2009 Polls 

• How has the current economy affected your certification program(s)?
• Given the economy, are you offering alternative or less expensive certification options?
• What is your organization doing to capture customer satisfaction as it relates to your certificants or to your exam applicants?
• Does your organization have an ethics procedure in practice?
• Does your certification organization permit other employees in the candidate’s work place to proctor practical exams and/or written exams?
• Does your certification organization offer an expedited service option to process applications instead of processing them on a “first come, first served” basis? If so, do you charge a fee for this service?

2008 Polls

• Do you offer practice tests for your certification programs?
• For the 2008 annual conference, NOCA should find a keynote speaker who focuses on:
• In which area would you most like to see NOCA develop further resources?
• Please indicate your organization’s biggest governance challenge (choose all that apply):
• When you started a new certification program, how long did it take before you made a profit?
• Does your organization have an active Government Relations program to advocate for your industry?
• For organizations that offer certifications internationally, how do you structure your required fees for foreign certificants?
• Do you offer additional exam time for individuals with English as their second language if the exam and exam handbook are in English?

2007 Polls

• Which one of the following is the most critical area NOCA should focus on when redesigning the NOCA/NCCA website? (62 responses)
• How likely is it that you would recommend NOCA to a friend or colleague? 10 is extremely likely and 1 is not at all likely. (From Fred Reichheld's "The Ultimate Question") (99 responses)
• Did you find the NOCA Legislative and Regulatory Monitoring Report helpful? (24 responses)
• Did you find the NOCA Industry News helpful? (34 responses)
• Does your certification board charge a fee for verification of certification? (61 responses)
• What is the best improvement on the new NOCA website? (14 responses)
• Do you offer assessment-based certificates, and if so, how many? (25 responses)
• How do you find effective public members to serve on your certification boards? (19 responses)

2006 Polls

• Does your certification require membership as a criteria for certification? (77 responses)
• How often do your certificants recertify? (73 responses)
• In addition to your professional credentialing program, do you also offer a certificate program(s)? (37 responses)
• Does your organization monitor government legislation that impacts your field of certification? (50 responses)
• How have current economic conditions impacted applications to your certification program? (31 responses)
• Are background checks a component of your certification/recertification process? (59 responses)
• What is the retention rate for your certification board? (39 responses)
• Which option does your certification organization see as the best option for recruiting new applicants? (45 responses)
• What did you find to be most beneficial about your NOCA Membership in 2006? (48 responses)

2005 Polls

• How many different credentials does your certification organization offer? (132 responses)
• After initial certification, what percentage of your certificants recertify? (54 responses)
• How are the majority of the members of your certification board selected? (49 responses)
• What is your organization's tax status? (55 responses)
• Do you offer a "retired" credential category and if so, what is the cost to certificants?
• How many full-time employees work for your certification program?
• How often does your certification program conduct a job/task analysis
• How often are your certificants required to recertify?
• Is there an international organization (non-U.S. based) that has a competing credential to yours?
• In the next five years, do you plan on launching another certification program (in addition to your current programs)?

2004 Polls

• What is the most valuable benefit NOCA membership offers?
• How long has your certification organization been in existence?
• How much do you charge candidates to take your exam?
• If an item is performing well, which of the following is the most influential in determining when to remove a question from your organization's item bank?
• How does your program recertify candidates?
• How do you administer your examination? (134 responses)
• How many countries is your credential offered in? (70 responses)
• Does your certification organization/agency allow extra testing time for ESL candidates who do not qualify for extra time under the Americans With Disabilities Act? If so do you charge for extra time? (32 responses)
• What are the educational requirements for your credential? (107 responses)
• How have applications for your certification program(s) changed during the last year? (48 responses)

2003 Polls

• How have current economic conditions impacted applications to your certification program?
• Do individuals who hold a certification from your organization receive higher compensation?
• Does your Board of Directors have a public member?
• Does your certification program certify individuals outside of the US/Canada?

How has the current economy affected your certification program(s)? (44 responses)

Does your certification organization offer an expedited service option to process applications instead of processing them on a “first come, first served” basis? If so, do you charge a fee for this service? (49 responses)
 

Yes, for a fee  (5)	10%
Yes, free of charge (2)	4%
No (42)	86%

2008 Poll Questions

Do you offer practice tests for your certification programs? (23 responses)

Yes, we offer practice tests for ALL of our programs	52%
Yes, we offer practice tests for SOME of our programs	26%
No, we do not offer practice tests	22%

For the 2008 annual conference, NOCA should find a keynote speaker who focuses on: (17 responses)

Business Best Practices	12%
Applied Research	6%
Certification Management	35%
The Future / Trends	41%
Other	6%

