Here are the answers to frequently asked questions about the American College of Healthcare Executives and ache.org. If you have a question that isn’t answered here or would like further information about ACHE, send an e-mail message to ache@ache.org.

Answers

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General Information

Question: How do I contact ACHE?

Answer: American College of Healthcare Executives, 1 N. Franklin, Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60606-3529; phone: (312) 424-2800; fax: (312) 424-0023. You may also contact ACHE via e-mail.

Question: What is my ACHE ID number?

Answer: Your six-character ACHE ID number can be found in the upper left-hand corner of the mailing labels on most ACHE materials sent to you. You can also have it automatically e-mailed to you by clicking here.

Question: How can I retrieve my user name and password?

Answer: You can retrieve your user name and password in one of the following ways. You can use the Locate User Name link to retrieve your user name or the Retrieve Password link to retrieve your password online. You can also contact the Customer Service Center at (312) 424-9400 or contact@ache.org between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. central time to inquire about your user name.

Question: How do I change my title/organization/address/phone number/e-mail address?

Answer: You can change any information in your record using the online Affiliate Directory.

Seminars, Conferences and Institutes

Question: How can I get a schedule of ACHE educational programs?

Answer: Schedules of ACHE seminars, conferences, and institutes are available online. For more information, call ACHE’s Customer Service Center at (312) 424-9400.

Question: How do I submit a proposal for an ACHE seminar?

Answer: You must complete and submit the Seminar Proposal Form, which is available here.

Question: How do I submit a proposal for a Congress on Healthcare Leadership seminar?

Answer: Proposals for the Numbered Sessions at Congress are submitted through an online process. From mid-March to mid-May, the proposal forms are available in the Education section of ache.org under the Congress on Healthcare Leadership tab on the right-hand toolbar. No proposals can be accepted by mail, fax or e-mail.

Question: How do I exhibit at ACHE's Congress on Healthcare Leadership?

Answer: Only not-for-profit organizations are eligible to exhibit at ACHE's Congress on Healthcare Leadership. ACHE does not authorize exhibits at any other event. For exhibit information at Congress, please contact ACHE's Customer Service Center at (312) 424-9400 or contact@ache.org.

Question: Do ACHE education programs offer credit that will fulfill my requirements for nursing home licensure?

Answer: ACHE maintains accreditation for many of our programs with the National Association of State Boards of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators (NAB). The NAB accreditation statement for approved programs is printed on all of our promotional literature. NAB has an approval process in place with many state nursing home licensure boards; however, not all states accept NAB. For a list of states accepting NAB, visit www.nabweb.org or contact the Division of Education at (312) 424-9351.

Career Services

Question: How do I submit a job listing to the ACHE Job Bank?

Answer: You must use the online Job Bank submission form. Once you have completed the form, your listing will be added to the Job Bank within within 1-2 business days. This is a FREE service to healthcare management employers.

Question: How do I edit the resume I posted to the ACHE Resume Bank?

Answer: You can use the Resume Manager to edit or delete your online resume. The Resume Manager can be found in the ACHE Employment Service.

Question: How much does it cost to use ACHE's Job Bank and Resume Bank?

Answer: It is absolutely free for employers and search executives to post open positions in the Job Bank. Is it also free to peruse the Resume Bank for potential job candidates. Only affiliates of ACHE may review job listings in the Job Bank and post their resumes in the Resume Bank. These services are complimentary benefits of membership.

Question: Why aren't there more entry-level positions listed in the ACHE Job Bank?

Answer: The ACHE Job Bank seldom contains entry-level positions.  Employers and search executives turn to local resources when seeking entry-level healthcare executives.  It is costly to seek job candidates from outside the local area, so organizations tend to reserve those funds for mid-level and senior-level candidate searches.  Further, the local pool of available candidates is often sufficient to fill entry-level healthcare management positions.

Question: Does ACHE have sample job descriptions for healthcare management positions?

Answer: Yes. Most of the job descriptions represent positions in hospitals—from department head positions to CEOs. To get a sample job description, call the Healthcare Executive Career Resource Center at (312) 424-9446.

Question: Does ACHE have data on healthcare executive salaries?

Answer: Information from this year's Hospital Executive Salary Information presented by IHStrategies covers over 130 positions and is available exclusively to ACHE affiliates in the Affiliates Only Area.

Question: What should I ask for in an executive employment contract?

