ABHI FEES FOR 2009 WILL INCREASE

The following is the new schedule for the ABHI's examination application fees and the approved provider effective January 1, 2009.

The ABHI approved provider fee schedule is provided in the table below.

Many see ABHI’s primary role as providing credentialing services to all levels of histocompatibility and immunogenetics professionals. Included in this process is the continual assessment and periodic updating of competency standards to reflect current laboratory practices. Another key function of ABHI is to encourage continuing certification by approving valuable CE credits in a cost-effective manner. By participating in ABHI-approved CE programs as a staff technologist, administrator, vendor or organization, you are promoting professional growth while enhancing knowledge. Together, these activities advance our work, serve our clients, and ultimately, improve patient care

2009 ABHI Examination Schedule

In 2009 the ABHI Certification Examination for Associates, Technologists and Specialists will be offered in March and September. The examination will be administered by computer, and offered on any weekday during the months of March and September at over 150 assessment centers in the United States. There will be no specific pre-scheduled testing dates. Once a candidate’s eligibility is confirmed he/she will receive notice from the testing agency including instructions on how to schedule their examination appointment during March and September.  Test time for the Associates, Technologists and Specialists has been extended an additional 30 minutes allowing 3.5 hours to testing time.

The application deadlines will be January 1 and June 1 respectively for the CHA, CHS and CHT examinations.

In 2009 the Histocompatibility Laboratory Director examination will be offered in September. The application deadline will be June 1.

Submitting an application for the examinations
Complete the paper application included in the Candidate Handbook and mail it with the appropriate fee to ABHI, P.O. Box 19173 , Lenexa , Kansas 66285 -9173.

The application is processed and a confirmation notice of eligibility is sent to the candidate within approximately two weeks. If a confirmation notice is not received within three weeks, contact the ABHI at 913/895-4602., ext. 4778.

Scheduling the examination and Administration Process
Once the candidate receives their confirmation notice he/she should immediately schedule an examination appointment at their convenience during the month in which they have applied. The confirmation notice contains a web address and toll-free telephone number for the candidate to contact AMP; ABHI’s testing agency. Appointments can also be scheduled online 24 hours a day, seven days a week at www.goAMP.com. The toll-free line is answered from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Central Time) Monday through Thursday and 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Central Time) on Friday. The candidate must be prepared to confirm a date and location for testing and to provide her/his Social Security number as a unique identification number.

A candidate's eligibility and acceptance of the application is valid only during March or September. A candidate who fails to schedule an appointment for examination by the end of either month's eligibility deadline must re-submit a complete application including examination fee to schedule an examination appointment.

The ABHI examination is administered via computer at over 150 Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP) Assessment Centers geographically distributed throughout the United States and Canada . The international assessment centers that are available can be viewed at: http://www.goamp.com/AMP/Internationallocations.htm

The examinations are administered by appointment only Monday through Friday at 9:00 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. during the months of March and September. Individuals are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Refer to the chart below.

Note: Examinations will not be offered on Labor Day.

The candidate must contact AMP to schedule an appointment and will be given the specific time to report to the center. No admission ticket will be issued; therefore, the specified examination location, date and time should be noted. Candidates who arrive at the Assessment Center later than 15 minutes from the scheduled appointment time will not be admitted. Unscheduled candidates (walk-ins) will not be admitted to the Assessment Center .

ABHI reserves the right to verify information supplied by the candidate. An application is considered complete only if all requested information is complete and accurate; if the candidate is eligible for the examination; and if fees are submitted. Examination fees for ineligible applications will be refunded minus a $50 processing fee.

Computerized Version Appointment Changes
A candidate may reschedule ONE appointment for the computerized version of the examination at no charge by calling AMP at 888/519-9901 at least four business days prior to the scheduled testing session. (See table below.)

A candidate who wishes to reschedule their examination but fails to contact AMP at least four business days prior to the scheduled testing session forfeits the application and all fees paid to take the examination. A complete application and examination fee are required to reapply for examination.

A candidate who cancels their examination after confirmation of eligibility forfeits the application and all fees paid to take the examination. A complete application and examination fee are required to reapply for examination. If a candidate must cancel an examination appointment or would like to request a refund due to a medical emergency the candidate must submit the request in writing accompanied by official written notification from attending physician to the ABHI Executive Office.

Administering or Taking the Examination
The examination will be by computer at an AMP Assessment Center . Candidates do not need any prior computer experience or typing skills to take the examination. On the day of the examination, report to the Assessment Center no later than the scheduled testing time. Look for signs indicating AMP Assessment Center Check-in. A CANDIDATE WHO ARRIVES MORE THAN 15 MINUTES AFTER THE SCHEDULED TESTING TIME WILL NOT BE ADMITTED.

