National Clinical Coding Qualification (UK)

The National Clinical Coding Qualification (UK) is the only nationally recognised qualification for clinical coders working in the NHS^[1]. Upon passing the examination a clinical coder is able to use the Post-nominal letters ACC.

Development

The qualification was established by NHS Connecting for Health in partnership with administration and awarding body, the Institute for Health Record and Information Management (IHRIM). It was also developed in collaboration with the NHS in Scotland, NHS Cymru, and the Health and Social Services Executive (Northern Ireland).

Purpose

The National Clinical Coding Qualification (UK) supports the need for good quality clinical information, as outlined in the Information for Health and the NHS Plan. One of the driving purposes of creating the NCCQ (UK) was to create a structured career path within clinical coding in the UK.

The NCCQ has become more popular in recent years. Agenda for Change (AfC) arrangements, contractual obligations and Continuing Professional Development (CPD)^[2] are seen as the driving forces.

Certainly since AfC's inception in 2004 it is not uncommon for a coder's contract to have a written agreement to take the NCCQ within a set time frame from the coder's starting date (CfH recommends a minimum of 1 year's coding experience before sitting the exam). In many trusts passing the NCCQ is an instant promotion under AfC. However, the actual 'banding' can vary from region to region and indeed trust to trust. Having the NCCQ is quickly becoming a prerequisite of team leader and coding manager positions throughout the UK.

Exam

Structure

The NCCQ exam is taken over the course of one day, during which 2 papers are sat.

The 3 hour 'practical' paper is sat in the morning and gives the coder a selection of diagnoses and operations. The short answer, quick-fire section is split into ICD-10 and OPCS 4.4 subsections, requiring just the codes from the respective book. The long answer, 'essay' questions, require both the ICD-10 and OPCS 4.4 codes. In addition, the first essay question requires the coder to show their 'four-step-coding-process' as well as the codes chosen by the coder. In the practical paper the coder is allowed their tabular and index copies of ICD-10 and OPCS 4.4 (annotated with coding clinics) and a copy of BNF. No medical dictionary is allowed. The pass mark is 90%, with a distinction given for getting 95% or more.

The 3 hour long 'theory' paper tests the coder's knowledge of SNOMED CT, the coding clinic, IDC-10, OPCS 4.4, Payment by Results (PbR), the Information Governance (IG) toolkit and anatomy and physiology. No reference material is allow on the coder's desk for the theory paper. The pass mark is 60%, with a distinction given for a those getting over 90%.

Resitting

Resits are possible. The coder is able to retake individual papers. However, both papers have to be passed to within 3 sittings to get the NCCQ. Should a coder fail to get both papers within 3 sittings they must resit both papers on the fourth (even if they had passed one of the papers previously).

References

1. ^ "NHS Connecting for Health website: National Clinical Coding Qualification (UK) - NHS Connecting for Health". http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/data/clinicalcoding/trainingaccred/accreditation. Retrieved 2009-03-06. 
2. ^ "NHS Connecting for Health website: Continuing Professional Development - NHS Connecting for Health". http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/data/clinicalcoding/trainingaccred/cpd. Retrieved 2009-03-07.