BICC Policies
Special Accommodations
Reasonable accommodations provide candidates with disabilities a fair and equal opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skill in the essential functions being measured by the examination. BICC provides accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Accommodations are generally provided for candidates who:
have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits that person in one or more major life activities (e.g., walking, talking, hearing, performing manual tasks)
have a record of such physical or mental impairment
are regarded as having a physical or mental impairment
To apply for accommodation(s), the candidate must:
Complete the Special Accommodation Request Form in Section 9 of this handbook.
Submit documentation provided by an appropriate licensed professional on the professional’s letterhead to the BICC which includes a diagnosis of the disability and specific recommendations for accommodations.
Submit the form and required documentation at least 3 weeks prior to the testing date.
Applicants who request testing accommodations should be contacted within two weeks of the exam date to verify that appropriate accommodations will be made at the designated testing site. Responsibility to verify with BICC that accommodations have been made rests with the applicant.
Aggregate Data
Aggregate exam statistics (including the number of exam candidates, pass/fail rates, and total number of certificants) will be publicly available and updated annually. Aggregate exam statistics, studies, and reports concerning applicants/certificants will contain no information identifiable with any applicant/certificant.
Confidentially
BICC is committed to protecting confidential and/or proprietary information related to applicants; candidates; certificants; and the examination development, maintenance, and administration process.
Information about an applicant/candidate/certificant will only be released to that individual unless release of the information is authorized in writing by the individual or is required by law. An individual’s application status, test scores, and personal information submitted with an application for certification or recertification, including results of any background check, is considered confidential. All application information is confidential and will not be shared with any party other than BICC’s examination development or administration vendors for certification processing purposes.
Use of the Certification Mark
After receiving notification of BCAT or BCAP designation, the credential may be used as long as certification remains valid and in good standing. Individuals may not use the BCAT or BCAP credential until they have received specific written notification that they have successfully completed all requirements, including passing the exam. Certificants must comply with all recertification requirements to maintain use of the credential.
Proper Use of Credentials
After meeting all eligibility requirements and passing the examination, individuals may use their BCAT credential in all correspondence and professional relations. The credential is typically used after the certificant’s name following any academic degrees and licensure (e.g. Mary Smith, BCAT or Mary Smith, MS, BCAT). The certification mark(s) may be used only as long as certification is valid.
Reconsideration Requests
An applicant whose eligibility for initial certification or recertification has been denied may request reconsideration of the decision.
The request for reconsideration must be submitted in writing to helpdesk@behavioralcertification.org. The request should state the reasons the applicant believes he or she is eligible for certification/recertification and how he/she complies with the published requirements.
Reconsideration Review Process
Initial Review
The executive director will review the request and make a determination within 15 days. If the issue can be resolved at the staff level, the executive director will make a determination and will notify the BICC of the result.
Review by the Reconsideration Committee
If the issue cannot be resolved by the executive director, he/she may refer the request to the BICC president. The candidate can also refer the request to the BICC president if the candidate can provide information and/or documentation that was not available previously to the executive director. The Reconsideration Committee will review the request and make a determination within 30 days. The decision made by the committee will be final. The candidate will be notified of the decision within 14 days of the committee’s decision. The committee may review eligibility and recertification requests for reconsideration and make determinations via teleconference meetings, via email, or other means as the committee deems appropriate, as long as all committee members have the opportunity to participate in the review and decision
Reconsideration Committee
When a request for reconsideration is referred to the BICC president, the president will appoint a Reconsideration Committee within 30 days to review the request. The Reconsideration Committee may be a sub-committee of the BICC and may be appointed as an ad-hoc or standing committee.
Statement of Nondiscrimination
BICC does not discriminate against any candidate for certification on the basis of race, color, creed, age, gender, national origin, religion, disability, marital status, parental status, ancestry, sexual orientation, military discharge status, or source of income. All candidates for certification will be judged solely on the published eligibility criteria determined by BICC.
Verification of Certification
An individuals’ certification status is not considered confidential. BICC will provide confirmation of certification status to anyone who requests the information by contacting the executive director, and verification will be accessible via the Internet. Verification of certification status will include the individual’s name, current certification status and credential(s) held, and – if authorized by the certificant – the city and state where the certificant resides and whether the certificant can be contacted via email, which the certificant may voluntarily provide.
The names of BICC certified individuals and their certification status are not considered confidential and may be published by the BICC.
The executive director maintains a database of all active applicants and certificants.
BICC may publish a list of individuals who have earned the BCAT credential.