This guide explains how CRNA programs can get started with the
Common Clinical Assessment Tool (CCAT) in Exxat Prism.
It covers the training and authorization requirements that programs
must complete before requesting CCAT activation, along with
what to expect during the activation process.
The guide also walks clinical preceptors through
accessing, completing, and submitting CCAT evaluations.
It is intended for
CRNA Program Directors, Program Administrators, and clinical preceptors
who are preparing to use CCAT in Exxat Prism.
Overview
The Common Clinical Assessment Tool (CCAT) is a standardized assessment used by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) programs to evaluate students’ clinical performance.
The assessment is organized into domains and competencies, with progression indicators that help preceptors evaluate students’ development throughout their clinical education.
Exxat Prism supports this process by allowing preceptors to complete and submit CCAT evaluations online.
Before a program can begin using CCAT in Exxat Prism, a designated program representative must complete the required training provided by the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA).
The program must then receive authorization from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).
Once the required authorization is received, Exxat can activate CCAT for the program.
CCAT Activation in Exxat Prism
To request CCAT activation, your program will need to complete the required training and obtain authorization from the COA.
A program representative, preferably the Program Director, should complete the training and coordinate the authorization process.
Individual preceptors do not need to complete the AANA training module. However, the trained program representative is responsible for ensuring that preceptors receive appropriate training before they begin completing evaluations.
Complete the Required CCAT Training
The first step is to complete the CCAT training provided by AANA through its CRNA Education Edge learning platform.
The training introduces the standardized assessment and prepares the program representative to support its use.
Open the AANA CRNA Education Edge learning portal.
Sign in using your AANA credentials, if required.
Locate the training titled The Common Clinical Assessment Tool (CCAT): Exxat Users.
Complete the training module.
Obtain your training completion certificate.
You can find the Exxat-specific course in the AANA Educator Edge course catalog.
Note:
Make sure you select the training intended for Exxat users, as AANA also
provides CCAT training for other assessment platforms.
Once you have completed the training, keep a copy of your certificate. You will need it for the next step.
Submit Your Training Certificate to the COA
After completing the AANA training, the program representative must submit the completion certificate to the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).
The COA reviews the training completion information and provides the authorization required for CCAT activation in Exxat Prism.
For information about the COA and its accreditation requirements, refer to the following resources:
Council on Accreditation (COA): https://www.coacrna.org
COA Accreditation Standards, Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines: https://www.coacrna.org/accreditation/accreditation-standards-policies-and-procedures-and-guidelines/
If you need assistance with the authorization process, contact the COA at accreditation@coacrna.org.
Once your program’s training has been verified and activation has been authorized, the COA can initiate the activation request with Exxat.
Request CCAT Activation in Exxat Prism
Following authorization, the COA sends the activation request to Exxat at: configuration@exxat.com
The request should include the university and CRNA program name, training completion certificate, written COA authorization, and the program administrator’s contact information, if available.
If your program has not yet completed the required training or received authorization, you can still contact Exxat for guidance.
The team can help you understand the requirements and direct you to the appropriate resources.
Important: CCAT cannot be activated in Exxat Prism until Exxat receives the required authorization from the COA.
Exxat Activates CCAT for Your Program
Once Exxat receives the authorization, the team will review the request and confirm that the necessary information is available.
Exxat will then activate the standardized CCAT form for your program and verify that it is available and functioning as expected.
No technical configuration is required from your program during this process.
After activation is complete, Exxat will notify your program contact.
Your program can then proceed with making CCAT available for student evaluations.
Note:
CCAT is a standardized assessment and cannot be customized. Programs that previously used customized CCAT forms should not assume that historical evaluation data can be transferred to the standardized form.
Prepare to Use CCAT
After receiving activation confirmation, your program can begin preparing to use CCAT for clinical evaluations.
Before preceptors begin completing evaluations, the trained program representative should ensure that they understand the assessment structure, progression indicators, and expectations for providing feedback.
For guidance on managing forms and evaluations in Exxat Prism, refer to: Managing Course Activities: Activating Forms and Evaluations
Once your program is ready, students can initiate CCAT evaluations for their preceptors to complete.
Completing a CCAT Evaluation in Exxat Prism
As a clinical preceptor, you will complete the CCAT evaluation using a secure link provided through Exxat Prism.
You will need an active internet connection and a current web browser, such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, or Firefox.
Exxat Prism is browser-based, so you do not need to install any software.
A desktop or laptop is recommended for the best experience, although you can also access the evaluation link using a mobile phone.
Access Your CCAT Evaluation
When a student initiates a CCAT evaluation, you will receive an email from the school containing a link to the assessment.
Open the email and select the evaluation link to access the form in Exxat Prism.
If you have not received the link, contact the student or the program and ask them to send it to you.
Note:
The student is automatically associated with the evaluation when they initiate the form. You do not need to search for or manually select the student’s name.
Open the Evaluation Form
After accessing the evaluation link, locate the assessment marked Pending Preceptor Review.
Select this status to open the form.
Review the assessment domains, competencies, and available progression indicators before entering your ratings.
The evaluation also displays the date you started the assessment and the submission date, if applicable.
The school determines the evaluation timeline, while the program controls how long the evaluation link remains valid.
Review the Domains and Competencies
The CCAT evaluation is organized into domains that represent different areas of clinical performance.
Each domain includes a description and a set of competencies to help you assess the student’s progress.
Review each competency carefully and consider the student’s demonstrated performance before selecting a rating.
