IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 7 January 2014 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130016468 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests she receive Non-Physician Board Certification Pay (NPBCP) for the period 1 October 2010 to 30 September 2012. 2. The applicant states: * she is a family nurse practitioner in the Army * she went for her first renewal in September 2010 * she turned in her forms to her unit personnel office * she was not aware that she had to take her certification renewal to finance * there has not been a break in her Family Nurse Practitioner Certification * she was not aware of the complete process nor was she informed * she failed to review her leave and earnings statement and did not notice the drop until she had to produce a hardcopy for transportation 3. The applicant provides: * American Academy of Nurse Practitioners certification history * American Association of Nurse Practitioners certificate of membership CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant was commissioned as a Reserve officer on 9 May 1997 and she was promoted to major effective 1 August 2007. She is currently on active duty in the Army Nurse Corps assigned to Fort Jackson, SC. 2. She provides documentation which shows she is board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners in Family Nurse Practitioner. The period of certification is effective 1 October 2005 to 1 October 2015. 3. In the processing of this case an advisory opinion was obtained from the Chief of the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Special Pay Branch of the Office of The Surgeon General (OTSG). The advisory official states: a. requests for NPBCP are initiated by the officer through their supporting Human Resources office. A review of supporting documentation and available special pay and finance data indicates officers NPBCP stopped for the period 1 October 2010 to 30 September 2012. There is no record of submission, authorization, or payment of NPBCP during that period. b. the applicant is eligible to receive NPBCP for the 24-month period 1 October 2010 to 30 September 2012. Utilize a Health Professions Pay Entry Date or finance MS-Pay-Date of 1 October 2005 for the correct pay rate level. The retroactive payment for this total period is approximately $4,000.00 prior to withholding, exact payment to be determined by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). 4. On 24 October 2013, the advisory opinion was furnished to the applicant for comment. She did not respond. 5. The OTSG has published policies and procedures for entitlement to board certification pay for non-physician health care providers, known as NPBCP. This pay is authorized for personnel who are not physicians but who are care givers such as psychologists, dieticians, physical and occupational therapists, podiatrists and nurse practitioners. The annual rate of pay ranges from $2000 for 10 to 12 years of service to $5000 for over 18 years of service as a health professional. The authority to grant award of NPBCP to nurse practitioners is based on completion of a post Baccalaureate Degree, proof of board certification and evidence of a privilege to practice. The OTSG policies and procedures require that NPBCP cannot be awarded prior to the date the individual received privilege to practice. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The advisory official points out the applicant did not receive NPBCP for the period 1 October 2010 to 30 September 2012 and indicates she is eligible to receive NPBCP for the 24-month period, utilizing a Health Professions Pay Entry Date or finance MS-Pay-Date of 1 October 2005, for the correct pay rate level. 2. Based on the foregoing, it would equitable to correct the applicant's military record to show she was authorized to receive NPBCP for the period 1 October 2010 to 30 September 2012, utilizing a Health Professions Pay Entry Date or finance MS-Pay-Date of 1 October 2005, for the correct pay rate level. BOARD VOTE: ____X____ ____X____ ___X_____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. showing she applied for NPBCP to be effective 1 October 2010 and that her request was approved in a timely manner; and b. paying her NCBCP for the period 1 October 2010 through 30 September 2012, utilizing a Health Professions Pay Entry Date or finance MS-Pay-Date of 1 October 2005, for the correct pay rate level, as a result of this correction. _______ _ __X_____ ___ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130016468 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130016468 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1