Welcome
to the ACBIS Website
The Academy of Certified Brain
Injury Specialists (ACBIS) offers a voluntary
national certification program for both entry-level
staff and experienced professionals working in
brain injury services. ACBIS provides staff and
professionals the opportunity to learn important
information about brain injury, to demonstrate
their learning in a written examination, and to
earn a nationally recognized credential.
ACBIS
offers two certification options representing
distinct levels of experience and supervisory
skills: Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS)
and Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer* (CBIST). Certification
is based on a comprehensive training manual that
covers the following topics:
- Incidence
and epidemiology of brain injury
- Continuum
of services
- Brain anatomy
and brain-behavior relationships
- Functional
impact of brain injury
- Effective
treatment approaches
- Children and
adolescents with brain injury
- Health and
medical management
- Family issues
- Legal and
ethical issues
Certification
is not restricted to any one profession or discipline.
Rather, it is intended for anyone who delivers
services specific to brain injury. Please read Certification Disclaimer.
*Previously
known as Clinical Examiner and, most recently,
ACBIS Trainer.
ACBIS
is a Standing Committee of the Board of Directors
of the Brain Injury Association of America.
ACBIS
Announcements:
IMPORTANT - Please Read
The online applications for Certified Brain Injury Specialist and Specialist Trainer are complete.
- The paper application processes have been superseded by online forms. For further information, see tabs on the left marked CBIS, CBIST, and Renewal Process.
- The ACBIS Committee has updated its Code of Ethics. The detailed version is available here and the brief version is available here.
- Please note that when purchased with an ACBIS application, The Essential Brain Injury Guide is discounted to $40.00 plus $6.00 s/h.
Upcoming Strauss, Rosenthal and Family/Caregiver Lectures:
Please visit the Upcoming Webinars section of the BIAA bookstore for information on upcoming lectures. This information can be found here.
All
Certificants:
-
New Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainers and formerly certified Clinical Examiners and Clinical Instructors are required to attend ONE training teleconference.
2010 dates for the CBIST Teleconference will be January 20, April 21, July 21 and October 20. If you are already a CBIST and would like to attend one of these, please register by emailing Jessica Kerney at acbis@biausa.org. If you are applying for CBIST status, you will be personally contacted to confirm attendance upon your approval.
- Incomplete
applications will be maintained for up to
one year. After one year, the application
will become null and void and the applicant
will need to reapply. Applicants who have
submitted completed applications but have
not taken the certification exam within
one year will need to reapply after one
year.
- Please update your contact information by
sending an email to acbis@biausa.org.
Be sure to include your email address so
that you can receive regular updates and
announcements via email.
- Complete
the Certificant Survey by clicking on the
survey button in the main menu. It will
just take a few minutes to answer questions
regarding the benefits of the ACBIS program.
A listing of Certified Brain Injury Specialists and Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainers as of July 2, 2010, is found here.
Certification
Updates
(Please click on the
buttons on the main menu to view more detailed information)
- There are
new continuing education requirements and
annual renewal fees for CBIS and CBIST to
maintain certification. Annual certification
renewal fees are now $50.
- New training materials are available for CBISTs who have attended an orientation session (in conjunction with the CBIST teleconferences, schedule posted above).
- Group Administrator
Guidelines are now available. These guidelines
will assist group administrators in facilitating
the certification process and arranging
training for their group members.
- New variable
group rates and annual renewal fees are
in effect as of December 2008.
Important
Policies Regarding Current Certificants:
- Staff of state affiliates of the Brain Injury Association of America may contact Jessica Kerney at acbis@biausa.org or 703-761-0750 x631 for information about certification.
- CBIS candidates
who started the process under the previous
guidelines will now follow the new protocol (read the new manual and take the new test).
- Renewal is annual, and the renewal form is found here.
- Current
CI/CE who attend the CBIST training receive
a certificate with the new designation.
Certificants use the date on their original
CI/CE certificate as their recertification
date. Certificants then follow the procedures
stated above.
Questions
regarding the previous guidelines, revised guidelines
and/or cost model? Contact Jessica Kerney at acbis@biausa.org.
Brain Injury Association of America/ACBIS
1608 Spring Hill Road, Suite 110
Vienna, VA 22182
703-761-0750 – Phone
703-761-0755 – Fax
This page was last updated December 16, 2009.
© 2005, Brain Injury Association of America