Answer: The executive employment contract can be negotiated prior to accepting a position or while in a position. There are many features that can be included in a contract, including responsibilities, salary and other compensation, fringe benefits, conditions of employment such as provisions for mergers, confidentiality provisions, and do not compete agreements. The most important element may be the severance arrangements that take effect when the services of an executive are no longer needed. ACHE publishes a monograph, Contracts for Healthcare Executives, which is available either online, or by calling the HAP/ACHE Order Fulfillment Center at (301) 362-6905.

Question: Where can I get information on fellowships for recent graduates of healthcare management programs?

Answer: ACHE’s Directory of Fellowships in Health Services Administration is available online.

Admission

Question: What are the requirements to become an affiliate of ACHE?

Answer: The requirements for admission to ACHE are available online.

Question: My postbaccalaureate degree is not healthcare related. Do I still meet the requirements for admission?

Answer: As long as you have an interest in or commitment to the healthcare management profession in addition to your postbaccalaureate degree, you meet the education criteria for admission.

Question: How do I apply for membership?

Answer: If you have questions about admission or your eligibility, call ACHE's Division of Membership at (312) 424-9400 or visit the Join ACHE area to apply for membership now: http://www.ache.org/mbership/JoinNow.cfm.

Become an FACHE

Question: What are the requirements for advancement to Fellow status?

Answer: The requirements for advancement to Fellow are available online at ache.org.

Question: Can I still use my CHE credential?

Answer: The CHE is no longer recognized by ACHE.

Question: Do I need three years of ACHE tenure before taking the Board of Governors examination?

Answer: No, you need to complete a Fellow application and have it approved by ACHE. The minimum requirements to apply are having two years of healthcare management experience and a master’s degree or other postbaccalaureate degree.

Question: My postbaccalaureate degree is not healthcare related. Can I still advance to Fellow?

Answer: Yes, you may advance as long as you have five years of healthcare management experience in addition to your postbaccalaureate degree and meet the remaining requirements.

Question: How much does it cost to apply to become a Fellow?

Answer: The application fee for advancement to Fellow is $250. The Board of Governors examination fee is $200.

Question: What is the difference between Category I and Category II continuing education credit?

Answer: Category I (ACHE education) credit is obtained only through coursework sponsored by ACHE. Clusters and seminars, on-location programs, audio conferences, and online coursework all qualify for Category I credit.

Category II education is executive/management-level training courses or seminars sponsored by other organizations. Examples include hospital association programs, leadership training, and healthcare executive group presentations.

Question: How do I inform ACHE about the CEUs I have earned?

Answer: ACHE tracks all Category I (ACHE education) credit in your My ACHE record on ache.org. You may enter your Category II hours in the same area as we do not track that information for you. Enter the name of the sponsoring organization, date of session, title of session, and number of hours of education. Each hour of actual coursework equals one hour of continuing education credit (no credit is given for sessions under one hour in length).

Question: What are healthcare activities and what are community activities?

Answer: Healthcare activities include ACHE chapter events or local healthcare association events. Community activities include volunteering with nonprofit organizations.

Question: Why does ACHE not accept graduate work for Category I continuing education credits?

Answer: Programs developed by universities vary in content and quality, and ACHE has no mechanism for evaluating them. Also, the intent of degree programs is different from continuing education programs. University courses are typically theoretical, while continuing education courses are practical and address current management issues.

Recertify your FACHE

Question: What are the requirements to recertify?

Answer:

• Participation in at least two healthcare and two community/civic activities since your advancement or last recertification.
• Completion of 24 hours of continuing education since your advancement or last recertification, (at least 12 of which are Category I ACHE education) OR you may choose to retake and pass the Board of Governors Examination.

Question: Do I have to keep track of my civic and healthcare activities?

Answer: ACHE does not require you to enter specific details about these activities on your recertification application. However, it is a good idea to keep a log of these events, as we conduct periodic audits of our applications.

Question: How often do I need to recertify?

Answer: You must recertify every 3 years.

Question: How do I know if it’s my year to recertify?

Answer: ACHE will notify you via mail and e-mail when it is time to recertify. When you are eligible, you will be given access to the online recertification application that can be found in the My ACHE area of ache.org. The application is not available until January 1 of your recertification year.

Question: What happens if I don’t recertify in time?

Answer: After a short grace period, you will be reclassified to Member status and lose your credential. You may regain your credential after you meet the requirements and complete the recertification application.

Board of Governors Examination

Question: How far in advance of an exam offering do I need to submit my application to ACHE?

Answer: Allow at least eight weeks for your application to be processed.

