If you need help studying for the Certified Asthma Educator exam or just want some more information about what the test is like, you’ve come to the right place.
Click below to take a free Certified Asthma Educator practice test!
Exam Eligibility
Before you can register to take the Certified Asthma Educator exam, also known as the National Asthma Educator Certification Board Exam (NAECB), you’ll need to meet at least ONE of the following eligibility requirements:
- You need a current and applicable license or credential:
- Physician
- Physician Assistant
- Nurse
- Respiratory Therapist
- Pulmonary Function Technologist
- Pharmacist
- Social Worker
- Health Educator
- Physical Therapist
- Occupational Therapist
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Paramedic
- You need at least 1,000 hours of direct patient asthma education, counseling, or coordinating services
If you meet one of these requirements, you’re set to begin the registration process!
What’s on the Exam?
First, let’s talk about the questions on the exam. There are 175 multiple-choice questions total, but only 150 of the questions will count toward your score. Why is that?
The 25 unscored questions on the exam are called “pretest” questions. These are added to the exam to determine if they’re good enough questions to add to future versions of the test.
The trick is that you won’t have any way of knowing which questions are scored and which ones are pretest questions. They will appear just like the scored questions throughout the test.
Each question falls under one of the following three cognitive levels:
- 🧠 Recall: The recall questions test your ability to recall/recognize information.
- 🛠️ Application: The application questions test your ability to apply knowledge to given situations.
- 🔍 Analysis: The analysis questions test your ability to analyze and evaluate solutions.
Let’s take a closer look at the three sections of the exam.
1. The Asthma Condition
30 scored questions
- Teaching an individual with asthma and their family using simple language
- Explaining terms used to characterize asthma
- Explaining how asthma severity and its control affect lung function measurements
- Teaching an individual with asthma that asthma is a chronic airway disease with varying levels of severity
- Associating signs and symptoms of asthma with its underlying pathophysiology
- Comparing asthma characteristics across age groups
Factors Contributing to Acute and Chronic Asthma
- Differences between allergens and irritants
- Common triggers that provoke asthma
- The role of tobacco smoke exposure and family history in the development of asthma
- Medications that may exacerbate asthma
- Identifying factors in the environments that contribute to symptoms
- Conditions that may mimic asthma
- The relation of specific conditions to the development and control of asthma
2. Assessment of An Individual with Asthma and Family
34 scored questions
- Interviewing an individual about the pattern of current symptoms
- Interviewing an individual about the impact of asthma on their life
- Interviewing an individual about signs and symptoms
- Interviewing an individual about high-risk asthma signs and symptoms
- Interviewing an individual about reasons for loss of control
- Criteria for appropriate referral to an asthma specialist
- Identifying triggers
- Identifying association of exercise with asthma symptoms
- Identifying co-morbid conditions
- Soliciting information about medications and alternative and complementary therapies
Physical Signs in an Individual with Asthma
- Signs of an acute exacerbation
- The significance of auscultated breath sounds
- Directing an individual to emergent care
Objective Measures
- Emphasizing the importance of using objective measures to identify asthma
- The importance of testing for allergies and comorbidities
- The purpose of various tests and measures
- Assessing whether an individuals peak flow results are valid
Educational Needs
- Assessing the knowledge and skills of an individual regarding asthma and treatment
- Assessing adherence barriers regarding self-assessment
- Assessing knowledge of potential and known triggers
- Assessing readiness and ability to learn
- Assessing coping strategies
- Assessing primary healthcare source
- Eliciting goals and concerns
- Employing effective interviewing skills
3. Asthma Management
71 scored questions
- Medications and delivery devices
- Behavioral and environmental modifications
- Asthma self-management education plan
- Written asthma action plan
- Periodic re-evaluation of the written asthma action plan
4. Organizational Issues
15 scored questions
- Identifying outcome indicators
- Obtaining information about the asthma population
- Using findings to make recommendations
Program Development
- Identifying program resources
- Prioritizing program features
- Comparing evidence-based solutions to program needs
- Selecting teaching methods and settings
- Creating goals of program and specific objectives
- Critiquing educational materials
Program Implementation
- Ensuring safety and privacy of individuals with asthma
- Maintaining a program database
- Coordinating training for program staff
Program Evaluation
- Selecting validated program evaluation tools
- Assessing program processes
- Assessing program outcomes
- Using findings to assess program impact and need for modifications
Professional Partnerships
- Identifying community resources
- Organizing family support/education activities
- Collaborating with other providers and between systems
- Providing education and technical assistance
How to Register
To get started, you’ll need to submit an application on the NBRC website. The application will ask you for your contact information and any documentation to prove your eligibility (among other things).
When you submit the application, you’ll also need to submit the testing fee, which is $350.
NAECB Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
Exam Scores
For each question you answer correctly, you’ll receive one point toward your score. The number of points you get by the end of the exam is called your raw score. Your raw score determines your pass or fail status after comparison to the cut score.
If your raw score reaches 75, which is the low cut score, you’ll be awarded the AE-C credential.
Retaking the Exam
If you didn’t get a passing score on your first try, that’s okay! You can retake the test up to two more times without having to wait between attempts.
Keep in mind that you will have to pay the full retesting fee ($250) every time you retake the test.
FAQs
How many questions are on the Certified Asthma Educator exam?
The exam contains 175 questions.
What is the time limit for the Certified Asthma Educator exam?
The exam is timed at 3.5 hours.
What is the passing score for the Certified Asthma Educator exam?
You’ll need to get a final cut score of at least 75 to pass.
How much does the Certified Asthma Educator exam cost?
The testing fee is $350.