Resources

There are multiple resources available to help you prepare for the BCCL or the CLS examinations, please see the information listed below.

Download the complete credentialing guide here (Acrobat Reader Required)

Core Curriculum in Clinical Lipidology

The National Lipid Association, in conjunction with the American Board of Clinical Lipidology (ABCL) and the Accreditation Council of Clinical Lipidology (ACCL), published a Core Curriculum in Clinical Lipidology. This curriculum identifies and defines areas of knowledge important to the delivery of quality care and serves as a basis for the content of the certification examinations in Clinical Lipidology. The core curriculum is comprised of the information deemed as the most relevant clinical information for a practicing lipid specialist or lipidologist.

Download the Core Curriculum here.

Continuing Education

The National Lipid Association (NLA) offers a lifelong learning program that paves the way for professional development and recognition of the distinct and specialized knowledge required of clinical lipidologists. Lipidology is an evolving field that requires clinicians to stay abreast of the latest clinical research and treatment guidelines and to apply this knowledge in practice. The NLA has developed educational activities at all levels of competency and provides continuous clinical updates, opportunities for self-assessment and practice improvement. Please visit www.lipid.org/education to find out more information about these continuing education activities.

Related organizations such as the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA) also offer lipid and preventive cardiology educational programs and resources that you may find helpful.

Lipid Management Training Course

This intermediate level 1.5-day course will present a comprehensive indoctrination to clinical lipidology and will provide essential information and resource materials for the systematic management of dyslipidemia in a lipid clinic program. This course will provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to work effectively in lipid practice, and will serve as a preparatory course for more advanced lipid education and training courses.

The Lipid Management Training Course is recommended training for the ACCL's Basic Competency in Clinical Lipidology exam, and the first step in training for the Clinical Lipid Specialist (CLS) examination.

Masters in Lipidology Advanced Training Course

This intensive 2-day course is offered by the NLA to those health professionals seeking an in-depth, advanced review of the Lipidology field and provides preparation for certification in clinical Lipidology.

For those candidates with significant experience in lipid management, the Masters in Lipidology advanced course would be suitable preparation for the CLS exam. For those who are newer to the field, participation first in the LMTC and then the Masters course would be suggested. The CE credit hours earned from participating in these activities will help you to meet the CLS credentialing criteria.

Complete Certification Preparation – The NLA Self-Assessment Program, Ed. 2

The NLA Self-Assessment Program (NLA-SAP) is a comprehensive, interactive clinical problem-solving program that objectively validates, strengthens and reinforces your knowledge of clinical lipidology. The NLA-SAP is comprised of 4 Volumes (listed below) that serve as comprehensive preparation for the physician and allied health certification programs. Each Volume of the NLA Self-Assessment Program allows you to perform a diagnostic self-assessment of your strengths and weaknesses in important aspects of the knowledge base underlying the Clinical Lipidology Core Curriculum topic areas. In addition, each volume of the NLA-SAP provides between 35-40 hours of CME/CE credit that will count toward credentialing for the certifying exams.

The ACCL recommends that those professionals preparing for the Clinical Lipid Specialist exam complete the National Lipid Association Self-Assessment Program (NLA-SAP), Volumes 1, 2, and 3 (Volume IV - Vascular Biology is optional).

The ACCL recommends that those professionals preparing for the Basic Competency (BCCL) exam complete the National Lipid Association Self-Assessment Program (NLA-SAP), Volume 1.

All SAPs can be ordered online at www.lipid.org/sap

Topic Specific Assessment Modules – The Complex Lipid Management SAP Series

The Complex Lipid Management Self-Assessment Program (CLM-SAP) series provides focused clinical updates on specific topics in clinical Lipidology. Each CLM-SAP offers between 5-6 CME/CE credit hours and are made available online to all active NLA members free of charge. Please visit www.lipid.org/education for more information.

Textbooks

There are a number of textbooks and handbooks now available in clinical Lipidology. A list is provided on www.lipid.org on the "Bookshelf" page (found at www.lipid.org/bookshelf). Many of these textbooks, such as Therapeutic Lipidology, are available to NLA members at a significant discount off the publisher's price.