| Purpose & Mission | Imaging Informatics | History | Fellows | Governance | Committees | Headquarters | Careers |

SIIM IIP Education and ABII Certification Position Statement

Summary:

The SIIM position statement takes into account the following basic principles on Imaging Informatics Professional education and certification:

• The ABII IIP certification program provides a proper credential for IIPs to enhance professional development, stimulate career growth and offer objective validation of IIP experience.
• Success on the ABII IIP certification exam will be the result of experience, education, and acquired knowledge. It will cross the spectrum of imaging informatics knowledge as described in the IIP exam Test Content Outline.
• No educational course can guarantee that its content will represent the questions on the ABII IIP certification examination.
• The ABII IIP exam Test Content Outline will serve as the basis for the SIIM Education Advisory Network (EAN) to develop the body of knowledge for IIP education.
• When the EAN completes the development of the EAN core curriculum, SIIM will consider recommending the EAN content as the recommend course of study in IIP education.
• IIP educational programs offered by SIIM and its EAN participants are independent of the ABII IIP certification program.
• SIIM had recommended to ABII that individuals who serve in the leadership of ABII or who participate in the development of the IIP exam should not teach certified imaging informatics professional (CIIP) review courses.

SIIM defines an Imaging Informatics Professional as an individual who applies his or her education, clinical, and IT expertise to managing enterprise-wide Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) and other digital medical imaging systems.

The primary role of the IIP is to evaluate, analyze, implement, and render informed opinions about the delivery of healthcare using imaging informatics systems.

The practice of IIP administration predates any specialty organization, training program, or certification body. IIPs enter the profession with a variety of educational backgrounds and practical experiences. Many IIPs have acquired knowledge and expertise from informal guidance or on-the-job training. Specific education is not a prerequisite to the practice of IIP administration.

Imaging Informatics Professional Education

Today, a growing number of educational opportunities are available to IIPs who wish to become CIIPs. While formal training in imaging informatics is not required to practice, many IIPs may benefit from a formal introduction to the profession as well as from opportunities for lifelong learning and professional development in this rapidly evolving field. Each individual IIP is best able to determine which educational programs may meet his/her needs and goals.

While at this time SIIM does not recommend or endorse particular programs, the following criteria should be considered in assessing IIP education.

Institution   IIP education is offered by universities, colleges, community colleges, for-profit businesses, and not-for-profit organizations. In assessing the value of these programs, the reputation of the organization and potential conflicts of interest of the sponsoring institution should be considered.

Curriculum   The primary focus of IIP education should be to build on previous education and clinical experience and to prepare IIPs to function in the medical imaging environment across vendor systems. In evaluating a particular program, its mission and purpose should be compared to this standard.  The SIIM EAN is devising a model curriculum that can serve as a standard against which educational programs can be compared. Courses of study based on this curriculum will vary in length and scope. IIPs are encouraged to choose a course of study that meets personal needs and professional goals.

Program directors and instructors   IIP education programs should be developed and presented as part of a core, standard body of knowledge by experienced and professional educators. In general, programs developed and taught by experienced educators who are experts in the field of imaging informatics and/or practicing IIPs are recommended.

The SIIM Imaging Informatics Professional Education Advisory Network (EAN)

The Education Advisory Network is a subcommittee of the SIIM Education Committee. The EAN is composed of SIIM members who are educators from throughout the United States and Canada.  It has been created in response to the increasing professional development needs of imaging informatics professionals (IIPs).

While the EAN group’s focus is completely educational and distinct from the CIIP examination process, the efforts of this committee to create curriculum development resources will support those pursuing pathways toward certification.

The EAN perspective will help to elaborate the CIIP test content outline (TCO) and assure an objective understanding of the knowledge requirements that are likely to be necessary for CIIP certification. Standardization of the knowledge base will help educators and certification candidates focus on the essential content that reflects the functional role of the Certified Imaging Informatics Professional.

Variations in the IIP role will continue to evolve but the baseline content, as defined by the CIIP test content outline, will ensure ongoing essential competencies required of the IIP are presented in educational programs and instructions.

IIP professionals are encouraged not only to meet the current competencies of the CIIP profession, but also to engage in lifelong learning, sharing of best practices, and other mechanisms for professional development.

Certification for Imaging Informatics Professionals

The American Board of Imaging Informatics, Inc. (ABII) is a non-profit, independent certifying body that sponsors the Imaging Informatics Professional Certification Program and awards the Certified Imaging Informatics Professional (CIIP) designation to qualified candidates.  Founded by the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), ABII offers a national certification program that establishes a standard for demonstrated knowledge and competence in medical imaging informatics.

       Approved: November 26, 2007