THE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR RESPIRATORY CARE (INRC) IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE NOW OFFERING THE CERTIFIED COPD EDUCATOR (CCE) CREDENTIAL IN THE US.

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in the United States, with 125,000 Americans losing their lives every year. And the numbers continue to rise.
• COPD (which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis) restricts airflow to the lungs and interferes with normal breathing.
• 14.8 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD although it is estimated that there could be another 14 million still undiagnosed.
• There is, however, a serious lack of awareness of COPD amongst the public and healthcare professionals. Education is critical in empowering patients to self-manage, prevent exacerbations and improve the quality of life for those living with COPD.
  
  

TO BECOME A CCE, APPLICANTS MUST FIRST HAVE A DEGREE OR DIPLOMA IN A RECOGNIZED HEALTHCARE PROFESSION, WITH A SCOPE OF PRACTICE THAT INCLUDES COUNSELING.

STEP ONE – TAKE A COPD EDUCATION PROGRAM
You must first take an INRC-approved COPD education program. Pear Healthcare Solutions Inc. offers the COPD Care Educator program as a convenient online program at www.healthelearning.ca that is offered in “bite-sized” modules that you can take at
your own pace.

The Pear Healthcare Solutions Inc. course includes two modules:

1. Education (including models and theories commonly used in health education, educator and program evaluation and professional practice)
2. COPD Diagnosis & Evaluation (including Definition, Epidemiology, Pathogenesis & Pathophysiology) and COPD Management (Self-Management, Smoking Cessation, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Oxygen Therapy, Antitrypsin Replacement Therapy, Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation, Surgical Interventions, Alternative Therapies, Acute Exacerbations, End of Life and Palliative Care and Pharmacotherapy)

STEP TWO – CHALLENGING THE EXAM
Upon successful completion of a COPD education program (including both the education and the COPD module), you can challenge the exam. The exam is a 3½ hour computer-based, multiple-choice exam offered at convenient proctored exam centers throughout the US.

The exam is based on the INRC Learning Objectives for COPD Educators as well as the most up-to-date GOLD standards (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) and American College of Physicians COPD clinical practice guidelines.