Fill out the online “Request a Refund” form before the last day of the test administration window (either June 30 or December 31) and VACC will refund all but the administrative fee of $100. If you do not cancel with Prometric within the 5-calendar day time frame you will forfeit ALL fees. more knowledge.

Yes, you may only transfer to the next available window. If you have scheduled your exam with Prometric, you must first cancel with them at least five (5) calendar days BEFORE your scheduled appointment date prior to transferring with VACC (fees may apply). Fill out the online “Request a Transfer” form and pay the $50 transfer fee on or before the last day of the examination administration window. If you fail to cancel with Prometric within the 5-calendar day time frame you will forfeit all fees. You may only transfer one time. If you do not take the exam after transferring you will forfeit all fees.

Yes, the VA-BC™ is accredited through the NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies)

Yes, the VA-BC^™ certification is considered a national multidisciplinary certification by the America Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Yes,
1. The VA-BC certification is on the Veterans Administration approved listing for nursing certifications.
2. The VA-BC is approved for veterans and other eligible persons utilizing the GI Bill for Reimbursement
3. VACC offers a discount to members of “Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs” Contact the NOVA organization for more information on obtaining the discount.

The certification is good for 3 years.

You re-certify by obtaining 30 Continuing Education Credits all related to vascular access or by retaking the exam.

Your certificate and wallet card are embedded into your digital badge in PDF form. This allows you to immediately print them off for use. If you still want a hard copy certificate with a raised gold seal you can order it from our online store.
Your digital badge is e-mailed to you during the first week of July or January depending on when you take the exam.

Digital Badges are web-enabled representations of your VA-BC™ credential. Your digital badge is made of an image and metadata uniquely linked to you. This ensures that only you can take credit for your achievement.

You can share your digital badge to popular online social media and professional platforms, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. It can also be embedded in a résumé, your personal website, or an even your email signature. Anyone who views your badge can select it to learn more about your certification and to verify its authenticity.

Yes, you will receive a series of e-mail notifications beginning 10 months prior to your certification renewal.

You can submit your application 10 months before it is due.

Your application is due on June 1 if your certification ends June 30.
Your application is due December 1 if your certification ends December 31.

Yes, all candidates recertifying beginning are required to upload proof of continuing education into the certifcant portal before being able to access the online application. Once you have uploaded the minimum number of credits (30), you will be given access to the application.

You will need the following information to log your Continuing Education Hours:

• Activity date
• Brief description/name of activity
• Number of credits earned
• Electronic copy to upload (word, PDF, JPEG)

Sign into the Candidate Portal

Go to “My CEU” enter in the information, attach your document and hit SUBMIT

Yes, your CE’s will be saved in the portal indefinitely each time you sign into My CE you will see what you have submitted along with a running tally so you will always know how many CE’s you have earned.

You can add them in at any time during your certification cycle. You do not need to wait until your application is due. We suggest that you add them as you earn them.

You can apply online after the deadline, if you have completed and uploaded all your CEs. Additional fees will apply.

As soon as you submit the online application you will receive a notification simply stating that the application has been successfully submitted. You will receive an email notification with a receipt of payment. You will receive an additional email on or about June 14th if your certification cycle ends June 30^th or December 14th if your certification cycle ends December 30^th with the status of your application

You may submit the application by fax or e-mail attachment or mail. A $25 administrative fee applies. We will not process any applications until we receive the check. You are responsible to add your CE’s into the certificant portal before VACC staff can enter your application into the database. All the same deadlines apply as with the online application.

You may submit the application by fax, e-mail attachment or mail along with the payment information. A $25 administrative fee applies.  You are responsible to add your CE’s into the certificant portal before VACC staff will enter your application into the database. All the same deadlines apply as with the online application.

Yes, VACC audits a portion of all candidates to monitor our recertification process and to meet accreditation standards. All names are chosen randomly.

Your certificate and wallet card are imbedded into your digital badge in PDF form. This allows you to immediately print them off for use. If you still want a hard copy certificate with a raised gold seal you can order it from our online store.

The Continuing Education (CE) Credits encompass a wide spectrum of activities that, according to VACC standards, reflects continual learning opportunities. See our website for CE Resources.

You are not required to attend any conference to obtain your CEs.

You may obtain all of your CEs from online sources, you are not required to attend live meetings.

Earning CEs must be spread out over the three-year certification cycle. It is prohibited to obtain all CEs from one meeting.

You may begin to earn them on the first day of your certification period. That is July 1 for people that certify in the June cycle and January 1 for people that certify in the December cycle.

Yes, you can recertify by retaking the exam. To avoid being suspended you must take the exam during the same cycle as your renewal.

We offer early and final fees for recertification by CE. Please refer to our fee schedule. If recertifying by testing, the test fees for that time will apply.