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 and offers certification programs in Biofeedback, Neurofeedback (also called EEG biofeedback), HRV Biofeedback, and Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction Biofeedback. 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. Additionally, BCIA offers a certificate of completion in Heart Rate Variability.
BCIA has trademarked three terms that certificants should use on their business cards, conference name badges, directory listings, PowerPoint presentations, speaker listings, and websites where allowed.
BCB designates Board Certified in Biofeedback.
BCN designates Board Certified in Neurofeedback.
BCB-PMD designates Board Certified in Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction Biofeedback.
Those who complete the full certification in HRV Biofeedback can use the BCB-HRV, which designates Board Certified in Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback; however, we have not yet completed the trademark process.
To become a BCIA 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 the BCIA Professional Standards and Ethical Conduct which states that when working with a medical or psychological disorder, unlicensed providers must work under the supervision of an appropriately-credentialed provider.