The following “Terms and Conditions of Attendance” apply to all Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification (PRPC) Applicants, starting December 25, 2023. By voluntarily applying to sit for the Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification (PRPC) Exam, all applicants agree and consent to the following "Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification (PRPC) Terms and Conditions". Failure by the registrant to read, or to fully understand, the following terms and conditions neither:

A. Invalidates the whole, or any part, of these Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification (PRPC) terms and conditions, NOR

B. Releases the applicant from their responsibility to ensure that the content of the Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification (PRPC) is within the scope of practice defined by the state board regulating their profession.

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Short-cuts to sub-sections

1. General Definitions

2. Certification Requirements

3. Application Process

4. Scheduling the Exam

5. Preparing for the Exam

6. Sitting for the Exam

7. Results

8. Confidentiality

9. Grounds for Punitive Action

10. Appeals

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1. General Definitions

Herman & Wallace Inc. - Also referred to as “HW”, is a continuing education company that has worked with rehabilitation professionals who are experts in treating patients with conditions affecting the pelvis, pelvic region, and pelvic health and wellness to develop the “Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification” (PRPC) to recognize those rehabilitation professionals who have demonstrated requisite experience and knowledge in treating patients with conditions affecting the pelvis, pelvic region, and pelvic health and wellness.

 

Kryterion Inc. - Kryterion Inc. is a full-service exam development and delivery company that has contracted with HW to develop PRPC to the highest exam development standards.

 

Kryterion HOST Locations - Kryterion Host Locations are a global network of High-stakes Online Secured Testing (HOST) Locations through strategic partnerships with professional organizations such as colleges and universities, and testing and training companies.

 

Exam Administration - The bi-annual opportunities for applicants to apply and sit for PRPC.

 

Exam Appointment - The date and time an applicant schedules an appointment to sit for the PRPC exam at Kryterion HOST Location.

 

Testing/Exam Window - The period of time during which applicants may schedule an exam appointment corresponding to a bi-annual exam administration.

 

Application - The written/digital forms and worksheets that are submitted to HW and must be approved by HW in order for the applicant to sit for the PRPC exam.

 

PRPC Administration Fees - The fees paid to HW in conjunction with an application to sit for the PRPC exam. HW cannot begin to process an application without this fee.

 

Application for Re-examination - In the event that an applicant sits for the PRPC exam, and does not achieve a passing score, the individual may submit an applicant to retake the exam at a discounted price in the administration directly following the one where they did not receive a passing score.

 

HW Review Committee - The group of HW employees and subject matter experts who review PRPC applications as well as components of the exam, new items under development, and make high-level decisions about the exam.

2. Certification Requirements

2.1 Profession / Location

In order to meet the eligibility requirements to sit for the exam, applicants must be a Physical Therapist (PT), Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA), Physician (MD), Registered Nurse (RN), Occupational Therapist (OT), Occupational Therapists Assistants (OTA), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine (DC), Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP), Nurse Midwives (CNM), Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND), or Physician’s Assistant (PA-C) with an active state-board license to practice, living and practicing in the United States of America, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands.

If a clinician wishes to sit for the exam but is not licensed in one of the above professions or lives/practices outside of the United States of America, the clinician must submit a request for approval (form available online) to HW before submitting an application. HW will evaluate requests from clinicians not licensed in one of the above professions and international applications on a case-by-case basis.

 

2.2 Hours of Direct Pelvic Patient Care

To be eligible to sit for the exam, an applicant must have completed 2000 hours of direct pelvic patient care over the past 8 years, 500 of which must be in the last 2 years.

 

2.2.1 Pelvic Care

For purposes of this application, pelvic patient care includes hours spent on direct patient care related to conditions of pelvic pain, pelvic girdle dysfunction, conditions of bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction that relate, in whole or in part, to the health and function of pelvic structures and the pelvic floor. Other conditions that qualify as direct pelvic patient care may include dysfunctions of the abdomen, thoracolumbar spine, or the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex. These hours can include care for pediatric, adolescent, adult, and aged patients of any gender.

 

2.2.2 Direct Patient Care

There is no comprehensive list of activities that encompass direct patient care. A general guideline is that direct patient care includes any time spent by a clinician that has a direct influence on the care of a specific individual patient. This time may be paid or provided at no cost. While time spent on the examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, or intervention of an individual absolutely qualifies as direct patient care, there are other activities that applicants may apply toward this requirement.

Applicants who have a question about whether or not a certain activity qualifies as direct patient care should contact HW for clarification.