Question: How much does it cost to take the Board of Governors exam?

Answer: There is a $200 fee to take the exam, and a $200 exam retake fee.

Question: How is the exam formatted?

Answer: The exam consists of 230 multiple-choice questions based on 10 knowledge areas. The questions are multiple choice. Click on the following link for more details on the exam topics.

Question: How much time do I need to prepare for the exam? What should I do to prepare?

Answer: Allow between three and six months to prepare, depending upon the amount of healthcare management experience you have. ACHE has a number of resources to help you study. There is a 2.5 day Review course, an online tutorial, our collection of books known as the exam study set and the supplementary exam online community. You can also set up study groups with your local chapter. For more information, contact ACHE's Customer Service Center at (312) 424-9400 or contact@ache.org.

Question: What score do I need on the exam to pass?

Answer: ACHE does not reveal the exam “pass point.” The pass point is carefully determined by the Examinations Committee and ACHE’s psychometric testing consultants. It is important to focus on doing the best you possibly can on the exam and not to focus only on passing.

Question: Do I need to pass all 10 knowledge areas on the written exam to pass the entire test?

Answer: No. Your score is based on the number of questions you answer correctly compared to the total number of questions. The percentage correct is your score. When you receive your score report it will indicate the percentage correct by knowledge area so that if you do not pass the exam, you will know which areas to spend more time studying.

Question: If I don’t pass the Board of Governors exam the first time I take it, is there a period of time I must wait until I can retake it?

Answer: You must wait 60 days before retaking the exam.

Healthcare Executive magazine

Question: How do I pitch/submit a story for publication in Healthcare Executive?

Answer: As the official magazine of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Healthcare Executive generally turns to its affiliates, seminar faculty, and book authors for contributions to the magazine. Outside submissions are rarely published; however, you can submit a proposal letter that outlines your story idea to the attention of the:

Editor in Chief
Healthcare Executive
1 N. Franklin St., Ste. 1700
Chicago, IL 60606-3529
Fax: (312) 424-0023
E-mail: he-editor@ache.org

Keep in mind that feature topics for each issue of the magazine are planned approximately four months prior to the issue's mailing date.

Question: How do I request a Healthcare Executive editorial calendar, advertising rates, or media kit?

Answer: For an editorial calendar, advertising rates, or media kit, contact:

The Townsend Group
Phone: (301) 215-6710
Fax: (301) 215-7704
E-mail: ache@townsend-group.com

The media kit is also available online.

Question: To whose attention should I send press releases?

Answer: Mail, fax, or e-mail press releases to the attention of the:

Editor in Chief
Healthcare Executive
1 N. Franklin St., Ste. 1700
Chicago, IL 60606-3529
Fax: (312) 424-0023
E-mail: he-editor@ache.org

Question: How do I request permission to reprint Healthcare Executive articles?

Answer: All requests to reprint or photocopy material from Healthcare Executive must be submitted in writing to the:

Editor in Chief
Healthcare Executive
1 N. Franklin St., Ste. 1700
Chicago, IL 60606-3529
Fax: (312) 424-0023
E-mail: he-editor@ache.org

The request must include:

• Requestor’s name
• Requestor’s phone and fax number
• The date of the issue in which the article appeared
• Title of article you wish to reprint
• Author’s name
• Purpose for reprinting
• Number of copies

Incomplete requests may not be processed immediately. All requests are evaluated based on purpose for reprinting, quantity of copies, and copyright status.

Health Administration Press

Question: What are the latest releases?

Answer: A list of the latest Health Administration Press titles is available online.

Question: How do I find books on a particular topic?

Answer: Health Administration Press book information organized by topic is available online.

Question: How do I get a copy of the Health Administration Press catalog?

Answer: Call HAP at (312) 424-9470 to receive a catalog, fax your request to (312) 424-0014. A list of HAP books organized by title is also available online.

Question: What offerings are available through the Self-Study Program?

Answer: Detailed information about the Self-Study Program format, course offerings, and costs is available online.

If you need further assistance, please contact Health Administration Press, (312) 424-9483; fax: (312) 424-0014.

Question: How do I submit a book proposal to Health Administration Press?

Answer: Detailed information on becoming a HAP author can be found online.

Question: How do I request permission to reprint Health Administration Press materials?

Answer: All requests to reprint or photocopy material from any Health Administration Press publications must be requested through Copyright Clearance Center www.copyright.com.

Question: How do I submit an article to the Journal of Healthcare Management?