Identification
To gain admission to the Assessment Center , a candidate needs to present two forms of identification, one with a current photograph. Both forms of identification must be current and include the candidate's current name and signature. The candidate will be required to sign a roster for verification of identity. Acceptable forms of photo identification include a current driver's license with photograph, a current state identification card with photograph, a current passport, or a current military identification card with photograph. Employment ID cards, student ID cards and any type of temporary identification are NOT acceptable as the primary form of identification. CANDIDATES MUST HAVE PROPER IDENTIFICATION TO GAIN ADMISSION TO THE ASSESSMENT CENTER . Failure to provide appropriate identification at the time of the examination is considered a missed appointment. There will be no refund of the testing fee.

Rules for Examination
Security
AMP maintains test administration and test security standards that are designed to assure that all candidates are provided the same opportunity to demonstrate their abilities. The Assessment Center is continuously monitored by audio and video surveillance equipment for security purposes.

The following security procedures apply during the examination: Examinations are proprietary. No cameras, notes, tape recorders, personal digital assistants (PDAs), pagers or cellular phones are allowed in the testing room.

No programmable calculators are permitted. Only silent, hand-held, solar-or battery-operated calculators without paper tape-printing capabilities or alphabetic keypads, may be used. Financial calculators are allowed if they meet these specifications. Calculator malfunction during a test does not constitute grounds for challenging test scores or requesting additional test time. No guests, visitors or family members are allowed in the testing room or reception areas. No personal items, valuables, or weapons should be brought to the Assessment Center . Only keys and wallets may be taken into the testing room. AMP is not responsible for items left in the reception area.

Examination Restrictions
No personal belongings will be allowed in the Assessment Center . Pencils will be provided during check-in. The candidate will be provided with scratch paper to use during the examination, which must be returned to the supervisor at the completion of testing, or the candidate will not receive a score report. No documents or notes of any kind may be removed from the examination room. No questions concerning the content of the examination may be asked during the examination.

Eating, drinking or smoking will not be permitted in the Assessment Center . The candidate may take a break during the examination, but will not be allowed additional time to make up for time lost during breaks.

Misconduct
Individuals who engage in any of the following conduct may be dismissed from the examination, their scores will not be reported and examination fees will not be refunded. Examples of misconduct are when a candidate: creates a disturbance, is abusive, or otherwise uncooperative; uses electronic communications equipment such as pagers, cellular phones, PDAs; gives or receives help or is suspected of doing so; attempts to record examination questions or make notes; attempts to take the examination for someone else; or is observed with notes, books or other aids.

Copyrighted Examination Questions
All examination questions are the copyrighted property of ABHI. It is forbidden under federal copyright law to copy, reproduce, record, distribute or display these examination questions by any means, in whole or in part. Doing so may subject the candidate to severe civil and criminal penalties.

Practice Test
After the candidate's identification has been confirmed, he/she will be directed to a testing carrel. The candidate will be instructed on-screen to enter their Social Security number, and instructed on how to take their photograph which will remain on screen throughout the testing session. This photograph will also print on the score report.

Prior to attempting the examination, the candidate will be given the opportunity to practice taking a test using the computer. The time used for this practice test is NOT counted as part of the examination time or score. Once the candidate is comfortable with the computer testing process, he/she may quit the practice session and begin the timed examination.

Timed Examination
Following the practice test, the actual examination will begin. Before beginning, instructions for taking the examination are provided on-screen.

The computer monitors the time spent on the examination. The candidate will have 3.5 hours to complete the CHA, CHS, and CHT examinations and 5 hours to complete the Labratory Director examination. The examination will terminate if testing exceeds the time allowed. Click on the "Time" box in the lower right portion of the screen or select the Time key to monitor testing time. A digital clock indicates the time remaining to complete the examination. The Time feature may be turned off during the examination.

Only one examination question is presented at a time. The question number appears in the lower right portion of the screen. Choices of answers to the examination questions are identified as A, B, C, or D. The candidate must indicate his/her choice by either typing in the letter in the response box in the lower left portion of the computer screen or clicking on the option using the mouse. To change an answer, enter a different option by pressing the A, B, C, or D key or by clicking on the option using the mouse. The candidate may change his/her answer as many times as he/she wishes during the testing time limit.

To move to the next question, click on the forward arrow (>) in the lower right portion of the screen or select the NEXT key. This action will move the candidate forward through the examination question by question. To review any question, click the backward arrow (<) or use the left arrow key to move backward through the examination.

An examination question may be left unanswered for return later in the testing session. Questions may also be bookmarked for later review by using the mouse and clicking in the blank square to the right of the Time button. Click on the hand icon or select the NEXT key to advance to the next unanswered or bookmarked question on the examination. To identify all unanswered and bookmarked questions, repeatedly click on the hand icon or press the NEXT key. When the examination is completed, the number of examination items answered is reported. If not all questions have been answered and there is time remaining, return to the examination and answer those questions. Be sure to provide an answer for each examination question before ending the examination. There is no penalty for guessing.

Candidate Comments
During the examination, online comments may be provided for any question by clicking on the button displaying an exclamation point (!) to the left of the Time button. This opens a dialogue box where comments may be entered. Comments will be reviewed, but individual responses will not be provided.