 

2.3 Steps to Complete Certification

Meet eligibility requirements as defined in 2.1 and 2.2

Submit a complete application and PRPC Administration Fees by the required date

Applicant must sit for, and receive a passing score on, the computer-based exam

 

2.4 Length of Certification

Certification is valid for 10 years and begins when HW informs the applicant, via email, of their passing the exam. After 10 years, those wishing to keep their certification must re-apply, sit for, and pass the exam in order to maintain PRPC. The PRPC renewal administration fees are listed in section 3.5.

2.5 Ineligible for Certification

The following are not eligible to sit for the PRPC examination for 2 years following the cessation of their involvement in the PRPC exam development process:

A - Any item writer that contributed more than 9% of the total number of items in the initial item bank

B - Any item or exam reviewer

C - Any participant in the standard-setting process

 

3. Application Process

3.1 Application Deadline

Applications for the PRPC Exam Administration will be accepted on a rolling basis until HW closes the application window.

The application closing date for the May Exam Administration is April 1st.

The application closing date for the November Exam Administration is October 1st.

HW reserves the right to not consider applications received via email after the closing date or paper applications post-marked after the closing date for the inaugural exam administration. Applicants who submit late applications will be offered the option to sit for a later exam administration.

Completed applications and PRPC Administration Fees for the inaugural certification examination administration must be submitted via email or by postal mail.

 

3.2 Application Review

HW Review Committee will review all submitted documents and will notify applicants via email regarding approval to sit for the exam. Applicants who are advised to revise or provide new documents will be instructed to re-submit materials to HW by a specified deadline.

If the applicant does not submit the required additional documents by the deadline, the record will indicate that he or she has not met the minimum eligibility requirements and is not approved to sit for the exam. See below for terms applying to applicants that fall into the category.

 

3.2.1 Worksheet Detailing Hours of Direct Pelvic Patient Care

Applicants must submit a worksheet (provided by HW) detailing their hours of direct patient care.

Applicants should fill out this form as accurately as possible. While HW understands that the number of hours one works in a given week can vary quite a bit, applicants should enter the average number of hours worked per week.

 

3.2.2 Audit of Worksheets Detailing Hours of Direct Pelvic Patient Care

HW may potentially audit every applicant’s Worksheet Detailing Hours of Direct Patient Care.

During the application review, HW will select a random sample of applicant worksheets to be audited. After the random sample of worksheets has been defined, HW will contact those applicants whose worksheets have been selected for an audit and inform those applicants that they must provide HW with proof of their hours of direct pelvic patient care.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of acceptable forms of proof of hours of direct pelvic patient care:

• A written letter from a current supervisor

• A written letter from a prior supervisor

• A written letter from a manager, who has replaced a former supervisor of the applicant

• For self-employed applicants, or applicants who are partners/owners of a clinic - documentation of clinical hours from practice management/billing application

• Private Insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid Billing Records

If while performing an audit, the applicant cannot provide proof of the number of hours required to sit for the exam, HW will re-open the application and subject it to further review. If an applicant submits a worksheet detailing more than the required number of hours, and the applicant cannot submit proof of 100% of these hours, but the applicant submits enough proof to meet the 2000 hours in 8 years, and 500 over the last 2 years requirements, HW will consider this applicant eligible to sit for the exam. Therefore, it is in the applicant’s best interest to list ALL hours of direct pelvic patient care completed in the last 8 years so that if proof of some fraction of such hours cannot be furnished, the applicant may remain eligible to sit for the exam.

If after reopening the application HW determines that the applicant cannot be proven to have met the requirements of hours of direct pelvic patient care AND,

1. The applicant has already passed the exam - HW will conditionally revoke PRPC from the applicant until the applicant provides acceptable proof of the minimum number of hours of direct patient care, OR

2. The applicant has not yet passed the exam - HW will not approve the applicant to sit for the exam until the applicant provides acceptable proof of the minimum number of hours of direct patient care. Should the applicant fail to provide such proof before the close of the application window for the application was submitted, their application will be rejected, and their exam fee will be converted to credit to be used toward HW continuing education courses or downloadable products.

3.3 Services for Persons with Disabilities

HW complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and will work with its testing partners to provide reasonable accommodations for those who have disabilities and request accommodations.

Requests for examination accommodations arrangements must meet all the following requirements:

Submit the completed PRPC Special Accommodation Request Form

1. Request form must contain appropriate documentation of the disability
2. Request form must detail a request(s) for test accommodations.