In which area would you most like to see NOCA develop further resources? (24 responses)

Marketing a Certification Program	46%
Test Security	12%
Government Relations	12%
Starting a Certification Program	29%
Other	0%

Please indicate your organization’s biggest governance challenge (choose all that apply): (34 responses)

Recruiting and developing quality board candidates	35%
Defining basic roles & responsibilities	21%
Addressing high-level strategic objectives	21%
Board/Staff partnerships	9%
Board self-assessment	12%
Other	3%

When you started a new certification program, how long did it take before you made a profit? (9 responses)

Less than 1 year	33%
1-2 years	22%
2-3 years	11%
3-4 years	22%
4-5 years	11%
More than 5 years	0%

Does your organization have an active Government Relations program to advocate for your industry? (19 responses)

Yes, we have a GR program to advocate for our specific industry.	37%
Yes, we have a GR program to advocate for the certification industry.	5%
Yes, we have a GR program to advocate for both our specific industry and the certification industry.	5%
No, we do not have a GR program.	32%
No, we do not have a GR program but we plan to develop one in the future.	21%

For organizations that offer certifications internationally, how do you structure your required fees for foreign certificants? (30 responses)

All fees are the same as those required for domestic certificants	70%
Fees are based on certificant’s native country	23%
Fees are the same as those required for domestic certificants, but foreign certificants may request a fee waiver/reduction	0%
Other	7%

Do you offer additional exam time for individuals with English as their second language if the exam and exam handbook are in English? (70 responses)

Yes, always	23%
Yes, sometimes	14%
No	63%

2007 Poll Questions

Which one of the following is the most critical area NOCA should focus on when redesigning the NOCA/NCCA website? (62 responses)

Brand recognition of NOCA/NCCA	11%
Information Architecture (navigation, organization, restructuring)	34%
Visual (graphic) design	2%
Content Development	39%
Chat or Discussion Areas	15%

How likely is it that you would recommend NOCA to a friend or colleague? 10 is extremely likely and 1 is not at all likely. (From Fred Reichheld's "The Ultimate Question")

10	46%
9	4%
8	15%
7	10%
6	8%
5	5%
4	2%
3	1%
2	1%
1	7%

Did you find the NOCA Legislative and Regulatory Monitoring Report helpful? (24 responses)

Yes	54%
No	17%
Did not read	29%

Did you find the NOCA Industry News helpful? (34 responses)

Yes	74%
No	15%
Did not read	12%

Does your certification board charge a fee for verification of certification? (61 responses)

Yes	30%
No	56%
Sometimes	13%
We used to but don't anymore	2%
No but we plan to	0%

What is the best improvement on the new NOCA website? (14 responses)

Brand Recognition of NOCA/NCCA	0%
Information Architecture (navigation, organization, restructuring)	57%
Visual (Graphic) Design	29%
Content Development	7%
Chat/Discussion Areas	7%
No Improvement	0%
None of the above	0%

Do you offer assessment-based certificates, and if so, how many? (25 responses)

No, we do not offer assessment-based certificates	40%
Yes, we offer 1	32%
Yes, we offer 2	0%
Yes, we offer 3	8%
Yes, we offer 4	4%
Yes, we offer 5 or more	16%

How do you find effective public members to serve on your certification boards? (19 responses)

We do not have a public member.	21 %
Office of Consumer Affairs	0%
Local community centers	0%
Benevolent societies	0%
Referrals from other certification boards	32%
Citizen Advocacy Center	0%
Other	47%

2006 Poll Questions

Does your certification require membership as a criteria for certification? (77 responses)

Yes	22%
No	71%
I don't know	7%

How often do your certificants recertify? (73 responses)

Every Year	8%
Every 2-3 Years	48%
Every 4-5 Years	37%
Every 6-7 Years	1%
Candidates are not required to recertify	4%
I do not know	1%

In addition to your professional credentialing program, do you also offer a certificate program(s)? (37 responses)

Yes	27%
No	43%
No, but considering launching a certificate program	19%
Do not know	11%

Does your organization monitor government legislation that impacts your field of certification? (50 responses)

Yes	66%
No	20%
No, but we plan to	6%
Do now know	8%

How have current economic conditions impacted applications to your certification program? (31 responses)

Applications have increased	39%
Applications have decreased	13%
Applications have not been impacted	32%
Do not know	16%

Are background checks a component of your certification/recertification process? (59 responses)

Yes	41%
No	49%
No, but we plan to	5%
Do not know	5%

What is the retention rate for your certification board? (39 responses)

0-25%	3%
26-50%	15%
51-75%	23%
76-100%	46%
Doesn't apply/Do not know	13%

Which option does your certification organization see as the best option for recruiting new applicants? (45 responses)

