Certification

PARCA provides certification for Healthcare Imaging and IT (HIIT) professionals, who typically are responsible for PACS systems and electronic Medical Records as a system administrator and/or coordinator. There are typically two different career tracks by which professionals end up as a System Administrator, i.e. either from the technical (IT) or clinical e.g. Radiological Technologist (RT) profession. One must prove to be proficient in both the clinical and technical areas before advancing to advanced PACS administration certification. For example, a RT, nurse or other clinical healthcare practitioner needs to have basic computer administration and networking knowledge, while a person with an IT background needs to know basic medical terminology and understand the basics of digital imaging.

Certification Consists of Three Components

Certified PACS Associate (CPAS): This certification is achieved by passing the 2 exams listed below. CPAS-Technical: Individuals are able to demonstrate their knowledge of general technical skills related to Imaging Informatics. CPAS-Clinical: Individuals are able to demonstrate their knowledge of general clinical skills related to Imaging Informatics. Certified DICOM Integration Professional (CDIP): Individuals are able to demonstrate their knowledge about DICOM, including troubleshooting. Certified PACS System Analyst (CPSA): Individuals are able to demonstrate their knowledge about PACS components, system administration and workflow.

Exam Details

The CPAS-Technical and CPAS-Clinical exams each consist of at least 50 multiple choice questions and have a 30 minute time limit. The CDIP and CPSA exams each consist of at least 100 multiple choice questions and have a 1 hour time limit. All exams require a minimum 70% score for passing. Upon failing, a candidate can purchase a second attempt within 6 months at a minimal charge. If the candidate does not pass on the second try, he/she may purchase a 3rd attempt for the full charge , but he/she may only take the exam a maximum of 3 times within 12 months. The exam questions will be selected randomly from a pool of questions, therefore providing always unique, different questions for the majority of the cases.