Include a letter of verification authored by a licensed physician/professional specializing in the disability at hand

1. Letter must contain the credentials of the physician/professional authoring the letter
2. Letter must contain the signature of the physician/professional authoring the letter

Request must be submitted no less than 45 days before the start of the testing window via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Applicants will be notified of the decision regarding the request and the accommodations that will be provided. If accommodation is not requested by the given deadline, availability of accommodation cannot be guaranteed.

3.4 Submission of Application

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all forms are completed according to instructions. In addition, it is imperative that the applicants enter their name on the application exactly as it appears on

BOTH forms of identification the applicant intends to present at the testing center.

Applicants wishing to send in a physical application should mail the completed application forms and PRPC Application Fee in a single mailing to:

Herman & Wallace
ATTN: PRPC Review Board
600 1st Ave, Suite 330, PMB 71393
Seattle, WA 98104

 

If applicable, verification of current license to practice may be sent separately by the applicant’s state licensing agency.

 

3.5 PRPC Administration Fees

The PRPC Administration Fees must be submitted with the application and received by HW postmarked on or before the closing date of the application window as established by HW. The fees must be received by HW before the applicant can schedule an examination appointment.

Payment of the administration fees may be made by credit card (excluding American Express) or check (payable to Herman & Wallace Inc.). The PRPC Administration Fees are listed below:

 

 

Applicants should contact Herman & Wallace at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for additional information about sitting for the examination in an international location.

 

3.6 Applicants Without Acceptable Proof of Minimum Eligibility Requirements

The following terms apply to applicants who have submitted an application, PRPC Application Fee, and who have for any reason been determined to be ineligible to sit for the exam. They will forfeit the PRPC Application Fee.

 

3.7 Delaying Examination Administrations

Applicants who submit a complete PRPC Application, PRPC Administration Fees, meet the minimum eligibility requirements, and choose to delay sitting for the examination, may postpone their sitting for the examination for up to 12 months. This 12-month period starts on the final day of the testing window for which the applicant originally applied.

Applicants who delay sitting for the exam beyond the allowed 12-month period, will have their applications closed, and must submit a new application and PRPC Administration Fees in order to sit for a future exam administration.

 

3.8 Re-Examination

If an applicant sits for the exam and does not receive a passing score, the applicant must submit an application for re-examination to be eligible to sit for the next scheduled exam administration. Applications for re-examination are only eligible for the exam administration immediately following the exam administration in which the applicant did not receive a passing score.

Applicants who did not receive a passing score, and did not submit an application for re-examination, may re-apply to sit for future examination administrations, but they must submit a new application and Standard PRPC Administration Fees just as any normal application must.

For example, if an applicant sits for an exam administration in May of 2024, and does not receive a passing score, they may apply for re-examination for the next exam administration in November 202.

Applicants for re-examination must meet the current requirements to be eligible to sit for the exam. Applicants who are retaking the examination are required to pay the PRPC Administration Fees of either

$750 if they have taken one or more HW continuing education courses or $1,350 if they have taken zero HW continuing education courses which must be submitted with the reapplication forms.

Should the applicant not submit an application for re-examination for the following exam administration,

They must submit a new application and Standard PRPC Administration Fee in order to apply for any exam administration starting thereafter. The Standard PRPC Administration Fee is $1,350 if the applicant has taken one or more HW continuing education courses or $2,250 if the applicant has taken zero HW continuing education courses.

To apply for re-examination, applicants must submit an application form, verification of current licensure to practice, updated proof of direct patient care hours, and any other requested documentation. HW must receive this documentation by the application deadline for the next scheduled exam administration.

 

3.9 Address Change

It is the applicant’s responsibility to notify HW immediately should their mailing address, e-mail address, or phone number change

 

4. Scheduling the Exam

4.1Scheduling Voucher

Applicants whose PRPC application is approved and the Exam Fee has been paid will receive an e-mail containing a voucher number and scheduling information.

Applicants will need their voucher number in order to schedule an exam appointment with Kryterion. After scheduling an exam appointment with Kryterion, the applicant will receive an email from Kryterion containing an authorization code. Applicants must bring their authorization code with them to the testing center as well as two forms of identification that exactly match the name on their exam application.

Applicants whose name on their exam registration does not match the name on the two forms of identification (one of which must be a photo identification) to be used as proof of identity at the testing center, must contact H&W immediately. Name changes or corrections cannot be made within 7 business days of the applicant’s scheduled testing date. Applicants will be denied admission to the test if the name on the exam registration does not exactly match the name on their identification presented at the Kryterion HOST location.

