Healthcare Ethics Consultant-Certified Program and Examination Information
Program Components
The HEC-C Program was designed to adhere to the standards of the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The NCCA sets standards and accredits certification programs to ensure that they meet the established standards for structure and governance; characteristics of the certification program; and information that must be accessible to applicants, certificants, and the public. The HEC-C program will be eligible for NCCA accreditation and will apply as soon as feasible.
Successful HEC-C program participants achieve certification by demonstrating eligibility and earning a passing score on the HEC-C examination. The certification examination is administered in English and consists of 110 multiple choice questions—some of which are scenario-based. Candidates have three hours to complete the examination.
Examination Development
The development of a valid, written multiple-choice examination for the HEC-C program began with a clear and concise definition of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for competent job performance. The HCEC Certification Commission worked with healthcare ethics consultants to delineate critical job components using interviews, surveys, observation, and group discussions. The knowledge and skill bases for the questions on the HEC-C examination were derived from the actual practice of healthcare ethics consultants as outlined in the ASBH 2017 Role Delineation Study.
Healthcare Ethics Consultant-Certified Candidate Handbook
The HEC-C examination candidate handbook contains the information you will need to apply for the HEC-C examination as well as the policies and procedures governing the program. Candidates are strongly encouraged to review this information prior to applying for the examination. Information in this handbook may be time sensitive and subject to change. Once you review the candidate handbook, complete the application process outlined on the Apply page.
Download the HEC-C candidate handbook
Passing Percentage per Testing Window
| Testing Window | # of Candidates | # of Passing Candidates | # of Failing Candidates | Passing Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2018 | 138 | 136 | 2 | 98.6% |
| May 2019 | 74 | 73 | 1 | 98.6% |
| November 2019 | 80 | 80 | 0 | 100% |
| May 2020 | 46 | 45 | 1 | 97.8% |
| November 2020 | 72 | 69 | 3 | 95.8% |
| May 2021 | 82 | 82 | 0 | 100% |
| November 2021 | 54 | 52 | 2 | 96.3% |
| May 2022 | 70 | 67 | 3 | 96.2% |
| November 2022 | 83 | 82 | 1 | 98.7% |
| May 2023 | 67 | 66 | 1 | 98.5% |
| November 2023 | 69 | 61 | 8 | 89.7% |
| May 2024 | 75 | 66 | 9 | 88% |
There are currently 805 HEC-Cs.
Learn More
For more information, view the eligibility requirements, the content outline, or how you can take the exam remotely.