Answer: Submissions can be sent to:

Kyle L. Grazier, Dr.P.H.
109 South Observatory Street
School of Public Health
The University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
E-mail: JHM.editor@umich.edu

For complete submission guidelines, click here.

Question: How do I order an examination copy of a text?

Answer: Please submit your request for an examination copy in writing and include the following information:

You may also request an examination copy online.

Examination copies are shipped via UPS within the U.S. and Canada. Please allow 7-10 working days to process and deliver your request. Please call to inquire about our prepaid rush service.

Mail, fax, or e-mail your request to:

Health Administration Press
1 N. Franklin St., Ste. 1700
Chicago, IL 60606-3529
Fax: (312) 424-0014
E-mail: hap1@ache.org

Dues and Payments

Question: How can I find out if my check or credit card payment has been received or processed?

Answer: If your payment was made for:

• an educational program, contact our Accounting Coordinator, at (312) 424-9331.
• your annual dues, contact our Dues Billing Call Center, at (312) 424-9339.
• a book, a self-study course, the Board of Governors Exam Tutorial, or the ACHE Member Directory, contact the ACHE Order Fulfillment Center at (301) 362-6905
• a subscription to Healthcare Executive magazine, the Journal of Healthcare Management, or Frontiers of Health Services Management, contact our Marketing and Sales Assistant at (312) 424-9456.

Question: How can I find out if my refund check has been processed?

Answer: contact our Accounting Manager at (312) 424-9333.

Research

Question: What kind of research does ACHE conduct?

Answer: We conduct three kinds of research:

First, we study the careers of healthcare executives and variances between men and women and race/ethnic groups.

Second, we study other fieldwide issues. For example, we have studied hospital CEO turnover and the roles and relationships among the hospital CEO, board chairman, and medical staff president (elected leader). We are currently studying how to structure management and governance evaluations that will promote community health.

Third, we conduct market research, including focus groups of members and potential members, interviews, and surveys.

In addition, we support research in the field of healthcare management by providing statistical samples of ACHE members to researchers, awarding an annual grant of $10,000 to a faculty member affiliated with ACHE, and supporting research organizations in our field, including the National Information Center for Health Services Administration and the Association for Health Services Research.

Summaries of recent ACHE studies are available online.

Governance

Question: What district am I in?

Answer:

• District One consists of: Canada, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
• District Two consists of: District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.
• District Three consists of: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
• District Four consists of: Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.
• District Five consists of: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
• District Six consists of: Uniformed Services/Veterans Affairs.

Question: How is my Regent area assigned?

Answer: Regents represent affiliates in the United States and Canada and overseas uniformed services affiliates. For the U.S., affiliates are assigned to Regent areas based on their business address. Some Regent areas cover an entire state, while other Regent areas cover a portion of the state. For multi-Regent states, the Regent areas are divided by zip codes. An affiliate's business zip code will determine the Regent area to which he or she is assigned. For uniformed service affiliates, Regent areas are determined by first assigning them by their branch of service (Air Force, Army, Navy, including the Coast Guard and Uniformed Members of the Public Health Service) and then by geography. Overseas uniformed service affiliates are assigned to their Regent area based on their domestic military mailing address. For example, all Navy AE addresses are assigned to the Navy-Atlantic Region, and all Navy APO addresses are assigned to the Navy-Pacific Region. For more information on Regent area assignment, call the Division of Regional Services at (312) 424-9323.

Awards

Question: How do I obtain a nomination form for the Gold Medal/Honorary Fellow/Lifetime Service/Robert S. Hudgens Memorial award?

Answer: ACHE does not distribute nomination forms for these awards. Nomination packets are compiled by the individual making the nomination. For a list of the items to include in the nomination packet, as well as information about the criteria for each award, click here.

Personal Services

Question: What insurance plans are available through ACHE?

Answer: ACHE affiliates are eligible to participate in group term life, medical, dental, accidental death, dismemberment, disability income, home, renters, and auto insurance plans. Click here for more detail on the types of plans and how to contact the providers.

Question: Does ACHE have a credit card program?

Answer: ACHE affiliates may apply for a Bank of America MasterCard issued for the American College of Healthcare Executives. Click here for more information.

Question: What other personal services are available to ACHE affiliates?

Answer: ACHE affiliates can purchase items embroidered with ACHE's logo directly from Lands' End. Choose from a variety of items, including T-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, or even stadium blankets. For more information and ordering instructions, please click here.