Acceptable forms of photo identification:

• State-issued driver's license Passport

• Military Identification, Employee Identification card

• Student picture ID from an accredited college or university.

Acceptable forms of non-photo identification:

• Credit card

• Check cashing card or a bank debit card.

• (A social security card is NOT an acceptable form of identification.)

4.2 Test Dates

All examination administrations will be administered at testing centers worldwide.

The testing window for the Spring exam administration will begin on May 1st and remain open until May 15th.

The testing window for the Fall exam administration will begin on November 1st and remain open until November 15th.

 

4.3 Scheduling an Appointment at a Testing Center

Upon receipt of the PRPC Exam Fee, HW will send the applicant a voucher number via email. Applicants must have this voucher number before contacting Kryterion Host Locations to schedule a testing appointment. Appointments are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis; therefore, applicants should schedule an appointment as soon as possible after receiving a voucher number. Delays in scheduling may result in an applicant not being able to make an appointment at a preferred test site or preferred test date.

Applicants should report any problems in scheduling a testing appointment to Kryterion as soon as possible.

Kryterion Host Locations can be located by checking the URL below http://kryteriononline.com/host_locations/

 

4.4 Refunds, Cancellations, and Rescheduling

4.4.1Refund/Cancellation of PRPC Administration Fees

If after submitting the PRPC Application and the PRPC Administration Fees, an applicant wishes, for any reason, not to sit for the next exam administration, the applicant may request a refund of their examination fee by both:

Contacting HW via email or web form submission. In order for HW to honor such a request, the request must be received more than 72 business hours from the applicant’s scheduled exam appointment date and time
AND

Calling Kryterion HOST Location Test Taker Scheduling Support at 1-800-403-6199 or 1- 602-659-4708. The call must be made more than 72 business hours from the applicant’s scheduled exam appointment date and time

If the applicant has yet to schedule a testing date, the request for cancellation must be received within 10 days of the final day of the testing window referred to in section 4.2.

Upon receipt of email or web form submission notification to cancel an examination administration, and so long as that notification is received by the aforementioned deadlines, the applicant will forfeit the PRPC Application Fee AND may select one of the following options:

They may instruct HW to “convert” the PRPC Exam Fee (for example $1,1000 from the Standard PRPC Administration Fee for applicants having completed one or more HW continuing education courses) to credit to be used toward HW Continuing Education courses or Downloadable Products. This credit cannot be used towards online courses offered through MedBridge Education, Inc. or for an annual subscription to MedBridge Education. Should the applicant fail to use their credit toward an HW course within 24 months, HW will absorb the credit, no refund will be offered, and the applicant may no longer apply it toward any HW goods or services.
OR

They may instruct HW to keep the PRPC Exam Fee (for example $1,1000 from the Standard PRPC Administration Fee for applicants having completed one or more HW continuing education courses) and use it toward the PRPC Administration Fees in a later exam administration. Applicants who select this option must submit a new application to sit for the exam in the year following the year they submitted an application without acceptable proof of minimum eligibility requirements. Should the applicant fail to use their credit toward an HW course within 24 months, HW will absorb the credit, no refund will be offered, and the applicant may no longer apply it toward any HW goods or services.
OR

They may request a refund of the balance of the PRPC Exam Fee (for example $1,1000 from the Standard PRPC Administration Fee for applicants having completed one or more HW continuing education courses). Refunds from credit card payments within three months of payment can be made directly to the card. Refunds for check payments or payments over three months in the past will be made in the form of a physical check mailed to the applicant. If for any reason a refund is not able to process to the applicant’s original credit card, HW reserves the right to process the refund as a physical check.

4.5 Failure to Schedule an Exam Appointment

In the event that an applicant

Submits the PRPC Administration Fees, completes the application process, is eligible to sit for the exam, AND

Pays to HW the PRPC Administration Fees AND

Fails to schedule an exam appointment for the immediate exam administration AND

Does not inform HW via email or web submission form of their intent to delay exam administration until or convert their exam fee to credit for continuing education courses or products by the deadline enumerated in section 4.4.1, THEN

The applicant will forfeit the PRPC Application Fee and HW will convert the PRPC Exam Fee to credit to be used toward HW Continuing Education courses or Downloadable Products. This credit cannot be used towards online courses offered through MedBridge Education, Inc. or for an annual subscription to MedBridge Education. Should the applicant fail to use their credit toward an HW course within 24 months, HW will absorb the credit, no refund will be offered, and the applicant may no longer apply it toward any HW goods or services.

