Job Analysis & Test Plan (Exam Blueprint)
Why Job Analysis Matters
At NMCAB, every credential is built on a foundation of formal job analysis. This process ensures that our exams and renewal standards reflect real-world practice and the day-to-day duties of healthcare professionals. By using structured surveys, Subject Matter Expert (SME) panels, employer input, and task inventories, we identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that define competent performance in each role.
Job analysis supports:
- Fairness – Exams test only what is essential for safe and effective practice.
- Credibility – Employers and schools can trust NMCAB credentials to reflect actual workforce needs.
- Consistency – Standards are applied uniformly across clinical, diagnostic, surgical, and administrative roles.
- Compliance – NMCAB aligns with national certification and accreditation benchmarks (ISO/IEC 17024).
Job Analysis → Exam Blueprint Chart
Below is the complete chart outlining each Nationally Accredited & Certified (NAC™) credential, the job domains derived from job analysis, the corresponding exam blueprint (test plan), and renewal requirements.
🩺 Core Clinical & Support Credentials
| Credential | Core Job Domains (from Job Analysis) | Test Plan (Exam Blueprint) | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| NACMA™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Medical Assistant | Clinical support (vitals, injections), phlebotomy/EKG basics, EHR/admin, patient comms & privacy | 35% Clinical Procedures · 25% Admin/EHR · 25% Patient Interaction · 15% Ethics/Compliance | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACPCT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Patient Care Technician | Bedside care & ADLs, vitals, phlebotomy/EKG basics, safety & infection control | 40% Patient Care · 25% Diagnostics (Phleb/EKG) · 20% Safety/IC · 15% Professionalism | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACMT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Medical Technician | Basic diagnostics, specimen collection/POCT, clinical assisting, documentation | 35% Diagnostics/POCT · 25% Patient Support · 25% Safety/IC · 15% Docs/Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACUT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Urgent Care Technician | Triage support, POCT, wound/immobilization support, rapid documentation | 35% Triage/Assessment · 25% POCT · 25% Procedures Support · 15% Safety/Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACMedA™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Medication Aide | Medication administration under supervision, documentation, adverse effect reporting, resident safety | 40% Med Admin · 25% Safety/IC · 20% Docs · 15% Ethics/Scope | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACHHA™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Home Health Aide | In-home ADLs, basic monitoring, home safety, caregiver communication | 40% Patient Care/ADLs · 25% Safety · 20% Communication · 15% Ethics/Boundaries | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACRCT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Residential Care Technician | Group home support, behavior support & de-escalation, meds reminders, community integration | 35% Resident Support · 25% Safety/De-escalation · 20% Docs · 20% Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACBHT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Behavioral Health Technician | Observation, milieu safety, de-escalation, boundaries, documentation | 35% Patient Support · 25% Safety/De-escalation · 20% Docs · 20% Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACMBC™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Medical Billing & Coding Specialist | ICD/CPT/HCPCS coding, claims & denials, payer rules, compliance | 40% Coding Accuracy · 30% Claims/Denials · 20% Payer Policy · 10% Compliance/Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACMAS™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Medical Administrative Specialist | Scheduling/intake, insurance & benefits, EHR/records, privacy/compliance | 40% Admin Ops · 25% Insurance/Billing · 20% EHR/Records · 15% Compliance/Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
🫀 Cardiovascular & Diagnostic Credentials
| Credential | Core Job Domains | Test Plan (Exam Blueprint) | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| NACPT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Phlebotomy Technician | Patient ID, venipuncture/capillary, specimen handling, safety | 45% Collection Techniques · 25% Safety/IC · 20% Specimen Processing · 10% Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACET™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified EKG Technician | Patient prep, lead placement, rhythm recognition, equipment QA | 45% EKG Procedures · 25% Interpretation · 20% Safety/QA · 10% Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACCT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Cardio Technician | Stress testing, Holter, telemetry workflows, patient safety | 40% Advanced Procedures · 25% Data/Monitoring · 20% Safety · 15% Ethics/Docs | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACCMT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Cardiac Monitor Technician | Continuous cardiac monitoring, arrhythmia detection, alarm management | 40% Rhythm Analysis · 25% Monitoring Ops · 20% Safety/Escalation · 15% Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACEchoT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Echocardiography Technician | Cardiac ultrasound acquisition, Doppler/hemodynamics, patient care | 40% Procedures · 30% Cardiac Anatomy/Phys · 20% Patient Care · 10% Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACPP™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Pediatric Phlebotomist | Pediatric venipuncture/capillary, comfort & safety, specimen integrity | 45% Peds Collection · 25% Safety/IC · 20% Specimen Processing · 10% Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
🔬 Diagnostic Imaging & Oncology Specialties
