You may have read last month's Dealer Dose article about how important Evidence-based Design Accreditation & Certification, EDAC, is to today's healthcare market decision makers. You may even understand how those four simple letters after your name can open more doors and provide you even more opportunities with a wider audience.  But, did you know that Nurture can make getting your certification even easier by bringing an EDAC exam prep session to you?

That's right.  Nurture will work with you and your team to provide a workshop reviewing need-to-know EDAC concepts.  And, as an educational partner with The Center for Health Design, Nurture will also provide you a 25 percent discount* to the crucial EDAC Study Guides.

There are six simple steps to get you on your way to your EDAC credential:

1. Purchase and read the EDAC Study Guides.  These three guides provide all you need to know to pass the exam.  And, the first one is free!
2. Download and read the Candidate Handbook.  This handbook provides information on test policies, fees, registration, locations, scoring and certification.
3. Complete and submit an exam application.
4. Review the Exam Content Outline. Use the outline alongside the study guides to understand what is most important to study.
5. Take the Sample Exam.  Assess your readiness for the actual exam.
6. Schedule your EDAC exam date and location and then schedule a Nurture review class.

Hang on, you say.  Tell me again why this is so important?  It all boils down to customers and peers knowing that with those four simple letters after your name, you have an internationally recognized credential that announces your expertise and ability to speak the same language as clients and other industry partners.  The world of healthcare is beginning to incorporate evidence-based design measures into all decisions, not just architecture and design plans but also when purchasing products. Being EDAC certified tells this entire community that you understand their issues and can address their needs through a common language. And, EDAC certification fits beautifully with Nurture's focus - "where virtually all efforts, products and solutions are driven by principles of evidence-based design." For more information, contact Bill Coble.

It turns out learning a new language isn't as hard as you thought!

* 25 percent off discount code - SGNUR

The best way to pass a test has always been to study, study, study. The EDAC exam is no different. Those study guides will be a big help, as will attending a study group led by a Nurture Area Healthcare Manager. Kathleen Lapidus has been running these study group for several years in her territory of Northern California and Nevada, and has found them to be very useful in helping the designers learn the EDAC material. "The most dynamic of these study groups are the ones where people study outside of class, using the study guides. Even skimming them can be a huge help," Kathleen said. "The group is not a big commitment, but being prepared for the test prep sessions has a big impact on passing the test." 

Kathleen recommends taking the test within one month of participating in a study group. That way, the material is fresh in your mind. She has run study groups for Kaiser, Stanford, and most recently, Stantec. "The librarian at Stantec reached out, because she needed help facilitating a global study group. People from as far away as their London office needed to get certified this spring and we could help them do that," Kathleen said.

Check with your Nurture AHM and sign up for a study group today!