 

4.6 Rescheduling an Exam Appointment

Candidates should reschedule their exam directly through Webassessor. If any issues arise, please contact the 24-hour Live Chat Support using the link below. The Live Chat feature can also be accessed via the chat icon in the bottom-right corner of the page and must be made more than 72 business hours from the applicant’s scheduled exam appointment date and time.

https://support.kryterion.com/

4.7 Rescheduling or Cancelling an Exam Appointment Within 72 Hours of the Beginning of an Applicant’s Exam Appointment

Because Kryterion charges HW a fee for each exam appointment, and each exam appointment cannot be altered less than 72 business hours before it is scheduled to begin, applicants who must change an examination appointment to another date/time (and inform Kryterion less than 72 business hours) within the testing window for a given exam administration are required to pay HW an additional $110 in order to schedule another exam appointment within the same testing window.

If an applicant cancels an exam appointment less than 72 business hours before it is scheduled to begin and does not wish to schedule another exam appointment during the same exam administration testing window, HW will deduct $110 from the applicant’s PRPC Exam Fee and convert the remaining PRPC Exam Fee to credit.

 

5. Preparing for the Exam

5.1 Job Task Analysis

Herman & Wallace Inc. and Kryterion Inc. performed a job task analysis in December 2011 and reviewed it for accuracy in 2023. An electronic version of the job task analysis report available to all applicants who submitted their application materials and PRPC Administration Fees.

5.2 Exam Content

Anatomy - 15%
Physiology - 20%
Pathophysiology - 20%
Pharmacology - 5%
Medical Interventions and Test - 5%
Tests and Measures - 5%
Interventions - 20%
Professional and Legal Requirements - 5%

 

25-30% of the exam items (across all topic areas listed above) will require the applicant to read a hypothetical patient case scenario and answer questions based on their analysis of the case scenario.

 

5.3 Review Materials, Courses, and Study Groups

HW does not presently offer a PRPC preparatory course. There are no continuing education courses that applicants are required attend in order to apply for PRPC. Such a requirement would be a violation of psychometric best practices. Those applicants who indicate on their application that they are interested in joining a study group will be put in touch with other applicants through email who have expressed a similar interest so that they may form a study group.

Once an applicant is approved to sit for the exam, HW will send them a copy of the results of the Job Task Analysis, as well as a copy of the test blueprint which contains a detailed list of knowledge and skill statements. All of the questions on the examination must measure one or more of the knowledge and skills in the test blueprint document.

 

5.4 Exam Development

HW, in conjunction with its test development contractor, Kryterion Inc., developed the PRPC Job Task Analysis and PRPC examination content. HW has contracted with Kryterion to assist in the development, administration, scoring, and reporting of results for the exam. Using the Job Task Analysis as a basis, HW and Kryterion make the final decisions regarding the exam content and the distribution of items across various topics.

 

5.5 Exam Question Format

Items are designed to test synthesis and analysis levels of cognitive skills as well as content knowledge. The exam is composed of objective multiple choice questions with 4 answer choices. The questions either stand alone or are part of a cluster that relates to a given case study.

5.6 Answer Strategy

Read each question carefully and then select the best answer to the question. Applicants who are unsure of the correct answer should select the one that they think is best. There are no penalties for guessing.

Attempt to answer all of the questions. Applicants will earn one point for every question that is answered correctly. Therefore, guesses provide an opportunity to earn another point on the exam while skipping an item guarantees an incorrect response.

None of the questions are meant to be “trick” questions. Applicants should interpret words according to their generally accepted meanings.

Do not spend too much time on any one question. Applicants who are unsure of their answer to a given question should answer the question and flag it for review. Applicants with sufficient time may review and modify their answer to the flagged questions.

Applicants with sufficient time may go back and review their answers to exam questions.

 

6. Sitting for the Exam

6.1 Computerized Testing

PRPC examinations are administered by computerized testing. The examination questions are presented on computers and applicants provide their responses using a mouse or keyboard. Approved applicants should contact Kryterion as soon as possible once they have their voucher code to schedule a testing appointment. Applicants may take the test on any day that it is offered during the testing window, provided that there is space at the Kryterion test center of choice.

6.2 Number of Items

Forms for the exam will contain 150 items.

6.3 Exam Time

Applicants will have 240 minutes to complete the PRPC exam. Applicants may take short restroom breaks while sitting for the exam; however, the 240-minute time limit will not stop during such breaks. Applicants will not be allowed to access any cell phones, computers, tablets, books, or any personal items during such restroom breaks.

