APCA

What APCA does

APCA (American Paramedical Credentials Agency) operates as a non-profit professional certification body and a Council of Inteleos Inc., administering competency certifications for healthcare professionals in nuclear cardiology and cardiac imaging. Its two core certification programs are CBNC (Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology) and CBCCT (Certification Board of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography), which validate physician, sonographer, and nuclear medicine specialist competency through structured application and examination processes. APCA serves individual healthcare professionals globally rather than enterprise accounts, with primary segments including nuclear cardiology physicians, cardiac sonographers and imaging technologists, and NRC-regulated healthcare facilities that rely on CBNC certification as a pathway to Authorized User status under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Certification Pathway.

The organization's technology consists of a web-based certification management platform, my.apca.org, which handles certification applications, recertification submissions, practice test registration, and certification status verification. Supporting features include a Preceptor Portal for distributed program verification, a computer-simulated CBNC Practice Test that mirrors the actual test center environment, and an online Directory of Certificants accessible to employers and regulatory bodies for credential verification. Examinations are delivered electronically at designated testing centers during specified examination windows (e.g., November 3 – December 29, 2026 for the 2026 cycle).

APCA's revenue model is multi-stream: one-time certification application and examination fees, recurring recertification fees (with a $250 per-examination reinstatement fee for lapsed diplomates), practice test fees, and CME documentation review services. The organization reaches candidates through preceptor networks, partnerships with professional medical associations (notably ASNC for board exam prep courses), and the broader Inteleos ecosystem spanning nearly 107,000 physicians, sonographers, and advanced healthcare professionals globally. APCA holds a distinctive regulatory position through NRC re-recognition of CBNC certification, embedding it into federal compliance pathways for nuclear medicine practice.

Name

APCA

Legal name

APCA

Website

https://cbnc.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

APCA is a non-profit certification body under Inteleos that administers CBNC and CBCCT competency certifications for nuclear cardiology and cardiac imaging professionals globally, operating through the my.apca.org web platform and serving a 107,000-professional ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Professional Certification

akta.pro primary industry

National/State Examination Boards & Testing Agencies (EDADAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Psychometric Standards, Test Development & Validation Authorities (EDADAFAG)

Keywords

• Medical board certification
• Nuclear cardiology certification
• Cardiovascular CT certification
• Professional credentialing services
• Healthcare practitioner certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Application and Examination Fees: Healthcare professionals pay application and examination fees to obtain CBNC and CBCCT certifications. Candidates must apply during specified application windows and complete examinations at designated testing centers.
2. Recertification Fees: Certified diplomates pay recertification fees to maintain their credentials. Former diplomates who have allowed certification to lapse pay a one-time reinstatement fee of $250 per examination plus passage of the recertification exam.
3. Practice Test Fees: Candidates can register for CBNC practice tests through the my.apca.org portal for exam preparation, generating additional revenue.
4. CME Documentation Review: Review and processing of continuing medical education documentation for recertification purposes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

APCA operates as a non-profit certification body delivering the CBNC (Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology) and CBCCT (Certification Board of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography) credentialing programs for physicians, sonographers, and nuclear medicine specialists. Candidates apply through the MY APCA web portal, complete practice tests, sit examinations at designated testing centers, and maintain certification through periodic recertification. APCA also provides a publicly searchable Directory of Certificants for employer and regulatory credential verification.

Product overview

APCA (American Proficiency Testing Company or American Precision Components - entity appears to be a Council of Inteleos) operates as a certification body offering professional certification programs for healthcare professionals. The core products include CBNC (Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology) and CBCCT (Certification Board of Computed Tomography), which provide competency validation through rigorous examination processes. These certification programs are supported by the MY APCA online platform which handles applications, practice tests, and account management. APCA is part of the Inteleos family of certification alliances, alongside ARDMS, POCUS, and the Inteleos Foundation, representing nearly 107,000 physicians, sonographers, and advanced healthcare professionals globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CBNC: Certification in Cardiovascular Computed Tomography
• CBCCT

