Seven Good Reasons to be a Certified Asthma Educator

The National Asthma Education Certification Board (NAECB) has been in existence since 2002. Since its inception there have been almost 2,000 healthcare practitioners who proudly claim the title of a Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C). Almost half of them are respiratory therapists. There is a tremendous opportunity for more respiratory therapists to achieve this lofty title. In fact there are seven good reasons…

Reason #1
By passing this examination you can validate your role as an asthma educator. This validation will be a means to demonstrate that you have the skills necessary to be a certified asthma educator as deemed by a nationally recognized and respected certification board.

Reason #2
You may be able to pave a new career path. Many employers are starting to recognize the authority that this credential provides. In fact your skills may allow you to start a home, clinic, or acute care-based program.

Reason #3
There is the possibility of additional reimbursement for you and your employer for asthma educational services. In 2006 the CPT coding manual specified three specific codes that specify respiratory therapists as qualified asthma educators.

Reason #4
You can be the first one in your department to hold the credential.

Reason #5
The AE-C credential may actually be a means of allowing you to climb the career ladder in your department.

Reason #6
Since the numbers of AE-C respiratory therapists are limited your services to a prospective employer may be much more valuable.

Reason # 7
And most importantly the patients who you treat and educate will be assured of your expertise to be a certified asthma educator.

And here’s a great way to prepare yourself for the credential. Attend an AARC Asthma Educator Certification Preparation Program. The content of the course is based on the content outline of the NAECB examination and will assist the participants in recall, application, and analysis as it relates to specific areas of the examination.