Mail	16%
Email	18%
Website	22%
Telephone	4%
Ads in industry trade publications	11%
We don't recruit	20%
Unsure	2%
Other	7%

What did you find to be most beneficial about your NOCA Membership in 2006? (48 responses)

Academy Seminars	10%
Annual Conference	33%
Website Resources	17%
NCCA Accreditation	25%
Other	15%

2005 Poll Questions

How many different credentials does your certification organization offer? (132 responses)

1 - 3	63%
4 - 6	15%
7 - 9	8%
10 or more	12%

After initial certification, what percentage of your certificants recertify? (54 responses)

Less than 25%	12%
25 - 50%	14%
51 - 75%	31%
76 - 90%	18%
91 - 100%	22%

How are the majority of the members of your certification board selected? (49 responses)

Elected by Certifants	30%
Appointed by the board of a parent organization	24%
Appointed by the certification board after nomination by certificants	16%
Appointed by the certification board	22%
Other	6%

What is your organization's tax status? (55 responses)

501(c)3	34%
501(c)6	43%
My organization is for profit	14%

Do you offer a "retired" credential category and if so, what is the cost to certificants? (72 responses)

No	60%
Yes-the cost is the same as for our other credentialed members	6%
Yes-less than our other credentialed members	31%
Yes-more than our other credentialed members	4%

How many full-time employees work for your certification program? (59 responses)

1-3	42%
4-6	22%
7-10	10%
11-20	5%
21 or more	20%

How often does your certification program conduct a job/task analysis? (59 responses)

Every year	8%
Between 1 - 5	57%
Between 6 - 10 years	17%
11 years or more	3%
We have never conducted a job analysis	12%

How often are your certificants required to recertify? (99 votes)

Every year	16%
2 - 4 years	37%
5 - 6 years	29%
7 - 8 years	2%
9 years or more	4%
Recertification is not required	12%

Is there an international organization (non-U.S. based) that has a competing credential to yours? (44 responses)

Yes	41%
No	39%
I don't know	20%

In the next five years, do you plan on launching another certification program (in addition to your current programs)?

Yes	74%
No	11%
Maybe	10%
I don't know	6%

2004 Poll Questions

What is the most valuable benefit NOCA membership offers?

How long has your certification organization been in existence?

0 - 5 years	13%
6 - 10 years	17%
11 - 20 years	26%
More than 20 years	44%

How much do you charge candidates to take your exam?

$1 - $100	24%
$101 - $500	63%
$501 - $1000	9%
More than $1000	4%

If an item is performing well, which of the following is the most influential in determining when to remove a question from your organization's item bank?

Number of test administrations	16%
Number of years the item is used	7%
Job/tast Analysis	28%
Changes in the industry	49%

How does your program recertify candidates?

Continuing Education	51%
Examination	10%
Both	31%
My program does not recertify candidates	8%

How do you administer your examination? (134 responses)

Written Exam	46%
Computer-based Testing	39%
Online Exam	10%
Oral	2%
Other	3%

How many countries is your credential offered in? (70 responses)

1 - 3 Countries	58%
4 - 8 Countries	7%
9 - 15 Countries	8%
16 - 20 Countries	5%
More than 20	20%

Does your certification organization/agency allow extra testing time for ESL candidates who do not qualify for extra time under the Americans With Disabilities Act? If so do you charge for extra time? (32 responses)

No	71%
Yes to candidates that request it at no additional cost	9%
Yes to candidates that provide ESL documentation at no additional	12%
Yes to candidates that request it for an additional fee	3%
Yes to candidates that provide ESL documentation for an additional fee	3%

What are the educational requirements for your credential? (107 responses)

High School Diploma	21%
Bachelor's Degree	23%
Bachelor's and Master's Degree	22%
Doctorate	11%
No educational Requirement	16%
Other	4%

How have applications for your certification program(s) changed during the last year? (48 responses)

Applications have decreased	22%
Applications have increased by up to 25%	31%
Applications have increased by 26% - 50%	27%
No change	18%

2003 Poll Questions

How have current economic conditions impacted applications to your certification program?

Applications have increased	35%
Applications have decreased	31%
Applications have not been impacted	23%
Do not know	11%

Do individuals who hold a certification from your organization receive higher compensation?

Yes	52%
No	28%
Do not know	13%
Not applicatble, certification is required	7%

Does your Board of Directors have a public member?

Yes	62%
No	27%
What is a public member?	11%

Does your certification program certify individuals outside of the US/Canada?

Yes (in Mexico/Central America)	6%
Yes (in Europe)	6%
Yes (in Asia)	9%
Yes (in Australia)	3%
Yes (other)	5%
Yes (my program certifies individuals in more than one area above)	37%
No	34%