Products and services

• CBNC Certification (Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology) A professional certification program that validates competency in nuclear cardiology imaging and localization studies for physicians in cardiovascular disease, nuclear medicine, and radiology. Successful candidates may convert from Testamur to Diplomate status upon passing relevant cardiology boards (ABIM-CD, ABR, or ABNM). The certification is re-recognized by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission as a pathway to Authorized User status.
• CBCCT Certification (Certification Board of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography) A professional certification program for physicians and qualified specialists in cardiovascular computed tomography, validating competency in cardiac CT imaging. The credential is administered alongside CBNC within the Inteleos/APCA certification framework.
• MY APCA Online Portal A web-based candidate platform providing access to certification applications, recertification workflows, practice test registration, account management, and preceptor program verification. Used by individual healthcare professionals pursuing APCA credentials.
• CBNC Practice Test A computer-simulated practice examination that mirrors the actual test center interface, allowing CBNC candidates to prepare for the certification examination. Registered through the MY APCA account.
• Directory of Certificants A publicly searchable online database used by employers, healthcare facilities, and regulatory bodies to verify the certification status of APCA diplomates.

Quantifiable outcome

• NRC re-recognized certification pathway for Authorized User status

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• InteleoscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2016CCCVI merged with ARDMS in February 2016 to form Inteleos. APCA operates as a Council of Inteleos, representing nearly 107,000 physicians, sonographers, and advanced healthcare professionals globally through the Inteleos family of certification alliances.
• ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2016ARDMS merged with CCCVI in February 2016 to form Inteleos. ARDMS was established in 1975 and is a leading registry for diagnostic medical sonography professionals.
• POCUS (Point-of-Care Ultrasound Certification Academy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPOCUS is part of the Inteleos family of certification alliances alongside APCA, ARDMS, and Inteleos Foundation. Operates as a separate certification academy within the Inteleos ecosystem.
• Inteleos FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Inteleos Foundation is part of the non-profit Inteleos family of certification alliances, supporting the broader mission of advancing global healthcare through professional certification.
• ASNC (American Society of Nuclear Cardiology)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerASNC offers prep courses for Nuclear Cardiology Board Exam preparation. ASNC Prep Course is referenced as available for candidates on the CBNC website.
• NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NRC has re-recognized CBNC certification as a pathway for Authorized User status. CBNC diplomates remain eligible to become Authorized Users through NRC's Certification Pathway.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM): ABIM certifies the cardiology subspecialists who form APCA's core candidate pool. Its Cardiovascular Disease board exam is a prerequisite for CBNC Diplomate status, making it both a funnel source and a potential substitute.
• American Board of Nuclear Medicine (ABNM): ABNM is the primary medical specialty board that CBNC candidates must already pass to convert Testamur to Diplomate. It is the upstream gatekeeper that APCA's nuclear cardiology credential builds upon.
• American Board of Radiology (ABR): ABR certifies diagnostic radiologists who can convert to CBNC Diplomate and is a primary board covering cardiac CT competencies that overlap with APCA's CBCCT certification.

Direct peers

• Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI): CCI certifies cardiovascular technologists, sonographers, and invasive specialists across overlapping cardiovascular imaging domains. It is the most direct external competitor to APCA's CBCCT and CBNC certifications for the allied-professional segment.
• American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT): ARRT is the dominant U.S. credentialing body for radiologic technologists and offers advanced imaging credentials that overlap with APCA's cardiac CT candidate base. Comparable structure of initial certification plus ongoing biennial/annual requirements.
• ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography): ARDMS is the founding certification body of Inteleos and the sister council to APCA. Both administer healthcare professional certifications through the same Inteleos platform, shared candidate portal infrastructure, and joint marketing channels.
• National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC): NBRC is a U.S. allied-health certification body with a comparable revenue model of initial exam fees plus recurring credential maintenance, providing a useful benchmark for non-profit certification economics.
• POCUS (Point-of-Care Ultrasound Certification Academy): POCUS is the third certification council within the Inteleos family alongside APCA. It uses the same my.apca.org-style portal model, same parent governance, and similar exam-delivery and recertification mechanics for clinicians.
• Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB): NMTCB certifies nuclear medicine technologists whose practice overlaps with the imaging studies APCA's CBNC physicians supervise. Both serve the NRC Authorized User and nuclear cardiology workforce ecosystem.

Others

• American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC): ASNC is APCA's named prep-course partner for the CBNC exam. It is a professional society rather than a certifier, but functions as an adjacent ecosystem participant that drives candidate pipeline and content authority in the same subspecialty.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about APCA