| Credential | Core Job Domains | Test Plan (Exam Blueprint) | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| NACDMS™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | Image acquisition, knobology, anatomy/pathology basics, patient safety | 35% Procedures · 30% Anatomy/Patho · 20% Patient Care · 15% Safety/Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACRT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Radiology Technician | X-ray/CT/MRI positioning support, radiation protection, workflow/docs | 35% Positioning/Procedures · 30% Radiation Safety · 20% Workflow · 15% Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACOphT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Ophthalmic Technician | Visual acuity/tonometry support, imaging, instrument handling, patient comms | 35% Ophthalmic Procedures · 25% Equipment · 20% Patient Care · 20% Docs/Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACOptT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Optometric Technician | Pretesting, lensometry/frame/contact support, patient education | 35% Pretest/Optics · 25% Patient Education · 20% Admin/Billing Assist · 20% Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACOncT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Oncology Technician | Intake, vitals, specimen support, infusion monitoring assist, room prep | 35% Patient Support · 25% Onc Procedures Support · 25% Safety/IC · 15% Docs/Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACRTT-Onc™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Radiation Therapy Technician | Patient positioning, immobilization, safety checks, treatment room ops | 35% Procedure Support · 30% Radiation Safety · 20% Patient Care · 15% Docs/Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
🦷 Dental Credentials
| Credential | Core Job Domains | Test Plan (Exam Blueprint) | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| NACDA™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Dental Assistant | Chairside assisting, instruments, sterilization/IC, patient education | 40% Chairside Procedures · 30% Infection Control · 20% Patient Care · 10% Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACDXT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Dental X-Ray Technician | Radiographic imaging, radiation protection, processing/QA, patient safety | 40% Imaging Procedures · 30% Radiation Safety · 20% QA/Processing · 10% Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
🏥 Surgical Credentials
| Credential | Core Job Domains | Test Plan (Exam Blueprint) | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| NACST™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Surgical Technologist | OR setup, instrumentation, sterile technique, intraop assistance, documentation | 40% Surgical Procedures · 30% Sterile Technique · 20% Instruments/Equipment · 10% Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACSA™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Surgical Assistant | Exposure, hemostasis, wound closure, tissue handling, intraop decision support | 40% Assisting Techniques · 30% Hemostasis/Closure · 20% Case Mgmt · 10% Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
🧬 Lab, Renal, Respiratory & Pharmacy
| Credential | Core Job Domains | Test Plan (Exam Blueprint) | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| NACCLT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Clinical Laboratory Technician | Accessioning, analytic testing (heme/micro/chem), QC/QA, safety | 40% Testing Procedures · 25% Specimen/Pre-Analytic · 20% QC/QA · 15% Safety/Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACDT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Dialysis Technician | Machine setup, water safety basics, vascular access care, monitoring & documentation | 40% Procedure Ops · 25% Patient Monitoring · 20% Water/Device Safety · 15% Docs/Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACRTT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician | Oxygen therapy, aerosol/nebulizer, ventilation monitoring, infection control | 40% Therapeutics · 25% Monitoring · 20% Safety/IC · 15% Ethics/Docs | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACPHT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Pharmacy Technician | Rx processing, calculations/labeling, inventory & storage, law & safety | 40% Dispensing/Calculations · 30% Safety/Regulatory · 20% Inventory/Systems · 10% Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
🚑 Emergency & Rehabilitation Credentials
| Credential | Core Job Domains | Test Plan (Exam Blueprint) | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| NACEMT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Emergency Medical Technician | Prehospital assessment, stabilization, transport, documentation, safety | 40% Patient Assessment · 25% Interventions · 20% Operations/Safety · 15% Docs/Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACERT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Emergency Room Technician | ED triage support, vitals/EKGs, wound care/splints, specimen support, monitoring | 35% Procedures Support · 25% Diagnostics (EKG/Labs) · 25% Safety/IC · 15% Docs/Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACPTT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Physical Therapy Technician | Exercise/therapeutic activities, mobility/guarding, patient education, safety | 40% Therapeutic Activities · 25% Patient Handling · 20% Documentation · 15% Safety/Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
| NACOTT™ – Nationally Accredited & Certified Occupational Therapy Technician | ADL retraining, adaptive equipment support, cognitive/functional tasks, safety | 40% Therapeutic Activities · 25% ADL/Adaptive Support · 20% Documentation · 15% Safety/Ethics | 200 hrs / 20 CEUs / 2 yrs |
- Validity: Each blueprint is derived from NMCAB’s formal job analysis, which includes SME panels, incumbent and employer surveys, and detailed task inventories. Blueprints are reviewed and updated on a 3–5 year cycle to ensure alignment with current practice.
- Transparency: Exam weights map directly to everyday job tasks. This ensures employers, schools, and candidates can clearly see how each role’s responsibilities connect to the examination. Training programs can align curricula and competency checks to these published domains.