CES-A® Exam

CERTIFIED ECMO SPECIALIST- Adult (CES-A®) EXAM

The American Society of ExtraCorporeal Technology (AmSECT) and the International Board of Blood Management (IBBM) are proud hosts of the first Adult ECMO Specialist Certification Exam®. The exam is for RNs, RRTs, and other allied health professionals monitoring adult ECMO procedures and circuits.

The Certified ECMO Specialist- Adult (CES-A®) Exam is offered three times a year. Please see below for application and exam dates, prerequisite requirements, application requirements, and additional information.

The exam application period begins two months prior to the exam date. The examination period is three days and can be taken during IBBM business hours (9 AM - 5 PM CT). Candidates have three (3) hours to complete the exam.

Application Dates

March 27 – April 24, 2023

June 26 – July 24, 2023

September 25 – October 31, 2023

Exam Dates

May 17 – May 19, 2023

August 16 – August 18, 2023

November 15 – November 17, 2023

Job Skills

AmSECT and IBBM define the role of Certified ECMO Specialist- Adult (CES-A®) to offer a certification exam recognizing minimally acceptable mastery of the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed in the CES job description. The ECMO Specialist is an integral member of the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) service team, working primarily in intensive care units and participating in the transport of ECMO patients between care areas.

Knowledge Statements

1. can list the advantages of venovenous and venoarterial ECMO support
2. understands the principles of left heart decompression, aortic afterload, and myocardial protection during ECMO support
3. demonstrates an understanding medical gas blenders, connections, and gas administration
4. is aware of ECC component specifications
5. can apply the basic principles for troubleshooting the ECMO circuit
6. can recognize and manage issues associated with loss of venous return during ECMO
7. can describe pump/gas flow ECMO weaning techniques, managing ACT, and ventilatory changes during weaning, low-flow scenarios, and trial offs
8. describes the procedures for ECMO patient and circuit blood product administration
9. understands issues for infection control for ECMO patients
10. explains the principles for coagulation cascades, management of anticoagulation, control of clotting times, and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy for ECMO patients
11. understands the methods for bedside and laboratory blood tests regarding ECMO patient management and the presence of coagulopathies
12. assumes personal responsibility for continuous learning, and engaging in educational activities annually
13. reviews and applies the local ECMO program policy and procedure manual, clinical practice guidelines, and ELSO guidelines
14. can recognize hypotension/hypovolemia, hypertension, and cardiac arrest during ECMO support
15. apply management principles for bleeding ECMO patients regarding blood product administration, control of bleeding and circuit surface blood interactions
16. understands delivering and managing care to ECMO patients requiring CRRT
17. can cite rated blood flow, priming volume, and pressure drops for ECC components
18. can describe open and percutaneous cannulation procedures at the initiation of ECMO
19. can cite indications, contraindications, risks, and benefits for venoarterial and venovenous ECMO support
20. understands and lists ECMO patient fluid balance, electrolytes, and nutrition management issues
21. understands issues for neurologic protection for ECMO patients
22. understands and can complete ECMO circuit priming and de-airing methods
23. can list clinical signs for pulmonary/cardiac recovery during ECMO support
24. can recognize and manage venous or arterial air entrainment during ECMO
25. understands delivering and managing care to ECMO patients requiring hemoconcentration
26. understands and lists post ECMO complications such as platelet, coagulation, and electrolyte alterations
27. can describe how to handle emergencies and complications including mechanical issues, circuit disruption. raceway rupture, system or component alarms and failures
28. understands management of complex ECMO cases, possible surgery on ECMO, and post-operative bleeding
29. can cite specifications for ECC pumps, oxygenators, and other components
30. contributes to formal team meetings which include case reviews, updates on ECMO therapy, quality assurance, review of ECMO policy and procedures, administrative information
31. knows team member responsibilities for pre-procedure notification of the ECMO team
32. demonstrates an understanding of ventilator modalities and management
33. can recognize and manage issues associated with ECMO roller pump head occlusion checks, and centrifugal pump complications such as pump stop scenarios and need for hand-cranking
34. comprehends the applications of intra-aortic balloon pump and left ventricular assist (Impella) during ECMO
35. comprehends the ethical and social issues, consent process, parental and family support, during the potential withdrawal of ECMO support
36. can recite steps to emergently manage situations such as ECMO circuit raceway ruptures, heat exchanger failures, and need to change out membrane lungs and other components
37. understands issues associated with sedation and pain control, seizures and cerebral protection during ECMO
38. appreciates and can communicate the psychosocial aspects of ECMO support
39. applies principles of management of intra- and inter-hospital transport on ECMO
40. can recognize uncontrolled bleeding, intracranial and other cites for hemorrhage during ECMO
41. can recognize and communicate issues during ECMO such as pneumothorax / pneumopericardium and hemothorax / hemopericardium
42. understands personnel, medications required, complications, vessel ligation, and vessel reconstruction during ECMO decannulation
43. completes current and valid basic life support certification
44. appreciates and can cite milestones in the history of ECMO