6.4 Admission to the Testing Center When to Arrive at the Test Center

Applicants should plan to arrive at the test center early to check in at least 15 minutes before their scheduled testing time. If an applicant has arranged for a special accommodation, they should arrive at the test center at least 30 minutes in advance of their scheduled testing time.

What to Bring to the Test Center:

Applicants must bring two (2) forms of Identification to the test center, one of which must be a photo ID. Acceptable forms of photo ID include a state-issued driver's license, passport, military identification, an employee identification card, or a student picture ID from an accredited college or university.

Acceptable forms of a second (non-photo) ID include a credit card, check cashing card or bank debit card. (A social security card is NOT an acceptable form of identification.)

Applicants must also bring the Test Taker Authorization Code that they received in the email confirming their exam appointment.

6.5 Testing Regulation and Rules on Conduct

The following policies are observed at each test center. The following policies are those of Kryterion HOST centers and are not established by HW, nor does HW have any power to modify or elect not to enforce policies. Applicants who violate any of these policies will NOT be permitted to finish the examination and will be dismissed from the test center, forfeiting the examination fee.

• No personal items are allowed in the testing room. Personal items include but are not limited to cellular phones, smartphones, or other electronic devices, pagers, watches, wallets, purses, firearms or other weapons, hats, bags, coats, books, and/or notes, pens, or pencils.

• Applicants must store all personal items in a secure area as indicated by the administrator (or return items to their vehicle). All electronic devices must be turned off before storing them in a locker. The test center is not responsible for lost, stolen, or misplaced personal items.
• Studying is not allowed in the test center. Visitors, children, family, or friends are not allowed in the test center.
• Dictionaries, books, papers (including scratch paper), and reference materials are not permitted in the testing area and applicants are strongly urged not to bring such materials to the test center.
• Eating, drinking, or chewing gum, smoking, and/or making noise that creates a disturbance for other applicants is prohibited during the exam.
• Unscheduled breaks are allowed when needed. To request an unscheduled break, the applicant must raise his or her hand to get the administrator’s attention. The exam clock will not stop while the applicant is taking a break.
• Applicants must leave the testing room for all breaks. However, applicants are not permitted to leave the floor or building for any reason during any unscheduled break, unless specified by the administrator and HW. If an applicant is discovered to have left the floor or building, the applicant will not be permitted to proceed with the examination and may forfeit the examination fee.
• While taking a break, applicants are permitted to access personal items that are being stored during the exam only if necessary— for example, personal medication that must be taken at a specific time. However, an applicant must receive permission from the administrator prior to accessing personal items that have been stored. Applicants are not allowed access to other items, including but not limited to, cellular phones, PDAs, exam notes, and study guides.
• Any applicant discovered causing a disturbance of any kind or engaging in any kind of misconduct— giving or receiving help; using notes, books, or other aids; taking part in an act of impersonation; or removing examination materials or notes from the examination room—will be summarily dismissed from the examination and will be reported to HW. Decisions regarding disciplinary measures are the responsibility of HW.

 

6.6 Cheating / Unethical Behavior During Exam Administration

Irregular behavior includes any action by applicants or others when solicited by an applicant that subverts or attempts to subvert the examination process. Test Center Administrators are required to report any irregular behavior by an applicant during the examination.

Irregular behavior may include, but is not limited to the following: seeking and/or obtaining access to examination materials; impersonating an applicant or engaging another individual to take the examination by proxy; giving, receiving, or obtaining unauthorized assistance during the examination or attempting to do so; making notes of any kind during an examination except on the erasable writing surface provided at the test center; memorizing and/or reproducing examination materials; failure to adhere to testing center regulations; possessing unauthorized materials during an examination administration (e.g., recording devices, photographic equipment, electronic paging devices, cellular telephones, reference materials); or any other behavior that threatens the integrity of the certification examination.

Looking in the direction of the computer monitor of another applicant during the examination may be construed as evidence of copying or attempting to copy, and a report of such behavior may result in a determination of irregular behavior. Applicants must not discuss the examination while a session is in process. Test Center Administrators are required to report all suspected incidents of irregular behavior. An applicant who engages in irregular behavior or who violates test administration rules may be subject to invalidation of their examination, as well as temporarily or permanently being barred from sitting for, and earning, PRPC.

