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, including course work in human or neuroanatomy/physiology, 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 legal supervision of an appropriately-credentialed provider