Initial Certification (2009)
The initial Breast Patient Navigator Certification or beta certification, was offered at the 19th Annual National Interdisciplinary Breast Center Conference, March 14-15, 2009. Official certification will be offered beginning in 2010, at the 20th Annual Interdisciplinary Breast Center Conference to be held again in march in Las Vegas. Certification is perpetual with annual renewal.
Certification Program Attendance
Anyone interested in breast patient navigation may attend the certification program. Individuals who attend the program and are not eligible to sit for the certification examination will be provided a certificate of attendance to validate program participation.
Certification Eligibility
To be eligible to sit for the exam, the individual must:
1) Be medically licensed as a physician, professional nurse, radiology technologist, social worker (licensed medical professionals) and hold a valid license OR
2) Be medically certified as a physician's assistant, radiology practitioner assistant, social worker, advanced practice nurse, (certified medical professionals) and hold a valid certification OR
3) Be master level prepared in a health related field
Please consider the following before deciding to sit for the Certification Exam: Although experience is not a condition of certification eligibility, the beta testing results have revealed that experience has a direct correlation to the level of success in passing the certification examination.
Certification Types
The certification exam is given in two parts. Part I is the Breast Imaging Navigator Certification Exam and Part II is the Breast Imaging/Cancer Navigator Certification Exam. A proficiency of 85% must be attained on the Breast Imaging segment of the exam to attain the Breast Imaging Patient Navigator Certification; and a proficiency of 85% must be attained on the Breast Imaging segment as well as the Breast Cancer segment to attain the Breast Cancer Patient Navigator Certification. Upon successful completion of these certifications, the designation of CBPN-I (Imaging) for the Certified Breast Imaging Patient Navigator and CBPN-C (Cancer) for the Certified Breast Cancer Patient Navigator may be used as credentials.
Initial 2009 Certification is valid for one year as it was a beta test year. Annual renewal is not available. Depending upon an individual's need, the option to extend certification for 18 months is available.
(CBPN-I designates an individual as a Certified Breast Patient Navigator in Imaging Navigation and CBPN-C designates an individual as a Certified Breast Patient Navigator in Breast Imaging AND Breast Cancer Navigation)
Official Certification (2010)
Beginning in 2010, based upon eligibility and examination proficiency, individuals may receive their official certification, which is renewable annually and dependant upon meeting annual renewal requirements. Examination fees are $295 for NCBC Navigator Members or NCBC members and $395 for non-members
Annual Renewal (2011)
Beginning in 2011, individuals must meet the following requirements for annual Breast Patient Navigator Certification renewal during the time from last certification or renewal date:
Eligibility: Have maintained valid BPN certification eligibility
Continuing Education: Have earned eight (8) breast health specific continuing education units, of which four (4) shall be breast patient navigation specific
Experience: Individuals with less than two (2) years of breast patient navigation experience (following the BPN stages defined in the NCBC Breast Patient Navigation Matrix) must have performed for at least 1000 hours as a breast patient navigator OR
Individuals with 2 or more years of breast patient navigation experience must have performed in a breast health center, breast health program or interacted with breast patients utilizing the Breast Patient Navigation Matrix for at least 500 hours of their professional role.
Performance Data: Have collected and submitted validated performance data.
Renewal Non Compliance: If individuals do not meet renewal requirements or do not submit for renewal, certification will be revoked and the individual must sit for another examination and meet minimum proficiency requirements to become re-certified. Annual renewal fees are $95 for Navigator NCBC Members or NCBC members and $190 for non-members.
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