6.7 Exam Delay or Cancellation Due to HOST Center Malfunction, or Other Unforeseen Occurrences

Exam appointments may be delayed or cancelled in emergencies such as severe weather, a natural disaster that renders a testing center inaccessible or unsafe, or extreme technical difficulties. If for any reason Kryterion closes a testing center where an applicant has already scheduled a testing appointment, they will reschedule the examination appointment at no additional charge. Any applicant who, once checked in and seated at a test station, is delayed to take the examination by more than 30 minutes because of technical difficulties, is responsible for reporting the delay to HW and Kryterion, as soon as possible. For such cases, the applicant may be eligible to choose to reschedule his or her examination at no additional charge. Before deciding to reschedule, applicants should be sure that there is another appointment available during the testing period.

The test administration will not be considered “irregular” if the applicant chooses to remain and test despite the delay. Applicants will receive the maximum number of hours available to applicants to complete the exam even if the test is delayed. Any applicant once checked in and seated at a test station, who has a concern or complaint about the test center environment, should immediately report the problem to the Test Center Administrator. If an applicant feels that the problem was not resolved to their satisfaction, they should contact HW at 646-355-8777, as soon as possible.

6.8 Excused Absences

Kryterion will waive its test taker fee in the event of bereavement/death in the test taker’s family or extreme illness. The client must notify Kryterion within 14 days after the scheduled testing time and provide documentation from the test taker of the following:

• For bereavement/death in the family – an obituary or documentation from the hospital

• For extreme illness – a note from the treating physician

6.9 Equipment Malfunction

Should an applicant experience any difficulty with the computer, the applicant should notify the Test Center Administrator immediately. The applicant should not wait until they have completed the exam to bring equipment malfunctions to the attention of the Test Center Administrator. Applicants that feel that the problem was not resolved to their satisfaction should contact HW at 646-355-8777, as soon as possible.

Please note that, occasionally, a computer at the testing center may need to be restarted. Kryterion has appropriate safeguards in place to ensure the integrity of applicant examination data. As soon as an applicant answers a test item, the response is immediately copied, and saved, on the applicant’s directory on the server at a center. If there is a computer restart, the driver locates the results from the directory and picks up where the examinee left off. The system does not change or delete any responses. Thus, examination data are captured at the instant an applicant responds to a question; the computer can be restarted, if necessary, without losing or corrupting examination data.

6.10 Incomplete Examinations

After an applicant starts taking an examination, they cannot cancel or reschedule that examination unless a technical problem, or natural disaster, prevents them from completing the examination. As noted above, if an applicant experiences a computer problem during the test, they should notify the test center staff immediately. The testing software is designed to allow the test to restart at the point it was interrupted.

 

7. Results

7.1 Exam Results and Notification

Passing applicants may begin using the credential designation after their name on business cards, email signatures, and professional correspondence. Passing applicants will also receive an official certificate identifying them as a Certified Pelvic rehabilitation Practitioner.

Applicants’ raw exam scores are not reported on the score reports to prevent misuse of the scores. This purpose of the exam is to identify those applicants that have the knowledge and skills to perform in a minimally competent manner. Because the examination is designed to assess if a test taker is sufficiently competent to be a CPTP, it would be inappropriate to infer that a person who scored very high on the examination is more competent that a person who scored just above the passing standard.

7.2 Scaled Scores

Raw scores on the exam (the number of correctly answered items) will be converted into scaled scores. Scaled scores allow HW to maintain a uniform scoring metric across different exam forms. HW will convert raw scores to a scaled score on a 0 to 500 point scale. The passing score on this scale will be the same, regardless of which test form an applicant takes. Please note that the raw passing score will be adjusted slightly as needed to ensure fairness across test forms, which may vary slightly in difficulty level.

7.3 Passing Score

The examination cut score is determined using the Modified Angoff method, which is a criterion-referenced approach commonly used for certification and licensure examinations. This method utilizes the judgments of subject matter experts to determine the number of correct answers to pass the examination. Their judgments, and the examination cut score, are based on minimal standards for competent job performance rather than relative applicant performance. The cut scores for new examination forms are determined through a statistical equating process or the modified Angoff method.

 

8. Confidentiality

8.1 Applicant Identity

Applicant names, application documents, and test scores are considered confidential. Only Kryterion staff, HW staff, and its subcontractors shall have access to this information. Applicant identity can be released for study group purposes only, with the consent of each applicant.

8.2 Exam Content

All applicants must sign a Confidentiality Pledge in their application for certification. Applicants must not disclose examination content to others or reproduce any portion of the examination in any manner. The examination score of any applicant who violates these security rules will be invalidated.