The available progression indicators help you identify the level of performance that best reflects your assessment.
A response is required for every competency.
Understanding Available Progression Indicators
Not every progression indicator is available for every competency.
Some indicators are intentionally greyed out and cannot be selected.
For example, the first competency in Domain 3 includes the following available options:
N/A
Safety Concern
Competent
Proficient
For this competency, the Novice and Advanced Beginner indicators are unavailable. This is expected behavior. Select the most appropriate rating from the available options.
Complete the Competency Ratings
Work through each domain and select the progression indicator that best represents the student’s performance for each competency.
As you complete the assessment, take time to review the available indicators and ensure that your selections reflect the student’s observed clinical performance.
Continue until every competency has been rated.
If you identify a safety concern while evaluating a competency, additional information will be required.
Document Any Safety Concerns
If you select Safety Concern for a competency, you must provide an explanation in the Preceptor Comments box at the bottom of the relevant domain.
Use this space to describe the specific behavior you observed and provide any context that may help the program understand and follow up on the concern.
For example, your comments may explain what occurred during the clinical experience and why the behavior raised a safety concern.
Be specific and focus on the student’s observed performance.
Important:
When Safety Concern is selected, the corresponding comment is required. You will not be able to proceed with completing the evaluation until the explanation has been entered.
Add Preceptor Comments
In addition to selecting competency ratings, you can provide written feedback to help the student and program better understand your assessment.
The CCAT form includes two areas for comments.
Domain-Level Comments
A Preceptor Comments box is available after each domain.
You can use this space to provide feedback about the student’s performance within that domain.
Comments are required whenever you select Safety Concern for a competency in the domain.
General Comments
A separate comment box is available at the end of the evaluation.
This section allows you to provide broader feedback about the student’s overall clinical performance.
Use it to share observations that may not relate to a single competency or domain.
Once you have completed your ratings and comments, review the evaluation before submitting it.
Review and Submit the Evaluation
Before submitting, review your responses to ensure that the evaluation accurately reflects the student’s clinical performance.
Check that every competency has been rated and that your comments are clear and complete.
If you selected Safety Concern for any competency, confirm that you have included the required explanation in the corresponding domain.
When you are satisfied with your evaluation, select Submit in the upper-right corner of the form.
After submission, Exxat Prism automatically notifies the student and program administrator. The program also receives a copy of your evaluation results.
Important:
If you discover an error after submitting the evaluation, contact the program directly for assistance.
Expected Result
After successfully submitting the CCAT evaluation, your responses are available to the program, and the student and program administrator are notified.
Your evaluation provides feedback that helps the program monitor the student’s clinical development and progression toward entry into practice.
Troubleshooting
| # | Issue | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Our program cannot access CCAT in Exxat Prism. | Confirm that the required AANA training has been completed and that COA authorization has been sent to Exxat. Contact configuration@exxat.com for activation-related assistance. |
| 2 | I have not received my evaluation link. | Contact the student or program and request that the evaluation link be sent to you. |
| 3 | I cannot select a particular progression indicator. | Some progression indicators are intentionally unavailable for certain competencies. Select from the available options. |
| 4 | I cannot proceed after selecting Safety Concern. | Enter an explanation in the Preceptor Comments box for the relevant domain. |
| 5 | I submitted an evaluation with incorrect information. | Contact your program directly for assistance. |
| 6 | I need help completing the evaluation in Exxat Prism. | Contact Exxat Support at prism-support@exxat.com. |
Frequently Asked Questions
After completing the training, the representative must submit the completion certificate to the Council on Accreditation (COA). CCAT can be activated in Exxat Prism once the COA provides the required authorization.
You can access the training through the AANA CRNA Education Edge Course Catalog.
A designated program representative must complete the training and is responsible for ensuring that preceptors receive appropriate guidance before they begin using CCAT.
However, CCAT activation requires authorization from the Council on Accreditation (COA). Once your program completes the required training and receives approval, the COA sends the activation request to Exxat.
Exxat will then activate the standardized CCAT form for your program and notify you once it is available.
The form must remain consistent with the approved assessment structure, including its domains, competencies, and progression indicators.
However, a desktop or laptop is recommended for the best experience.
Exxat Prism is browser-based, so no software installation is required. Make sure you have an active internet connection and use a current version of Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox.
Once you receive the evaluation link, open it and select Pending Preceptor Review to access the assessment. You can then begin reviewing the domains and completing the competency ratings without manually selecting the student.
If you select Safety Concern for a competency, you must provide an explanation in the Preceptor Comments box for the corresponding domain.
You can also provide additional feedback in the domain-level comment boxes or the general comments section at the end of the evaluation.
The program also receives a copy of your evaluation results, which can be used to review the student's clinical performance and progression.
Note: If you discover an error after submitting the evaluation, contact your program directly for assistance.
Additional Resources and Support
The following resources provide further information about CCAT training, accreditation, and using Exxat Prism.
| Resource | Reference |
|---|---|
| AANA CCAT Training for Exxat Users | AANA Educator Edge Course Catalog |
| AANA CRNA Education Edge | AANA Learning Portal |
| Council on Accreditation | COA Official Website |
| COA Accreditation Standards | Accreditation Standards and Guidelines |
| Exxat Prism Forms and Evaluations | Managing Course Activities |
For assistance with CCAT activation, contact configuration@exxat.com .
For assistance with completing CCAT evaluations in Exxat Prism, contact prism-support@exxat.com
Exxat Support is available 24/7.
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