The Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) -- formerly SCAR -- announced the timeline for its Certified Imaging Informatics Professional exam on the opening day of its Annual Meeting today in Austin, Texas. The first exam is scheduled for September 2007.

SIIM is establishing a new program for Imaging Informatics Professionals (PACS administrators) to become certified and to earn the credential of CIIP (Certified Imaging Informatics Professional).

SIIM also announced the timeline for the certification program between now and September 2007, which includes item development and validation by the end of 2006; review, revision and test assembly in early 2007; a field test in Spring 2007; and the opening of registration in May 2007.

The exam will be available several times per year at designated computerized testing centers throughout the United States and will be suitable for applicants with both IT and RT backgrounds. The goal of certification is to quantify the standard skill set and knowledge base required for an imaging informatics professional. Eligibility requirements and registration procedures will be published by SIIM in advance of when the test becomes available.

The CIIP examination is being developed using the procedures and standards recommended by The National Commission for Certifying Agencies for constructing a fair and content-valid test, with a long-term goal of being accredited by this agency.

Link to the SIIM CIIP website for more information at

 www.scarnet.net/ciip