 

9. Grounds for Punitive Action

Applicants or applicants who are determined to have engaged in fraud, misrepresentation, or irregular behavior in the application or examination process, to have disclosed examination content to others or reproduced any portion of the examination in any manner, or to have violated the Pledge of Confidentiality will be subject to disciplinary action, to be determined by HW, which may include, without limitation, withdrawal of any certification granted and permanent or temporary exclusion from the certification process. Before taking disciplinary action, HW will give the individual written notice of the evidence against the applicant and an opportunity to respond.

 

10. Appeals

10.1 Reconsideration of Eligibility to Sit for Exam

An applicant whom the HW Review Committee has determined to be ineligible to sit for the exam may request that HW Review Committee reconsider its denial of eligibility. The request for reconsideration must specify the grounds on which it is based. An applicant may submit new information in support of his or her request for reconsideration. When submitting a request for reconsideration, an applicant may:

A- Challenge the HW Review Committee’s application or interpretation of the eligibility requirements OR

B- Challenge the HW Review Committee’s interpretation, review, or decision not to consider a part of the applicant’s documentation

OR

C- Petition the HW Review Committee to reconsider the applicant’s application based on new documentation provided in the request for

reconsideration

An applicant may not challenge the eligibility requirements themselves.

An applicant must submit his or her request for reconsideration (a template of which is available for download from HW website) no later than 20 days from the date that HW informs the applicant of its decision that the applicant is not eligible to sit for the exam. For purposes of determining compliance with the foregoing deadline, a request for reconsideration will be deemed submitted on the postmark date or, if sent by email or web form submission, on the day sent by the applicant. HW will notify the applicant via email when HW receives a request for reconsideration, and HW will notify the applicant via email of its decision on reconsideration within 20 days of HW receiving the request for reconsideration.

10.2 Reconsideration of Decision to Deny Applicant's Requested Testing Accommodations Related to a Disability

An applicant who the HW Review Committee has determined to be ineligible for special testing accommodations may request that HW Review Committee reconsider its denial of eligibility. The request for reconsideration must specify the grounds on which it is based. An applicant may submit new information in support of his or her request for reconsideration. The HW Review Committee reserves the right to deny any requests for reconsideration that, when combined with the original request for special testing accommodations, do not meet the requirements specified in section 3.3 of this document

An applicant must submit his or her request for reconsideration (a template of which is available for download from HW website) no later than 20 days from the date that HW informs the applicant of its decision that the applicant is not eligible special testing accommodations. For purposes of determining compliance with the foregoing deadline, a request for reconsideration will be deemed submitted on the postmark date or, if sent by email or web form submission, on the day sent by the applicant. HW will notify the applicant via email when HW receives a request for reconsideration, and HW will notify the applicant via email of its decision on reconsideration within 20 days of HW receiving the request for reconsideration.

10.3 Reconsideration of Decision Not to Confer Certification

An applicant who wishes to request that HW Review Committee reconsider its decision to deny certification must request a complete version of procedures from HW.

The purpose of this HW reconsideration process is to enable an applicant to challenge an HW decision denying certification and to seek relief from untoward circumstances associated with the onsite administration of the examination and errors in the transmission of examination responses due to technical malfunction. To be considered, the request (a template of which is available for download from HW website) must include supporting evidence of technical malfunction. Applicants must submit a request for reconsideration in writing (email is acceptable). To request reconsideration, the applicant must submit a written request no later than 20 days after the date the applicants is notified of their exam results, a request for reconsideration will be deemed to have been submitted on the postmark date or, if sent by email or web form submission, on the day sent by the applicant.

The request for reconsideration must specify the grounds on which it is based and the corrective action sought.

An applicant must submit his or her request for reconsideration (a template of which is available for download from HW website) no later than 20 days from the date that the applicant learns of their not achieving a passing score. HW Review Committee will notify the applicant via email when the HW Review Committee receives a request for reconsideration, and HW will notify the applicant via email of its decision on reconsideration within 20 days of HW receiving the request for reconsideration.

10.4 Appeal of Decision to Deny Reconsideration of Denial Eligibility to Sit for the Exam, for Special Testing Accommodations, or to Not Confer Certification

Upon being notified that an applicant’s request for reconsideration has been denied, the applicant may appeal HW’s decision. An applicant must submit this appeal (a template of which is available for download from HW website) in writing, and the appeal must be addressed to the HW Board of Directors.