Applicants Start Here for Biofeedback and Neurofeedback Certification

This tutorial will help you decide which BCIA certification is right for you in three steps:
Step 1: select your biofeedback area (Biofeedback, Neurofeedback, or Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction Biofeedback)
Step 2: select your program (Certification or Technician)
Step 3: select your level of experience (Entry Level or Certification By Prior Experience)

Step 1: Select Your Biofeedback Area

BCIA offers certification in Biofeedback, Neurofeedback, and Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction Biofeedback.

Biofeedback teaches clients to change their physiological activity to improve health and performance by displaying it to them. Applicants who are certified in biofeedback may use breathing, heart rate, muscle, sweat gland, and temperature biofeedback in their practice.
 

For specific biofeedback certification information, please refer to our brochure.

Neurofeedback trains clients using brainwave biofeedback. This process may involve quantitative EEG, which measures electrical patterns at the surface of the scalp through the use of digital technology which primarily reflect cortical electrical activity. Applicants who are certified in neurofeedback may use brainwave biofeedback in their practice.

For specific neurofeedback certification information, please refer to our brochure.

Pelvic muscle dysfunction biofeedback utilizes EMG, pressure, and urodynamic sensors to treat diverse disorders like fecal and urinary continence and pelvic pain.

For specific Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction Biofeedback certification information, please refer to our brochure.

Step 2: Select Your Certification Program

BCIA offers Certification and Technician certifications.

Certification is designed for professionals who work in a health care area, have at least a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited institution in a BCIA-approved area, and plan to treat medical or psychological disorders under their own license or appropriate legal supervision.  This supervisor should have training and experience with biofeedback and/or neurofeedback, and clinical experience with the populations and disorders being treated.  BCIA offers clinical certification in biofeedback, neurofeedback, and pelvic muscle dysfunction biofeedback.

Technician certification is designed for individuals who already have a job and an appropriately BCIA-certified, licensed supervisor who will guide and take responsibility for their work in accordance with state law. These individuals will not provide services outside of their supervisors' scope of practice. BCIA offers technician certification for biofeedback, neurofeedback, and  pelvic muscle dysfunction biofeedback within the United States and Canada.

Step 3: Select Your Level of Experience

BCIA recognizes two levels of biofeedback experience: Entry-Level Certification and Certification by Prior Experience (CPE).

Entry-Level Certification is intended for individuals who want to add biofeedback and/or neurofeedback skills to their toolbox or the person with some basic training and experience in the field who has elected to follow the standards of education and training to gain board certification.

All entry-level certification programs are based on the following requirements:

1. Human anatomy, physiology, human biology, or neuroanatomy course work as appropriate for the program
2. Didactic training which refers to the standard teaching of the science, history, and theory of the field as outlined in our blueprints and is specific to the program of interest
3. Mentoring or working with another clinician to learn the application of clinical skills
4. Successful completion of the appropriate certification exam

Each program has a page entitled Overview to give you further specific information on each program.  The following are links to that specific page: Biofeedback, Neurofeedback, and Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction Biofeedback.

Certification by Prior Experience (CPE) is reserved for a select group of licensed professionals who can demonstrate extensive education and experience and have been leaders through their various contributions to the field. We recognize that these professionals have training that goes beyond entry level and should be expected to fulfill requirements that go far beyond our traditional certification process.

The requirements are:

1. current license/credential in a BCIA-approved health care field issued by the state in which you practice
2. an advanced amount of accredited post-professional education that covered the original didactic training based on the appropriate blueprint as well as many other hours in blueprint-relevant topic
3. human anatomy/physiology/neuroanatomy course or its equivalent from a regionally-accredited university or a BCIA-accredited program
4. contact hours of mentoring with another professional when you first added this modality to your practice
5. an advanced number of patient hours over at least 5 years using the modality in a clinical setting
6. Statement of clinical practice that describes your clinical work
7. 3 letters of recommendation that have reviewed your statement and agree with that summary of your work
8. completion of the written certification exam with no expected pass score for validation purposes

Each program has a page entitled Overview to give you further specific information on each program.  The following are links to that specific page:  Biofeedback, Neurofeedback, and Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction Biofeedback.

How to Navigate Through This Menu

By this point, you may have selected your biofeedback area, your certification program, and your level of experience. When you are ready, you can quickly navigate through this Become Board Certified menu by choosing a biofeedback area and then a certification program within that area. Then, you can learn about valuable resources (Didactic Training and Mentoring) and start your application (Common Documents). We encourage you to join an elite group of professionals who are "More the qualified, BCIA Board certified!"