The National Clinical Coding Qualification (UK) (NCCQ) is a professional examination for clinical coders working in the United Kingdom.
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Currently, it is the only clinical coding qualification recognised by the NHS. Having the NCCQ is a requirement of being admitted to the National Clinical Coding Trainer and Auditor Programmes run by NHS Digital. In order for an acute trust to obtain level 2 of the Information Governance Toolkit (IGT) requirement 510, they are expected to support coding staff in attaining the NCCQ.
Upon passing the examination a clinical coder is able to use the post-nominal letters ACC.
Development
Established by the Institute for Health Records and Information Management (IHRIM), the NCCQ was developed in collaboration with the NHS England's Clinical Classifications Service, NHS in Scotland, NHS Cymru, and the Health and Social Services Executive (Northern Ireland).
Purpose
The National Clinical Coding Qualification (UK) was designed to support the need for good quality clinical information, as outlined in the Information for Health and the NHS Plan.
One of the driving purposes of creating the NCCQ was to create a structured career path within clinical coding in the UK. Since Agenda for Change (AfC), and with IGT requirement 510, coders new to the profession may find sitting the NCCQ is a contractual obligation (CfH recommends a minimum of 1 year's coding experience before sitting the exam). A coder is also able to use sitting the NCCQ to count towards their Continuing Professional Development (CPD). In many trusts passing the NCCQ is an instant promotion under AfC. However, the actual 'banding' can vary from region to region and indeed trust to trust. Having the NCCQ is generally a requirement for senior clinical coding positions throughout the UK, and is necessary for getting onto the only Department of Health recognised clinical coding trainer and auditor programmes.
Future
It is not yet known what will happen with existing qualifications once ICD-11 launches, as it uses different code format from ICD-10. Suggestions include a conversion exam for current holders of the qualification, as well as an entirely new examination that would require a resit by all holders of the NCCQ.
Exam
The NCCQ exam is taken over the course of one day. The first time a coder takes the exam, they must sit both papers. For resits, one or both can be sat.
Practical paper
The 3 hour 'practical' paper is sat in the morning and gives the coder a selection of diagnoses and operations. The short answer, quick-fire section is split into ICD-10 and OPCS-4 subsections, requiring just the codes from the respective book. The long answer, 'essay-style' questions, require both the ICD-10 and OPCS-4 codes. In addition; the first answer of this section of questions, requires the coder to show their 'four-step-coding-process' as well as the codes chosen by the coder. In the practical paper the coder is allowed their tabular and index copies of ICD-10 and OPCS-4 (annotated with coding clinics) and a copy of BNF. No medical dictionary is allowed. The pass mark is 90%, with a distinction given for getting 95% or more.
Theory paper
The 3 hour long 'theory' paper tests the coder's knowledge of SNOMED CT, the coding clinic, ICD-10, OPCS-4, Payment by Results (PbR), the Information Governance (IG) toolkit and anatomy and physiology. No reference material is allowed on the coder's desk during the theory paper. The pass mark is 60%, with a distinction given for a those getting over 80%.
Resitting
It is possible to resit the exam as a whole, or to retake individual papers. However, both papers have to be passed within 3 sittings to obtain the NCCQ. Should a coder fail to get both papers within 3 sittings they must resit both papers on the fourth (even if they had passed one of the papers previously).