ACBIS - CBIS

Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS)

The Brain Injury Association of America, through its cooperative agreement with Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams and Wilkins (LWW), is pleased to provide, to each new ACBIS certificant who has applied under the fee structure established December 1, 2008, a one-year subscription to the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. This reflects a commitment to ensuring that Certified Brain Injury Specialists have access to the latest brain injury research, treatment and practice information.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Applicants must have worked or have had direct contact with one or more individuals with a brain injury, 10 hours per week (25% of a 40 hour work week) for a minimum of 12 months. Part-time employment must accomplish the same amount of required contact time within a two-year period.

2. Experience can be paid employment and/or academic internship.

3. The qualifying experience must have included formal supervision or have been conducted while the applicant operated under a professional license. Volunteer work does not qualify.

4. The qualifying experience must have been obtained within the three years prior to the application.

5. Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Applications

The application form is now online, here. In addition to completing the online form, applicants must submit a copy of the employment verification form, signed by a supervisor, and a detailed resume to the ACBIS coordinator at the office of the Brain Injury Association of America (see address below).

Completing the form requires choosing between paying the application fee online with a credit card or paying with a check. Payment by credit card will direct the applicant to the Brain Injury Association of America Marketplace (a secure site); payment by check will generate a statement to accompany the payment.

Please note: Applicants should read the eligibility requirements carefully; application fees are non-refundable.

Instructions for group applications are found at the Administrators tab (on the left-hand side of this screen).

Training

Official ACBIS training is provided by Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainers (CBIST) and is offered at many BIAA state affiliate conferences and events as well as at many service providers across the country. Contact the ACBIS office to find a training site in your area or to arrange for a training to occur at your own facility.

Certification Examination

Candidates must pass (80% or higher) a national written certification examination. This exam is based on The Essential Brain Injury Guide and can only be taken after all forms and fees have been submitted and processed. Applicants who have completed the training or self-study and are ready to take the National Written Examination must contact the ACBIS office. Many of our state affiliates offer ACBIS training and testing. Please contact your state affiliate for more information. The exam can also be offered to individuals as long as a CBIST or other approved individual proctors the exam. For those unable to take the exam at a test center, arrangements can be made for a proctored test. To arrange for individual testing, call ACBIS at (703) 761-0750 or e-mail your request to acbis@biausa.org. Please note: The certification fee does not include any expenses associated with proctoring an individually administered exam. The applicant is responsible for these costs.

Notification of Exam Score: Candidates will receive written notification of their exam score within 30 days after the test is received. Information about individual candidates and examination results will not be released to any party other than candidates, group administrators, or ACBIS board members. Candidate's scores are NOT released to anyone, including the candidate, by telephone.

Retakes: Candidates who do not pass the National Written Examination on the first administration may take one retest within one year of the initial application date at no additional charge. An applicant who does not pass after two attempts is welcome to reapply after one year from the original application date.

Application Process

All Applicants must submit a completed application and payment to the ACBIS office. The application includes an online application form, employment verification form, and a resume or CV. If you are applying as part of a group, submit your employment verification form and resume or CV to your Group Administrator immediately following entering your application online.

Accepted employment: See requirements listed above. All employment must be verified on the Employee Verification Form and must include a job title and description. If it has been more than six months since the initial application was submitted, the applicant must provide an updated Employment Verification Form.

An ACBIS representative reviews each file and, in some cases, contacts employers to assure that the applicant meets the established eligibility requirements.

Send applications and forms when completed to:

ACBIS
c/o Brain Injury Association of America

1608 Spring Hill Road, Suite 110

Vienna, VA 22182

703-761-0750
FAX: 703-761-0755
Email: acbis@biausa.org

The candidate's contact information that is provided on the application is used for all future correspondence. The candidate must notify ACBIS of changes in name and/or contact information.