Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT) Prep – Key Vocabulary

A collection of essential vocabulary terms for students preparing for the CCHT examination, covering certification bodies, exam structure, dialysis practice, patient safety, and technical concepts.

Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC)

Independent body that develops and administers certification exams for nephrology nurses and technicians.

NNCC Mission

To promote patient safety and improve nephrology care through certification programs.

NNCC Philosophy

Supports a variety of certification exams to match different education, experience, and practice levels in nephrology.

Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT)

Credential for dialysis technicians proving competence in clinical, technical, environmental, and role-responsibility areas.

Center for Nursing Education and Testing (C-NET)

Testing agency that partners with NNCC for exam development, administration, and evaluation.

American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS)

Membership organization that promotes nursing specialty certification and operates a national peer-review program.

Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC)

ABNS accrediting body that reviews nursing certification programs for compliance with industry standards.

Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE)

Professional association that establishes standards and provides resources for the credentialing community.

National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)

ICE’s accrediting arm that evaluates certification programs against its Standards for Accreditation.

Clinical/Technical Examination Board

NNCC group that sets eligibility criteria, oversees job analyses, and audits CCHT certification processes.

CCHT Test Committee

Team of certified technicians who write, review, and validate CCHT exam questions.

CMS Conditions for Coverage

Federal rules requiring dialysis technicians to be certified within 18 months of employment.

Job Analysis Survey

Nationwide study identifying key tasks of entry-level technicians; basis for the CCHT test blueprint.

Test Blueprint

Detailed plan specifying exam content areas, cognitive levels, and question distribution.

Pilot Questions

Unscored items on the exam used to collect statistical data before becoming scored questions.

Standard Setting (Angoff)

Method in which subject-matter experts judge item difficulty to establish the passing score.

Passing Score for CCHT

Approximately 74 % correct, based on predetermined standards rather than peer comparison.

Dialysis Practice Areas

Four exam sections: Clinical, Technical, Environment, and Role Responsibilities.

Cognitive Levels

Knowledge, Comprehension, and Application – the thinking skills measured in exam questions.

Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI)

Facility program mandated by Medicare to systematically improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.

Peripheral Access

Vascular access located away from the body’s center, such as an arteriovenous fistula or graft in an arm.

Central Venous Catheter

Temporary or permanent hemodialysis access placed in a large central vein when peripheral vessels are unsuitable.

Ultrafiltration Profiling

Strategic adjustment of fluid removal rates during dialysis to lessen hypotension episodes.

Feed Water

Incoming municipal water that enters the dialysis water-treatment system before purification.

Ultrafilter

Fine membrane filter in the water system that removes bacterial endotoxins and very small particles.

Conductivity Alarm

Machine alert triggered when dialysate solute concentration is outside the prescribed range.

Venous Pressure Alarm

Alert indicating high resistance on the venous side, often due to clotting or kinks in the blood line.

Trendelenburg Position

Patient position with feet elevated above the heart to treat dialysis-related hypotension.

Reuse (Dialyzers)

Cleaning and disinfecting a dialyzer for repeated use by the same patient instead of discarding after one treatment.

Endotoxin

Bacterial by-product that must be removed from dialysate water to prevent patient inflammation or fever.

Dry Weight (Target Weight)

Patient weight after dialysis when excess fluid is removed and blood pressure is normal.

Dialysate

Purified water mixed with acid and bicarbonate concentrates that removes wastes and balances electrolytes during dialysis.

Standard Precautions

Infection-control practices applied to all patients, including hand hygiene and PPE use.

Statement of Nondiscrimination

NNCC policy ensuring equal access to certification regardless of race, gender, age, disability, or other factors.

Denial, Suspension, Revocation

NNCC actions taken for falsification, incompetence, regulatory sanctions, or failure to meet certification criteria.

Appeal Process

Procedure allowing applicants or certificants to contest NNCC decisions within 30 days in writing.

FAST TRACK

Expedited application processing by C-NET, issuing an exam permit within 1–3 business days for an extra fee.

Online Practice Test

Web-based 50-item exam available in practice or test mode, offering 90-day access for CCHT candidates.

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Positive

Status requiring dialysis in an isolation area with a dedicated machine to prevent virus transmission.

Hypotension (Dialysis)

Drop in blood pressure during treatment, often managed by reducing ultrafiltration or placing the patient in Trendelenburg.

Anemia

Low red-blood-cell count common in renal failure; monitored by hemoglobin tests and treated with erythropoietin.

Uremia

Accumulation of nitrogenous wastes in the blood due to kidney failure or inadequate dialysis.

Water Treatment System

Series of components that purify feed water for safe dialysate preparation, including softeners, RO units, and ultrafilters.

Pilot Testing

Process of administering new exam items to evaluate performance before counting them toward scores.

Certification

Formal recognition of specialized knowledge and competence, designed to protect the public and validate skills.