International certification is now within reach! BCIA is now the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance
About BCIA
The Biofeedback Certification Institute of America (BCIA) was created in 1981 with the primary mission to certify individuals who meet education and training standards in biofeedback and progressively re-certify those who advance their knowledge through continuing education. To reflect our global identity, the new name - Biofeedback Certification International Alliance - was adopted in March, 2010.
BCIA is an autonomous nonprofit corporation. BCIA policies and procedures are set by an independent board of directors, comprised of a rotating group of distinguished biofeedback clinicians, researchers, and educators.
Board certification is the mark of distinction for providers of bio and neurofeedback services. Certification is valid for four years for providers who carry the credential in Biofeedback and Neurofeedback, and three years for those who are certified in Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction Biofeedback. Recertification indicates continuous peer review of ethical practice and the acquisition of advanced knowledge of recent developments in the field through required continuing education. Names of certified practitioners may be found on the BCIA Web site in our Find a Practitioner search function.
Board certification establishes that the individual has met entry-level requirements for the clinical practice of biofeedback; however, BCIA certification is not a substitute for a state sanctioned license or other credential to practice one's profession. Candidates for certification who do not hold a professional license or its equivalent must stipulate that they practice under the supervision of a licensed provider when treating a medical or psychological disorder.
What is Certification?
Professional certification is the voluntary process by which a non-governmental entity grants a time-limited recognition to an individual after verifying that predetermined and standardized criteria have been met. Because biofeedback is an unregulated field, certification is crucial for providing standards of care. To be viable as a professional service, standards of competence and clinical practice must be defined and measured. Since 1981, BCIA has taken on this task. Through the BCIA recertification program, each certificant is held accountable to a code of ethics, obtains specified continuing education, and maintains proper credentialing appropriate for clinical practice.
To become a Board certified practitioner, one must:
- hold an appropriate degree in a BCIA approved clinical health care field • meet strict didactic education and clinical training requirements • pass a written certification exam
- adhere to an ethical code of conduct which states that when working with a medical or psychological disorder, unlicensed providers must work under the supervision of an appropriately credentialed provider.
Recognition
- The American Psychological Association (APA) has recognized biofeedback as a
proficiency in professional psychology because of the petition filed with them by BCIA.
- BCIA certification is recognized as the standard in the field by The Association for Applied Psychophysiology & Biofeedback (AAPB) and The International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR), the premier biofeedback and neurofeedback membership associations.
- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the private insurance industry have each determined criteria for recognition and reimbursement pertaining to biofeedback interventions.
- The American Medical Association has revised and assigned specific CPT codes to be utilized for biofeedback clinical intervention.
- BCIA is a member of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, formerly the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA).
For further information visit: www.bcia.org |
