History

IBHRE certification exams were conceptualized in 1984. On October 11, 1984, Past Presidents of NASPE met concerning the design of a certification exam, and they agreed that this initiative should be pursued. Established in 1985 as NASPExAM, IBHRE is a self-governing, credentialing organization that provides competency certification in the fields of cardiac rhythm device therapy and cardiac electrophysiology for physicians and allied professionals. 

IBHRE Timeline:

1980s:

• 1984
  • First President and founder of NASPExAM - now the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners, Dr. Seymour Furman, led the initiative to certify competence in cardiac pacing
  • The National Board of Medical Examiners is approved to administer exam
• 1985
  • NASPExAM is established 
  • Cardiac Pacing Test Writing Committee is founded; 14 physician members with inclusion of a lead allied professional Co-Chair, Marleen Irwin
• 1986
  • Articles of Organization for NASPExAM were signed; the principal office of the corporation was in Massachusetts 
  • First examinations of Special Competency in Cardiac Pacing and Cardioversion Defibrillation for the Physician are administered in San Francisco, Chicago and New York
• 1989
  • First Examinations for Special Competency in Cardiac Pacing and Cardioversion Defibrillation for the Allied Professional are administered in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and London

1990s:

• 1996
  • Role delineation study is conducted to update essential competencies for allied professionals to reflect changes in current practice and cardiac electrophysiology test writing committee founded with a lead allied professional Co-Chair, Christine Chiu-Man
  • Cardiac Electrophysiology Test Writing Committee is founded
• 1997
  • First Examinations for Special Competency in Cardiac Electrophysiology for the Allied Professional are administered in New Orleans and New York
• 1998
  • Dr. David Steinhaus becomes second President of NASPExAM

2000s:

• 2004
  • NASPExAM moves to a Washington, D.C. office
• 2005
  • Dr. Charles J. Love becomes third President of NASPExAM
  • Physician device exam is recognized as a competency requirement for completion of the Heart Rhythm Society’s alternate training pathway for non-electrophysiologists
  • NASPExAM adopts new bylaws, a new strategic plan, and expands the Board of Directors to include international members from Japan, London, and Canada
• 2006
  • NASPExAM becomes the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners
  • New IBHRE website is launched and first web-based registration system is introduced
  • Job task analyses is conducted to initiate change from competency to certification, to identify core tasks in heart rhythm practice, and to standardize a global knowledge-base of heart rhythm professionals
  • Market research and promotional strategy is conducted around the value of IBHRE certification
• 2007
  • Examinations are re-named and structured to align with new certification program
    • Certification Examination for Competency in Cardiac Rhythm Device Therapy for the Physician
    • Certification Examination for Competency in Cardiac Rhythm Device Therapy for the Allied Professional
    • Certification Examination for Competency in Cardiac Electrophysiology for the Allied Professional
  • New certification credentials announced:
    • Certified Cardiac Device Specialist (Physician)
    • Certified Cardiac Device Specialist (Allied Professional)
    • Certified EP Specialist (Allied Professional)
  • Strategic partnership is formed with the Japanese Heart Rhythm Society and first IBHRE Japanese Test Translation Committee is established
  • New organizational structure, policies, and procedures to support the administration of the new IBHRE program and preparation for certification personnel accreditation from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is established
• 2008
  • First introduction of computer-based testing and world-wide administration of certification examinations
  • First tailored foreign-language certification exam is administered in Japan to 644 cardiac pacing allied professionals
  • IBHRE establishes registered trademarks for the IBHRE name and certification marks
• 2009
  • IBHRE submits an application to ANSI for accreditation under ISO Standard 17024 for Personnel Certification Programs
  • Physician Electrophysiology Test Writing Committee is founded to develop international-based adult and pediatric EP exams for physicians
  • New Recertification Policy is established to require maintenance of certification every 5 years and recertification every 10 years
  • First IBHRE Review and Appeals Committee is established

2010s

• 2010
  • IBHRE receives American National Standard Institute Accreditation
• 2011
  • IBHRE officially announces the Examination for Special Competency in Cardiac Electrophysiology for the Physician
• 2013
  • New Leadership Recruitment Campaign is conducted
  • IBHRE forms new Content Experts Committee and an Ambassador Group
  • New website and Career Center is launched
  • IBHRE Endorsement Program is created
• 2014
  • Maintenance of Certification Online Application is launched
  • IBHRE celebrates its first IBHRE Day on February 11, 2014
• 2015
  • IBHRE launches scholarship program for allied professionals
• 2016
  • ANSI reaccreditation of CCDS and CEPS certification programs
  • ANSI accreditation of CEPS-A and CEPS-P certification programs
  • Maintenance of Certification (MoC) becomes Verification of Continuing Education (VCE)
  • IBHRE presents the first Ambassador Award and Vanguard Award
• 2018
  • IBHRE launches Cardiac Device Education and Self-Assessment Course, an online course based upon the CCDS exam content outline

2020s

• 2021
  • IBHRE launches Cardiac Device Remote Monitoring Specialist (CDRMS)
• 2022
  • IBHRE launches IBHRE-C3, a continuous competency program based upon longitudinal assessment for maintaining certification
• 2023
  • IBHRE launches volume 2 of the Cardiac Device Education and Self-Assessment Course

Historic Pacemakers

Click here to view various devices and pacemakers.