Skill Statements

More Adult Certified ECMO Specialist ability statements:

1. Assists patients and family members with understanding ECMO support and related care
2. Demonstrates expertise in caring for ECMO patients with multiple and complex problems
3. Completes circuit priming sequences and ensures de-airing has occurred
4. Completes functional testing of circuit components prior to clinical application
5. Evaluates the effectiveness of plans of care and recommends revisions to the multidisciplinary care team
6. Able to push PVC tubing onto a connector up to the second barb with aseptic technique
7. Corrects damaged tubing, membrane oxygenators, connectors, and other circuit components
8. Directs transport personnel during ECMO transport to ensure patient and caregiver safety
9. Operates, maintains, calibrates, and performs quality control testing on all point of care laboratory equipment per protocols and CLIA requirements
10. Maintains and manages the continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) circuit when placed in conjunction within the ECMO circuit

Ability Statements

More Adult ECMO Specialist Ability Statements:

1. Completes periodic skills testing and competency drills to maintain credentialing
2. Obtains and prepares equipment based on type of support, patient diagnosis, age, and condition
3. Confers with surgical team regarding cannulation strategies and selected cannulae
4. Receives and gives constructive criticism when indicated
5. Administers all blood products and medications appropriately when ordered to be given through the ECMO circuit
6. Supports the team and customers to achieve quality, patient satisfaction, teamwork, culture of safety, and employee satisfaction
7. Uses self-appraisal performance review and peer review, including annual goal-setting to promote safe and value-based practice
8. Works in conjunction with the bedside nurse to manage cardiac drugs to ensure that the patient is hemodynamically stable
9. Conducts the collection and management of quality improvement data
10. Can monitor and troubleshoot continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH)
11. Can monitor and troubleshoot centrifugal pump based ventricular assist devices (VADs)
12. Coordinates a comprehensive, age, and culture specific continuum of care planning for all patients and families

Requirements and Prerequisites

  • Anyone interested in advancing their career as an adult Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Specialist can take the exam.
  • The candidate should be employed in the “ECMO Specialist” job description as confirmed by their employer, ECMO service Medical Director, or ECMO Coordinator/Manager.
  • The board recommends that the candidate have two years of specialist experience.
  • The candidate must provide the name of a proctor to monitor their online exam experience. Review the proctor guidelines.
  • Fill out the profile application and pay the exam fee during the application period.

Application Process & Required Elements

Step 1: Submit Application

The CES-A® Certification Online Application requires applicants to provide the following items:

  • Personal and employer information
  • ECMO Medical Director, Coordinator, or Manager information
  • A non- refundable $150 Exam Fee
  • Proctor Application

APPLY

To preview the Proctor Guidleines, please review the form linked here: Proctor Guidelines Form.

Step 2: IBBM Verifies Information

One week before exam period opens:

  • An email will be sent to the proctor with detailed exam instructions. This letter will detail the exam protocol and provide the necessary test verification form to be completed by the proctor at the end of the exam.
  • The candidate will receive an email. This letter will indicate that you are eligible to sit for the exam and your proctor has been sent the necessary information for the exam.

48 Hours before exam period opens: Candidates will recieve an emailed invitation to the test taking platform EasyLMS. Please note: some institutions security systems may block emails from EasyLMS. If you do not recieve your access email, please reach out to ibbm@amsect.org

Step 3: Take Certification Exam

Examinees may select the specific day they would like to take their exam within the testing window and will have three (3) hours to complete the 100 question exam. Preliminary results (exam day results) are provided immediately after completing the exam. The exam day results are final when the exam window closes, and the exams are re-scored. The official exam score and results will be mailed via USPS approximately 90 days after the close of the exam.

If the applicant passes the exam, they will receive an Certified ECMO Specialist- Adult (CES-A®) Certificate at the address provided on the application within 90 day of the close of the exam period.

If the applicant does not pass the exam, a letter will be mailed showing the areas of deficiencies. To retake the exam, applicants must submit a new application. If the applicant retakes the exam within nine (9) months, the fee is $100.00 USD. IBBM will reach out to those eligible for the discounted retake exam.

Recertification

Details on recertification can be found by visiting the Recertification page.

Verification

To verify an individuals current certification status please reach out to ibbm@amsect.org

Frequently Asked Questions

For whom is the CES-A™ exam developed?

The exam is for the adult ECMO Specialist job description described in detail above and designed for non-perfusionists monitoring adult ECMO patients and circuits.

May a perfusionist sit for the exam?

AmSECT and the IBBM recognize the Certified Clinical Perfusionist (CCP) as having validated their ECMO knowledge and skills via the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion’s certification process. However, as a valuable member of the ECMO service, the application is open to CCPs who may wish to sit for the exam.

Is there a review course for the CES-A™ exam?

ECMO Specialist Exam Review course is now available at AmSECT University.

More CES-A™ Information