Maintaining Certification
BCAT certificants are required to re-certify every 2 years
- Earning twelve hours of continuing education credits (at least 3 credits must be ethics-related topics)
- Signing the Code of Conduct
- Continually maintaining compliance with the rolling background check.
- Recertification includes submission of a completed recertification application and recertification fee.
- Submitting Documentation of Supervision form(s).
Why is Recertification Required?
Purpose
BICC requires the continuing professional development of its certificants to ensure that individuals who hold the BCAT credential maintain an ongoing commitment to learning, keep pace with developments in the field of behavior analysis, and strengthen their knowledge and skills. The mandatory recertification process provides certificants with the opportunity to demonstrate the retention, reinforcement, and expansion of their knowledge and skills. To support this purpose, recertification requires continuing education that enhances ongoing professional development, recognizes learning opportunities, and provides a process for both attaining and recording professional development achievements. BICC also requires the certificants re-attest to uphold the Code of Conduct and earn at least 3 of the required 12 hours of continuing education credits in topics directly related to ethics to promote compliance with principles of ethical practice, emphasize the requirements of the Code of Conduct, and enhance consumer protection and public safety.
Rationale
Professional development is accomplished by obtaining the required number of continuing education credits. Renewal by continuing education credits ensures that the individual has participated in professional development activities that are directly related to the body of knowledge for BCAT certificants as defined by the exam content outline. To ensure that certificants supplement and reinforce their knowledge in appropriate subject areas, only those continuing education activities and courses approved by BICC will accrue toward the 12 units of CE units.
The BICC acknowledges that not all sources or types of continuing education contribute equally to professional development. To maximize the quality and relevance of continuing education credits earned by certificants, the BICC Board provides a list of approved providers that have been identified as established, reputable sources for continuing education. In addition, all credits earned must be on acceptable topics and from acceptable activities as defined above. This ensures that certificants participate quality continuing education activities that are relevant to their jobs and directly tied to the examination content outline.
Certification Expiration
Certification Expiration
Certification expires on the last day of the month 2 years following the date of certification. For example, if an individual is certified on May 15, 2015, certification will expire on May 30, 2017.
Applications for recertification should be submitted at least 10 days prior to the date on which the certification expires to ensure a timely renewal.
Recertification reminder notices are issued 30 days before the recertification application deadline to the last known email address of each certificant. Certificants are responsible for notifying the BICC office of any changes in address, including email address.
Recertification is the responsibility of each BCAT certificant. BICC is not responsible for notices that fail to reach certificants.
Recertification Requirements
Continuing Education Requirements
After initial certification is obtained, continuing education hours may be accrued and used for recertification. Continuing education hours must be obtained between the date of initial certification and the date that the recertification application is submitted. Once submitted, candidates cannot obtain/add additional continuing education credits to the recertification application. The recertification decision will be based solely on the submitted information.
Documentation Required
Documentation of the continuing education activities must be completed in the Recertification Application CE Log. BCATs must retain documentation of CE activities for two years following recertification in the event they are selected for an audit. Acceptable documentation includes letters from supervisors, official transcripts and certificates of completion.
Acceptable Topics
Only continuing education activities and topics directly related to the knowledge, skill, and ability statements on the exam content outline will be accepted. At least 3 credits must be directly related to ethics.
Acceptable Activities
Continuing education credits may be earned at workshops, conferences, conventions, seminars, college/university courses, webinars, and in-service training events. Credit is also granted for professional presentations. Credit may be claimed only once for each activity. For example, a 1 hour presentation that is delivered at two different conferences can only be claimed for 1 CE credit.
Approved Continuing Education Providers
All continuing education credits from workshops, webinars, seminars, etc. must be earned from a BICC approved provider. A list of approved providers is available on the website. Certificants may seek approval for credits received from non-approved providers by contacting BICC.
Documentation of Supervision
Board Certified Autism Technicians (BCAT) require documented, ongoing supervision by a qualified health care professional (QHCP) who possesses a license and/or certification by a national entity to practice applied behavior analysis (ABA) and who is acting within the scope and competency of his/her license or certification. QHCPs who are qualified to direct BCATs include Board Certified Autism Professionals (BCAP), Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA), or Licensed Psychologists.
Each BCAT shall receive direction from a QHCP for no less than 5% of the service hours in which the BCAT implements treatment using the principles and procedures of ABA. Direction of the technician may be conducted via the Internet in accordance with all applicable privacy regulations and must include a minimum of two synchronous face-to-face contacts every month, with the supervisor observing the BCAT provide services to an individual with autism
spectrum disorder during at least one of the two contacts. Documentation of QHCP directing the technician must be maintained by the BCAT on the BCAT Documentation of Supervision form, which requires attestation by the QHCP(s). BCATs must submit all BCAT Documentation of Supervision forms when applying for renewal of their certification.
Fees
Recertification Application Review
In order to maintain the credibility and integrity of the certification process, BICC reserves the right to verify any information provided on recertification applications. Requests for verification may be made prior to recertification or at a future time. Certificants are advised to retain all recertification documentation for at least 3 years after each renewal deadline.
Recertification Application Processing
Five percent of applications for each credential offered by BICC will be selected for random audit to confirm compliance with the recertification criteria at which time BICC will require that the certificant submit the required documentation for each continuing education activity. BICC will notify certificants in writing if they are selected for audit. Notification will include the requirements for satisfying the audit. If any areas of non-compliance are identified during the review of a recertification application the individual will have 15 days to submit any required information. If the required information is not provided, the individual’s certification will expire at the end of the 15 days or on the normal expiration date (whichever comes last). If an application is selected for audit and the certificant does not respond or does not submit the requested documentation, certification will not be renewed.
In order to earn a BICC certification, candidates must complete and maintain a comprehensive, multi-layer, criminal background check and agree to ongoing monitoring. All BICC certificants are monitored by ongoing background checks that alert BICC in the event that a certificant’s status changes. The results of rolling background checks are monitored by BICC staff. Adverse changes to the background check status may affect certification status in accordance with the eligibility requirements and disciplinary policy.
Incomplete Renewal Application
An application will be considered incomplete if any of the requested information is missing or illegible or the appropriate fee is not included. Application must be complete before they are processed and approved. Incomplete applications will not be returned and application fees will not be refunded.
Recertification Acceptance
BICC will issue a recertification letter to the certificant once all renewal requirements have been met. Recertification applications will not be accepted from individual’s whose certification is in a state of suspension or has been revoked.
Failure to Recertify
If certification has been expired for 60 days or less, an individual may reinstate his/her certification by meeting all of the recertification requirements, submitting a complete recertification application, and paying the recertification fee and reinstatement fee. If the application is approved, the individual’s expiration date for the reinstated credential will be the same as if the certification had been renewed on time.
A one-time reinstatement option is available, if certification has been expired for more than 60 days. An individual must submit required documentation of supervision forms and retake and pass the exam in order to reinstate certification. Certification reinstated after 60 days will be reinstated with new dates of initial certification and certification expiration.
If certification has been expired for more than 6 months, or if the one-time reinstatement option has been previously used, certification will not be renewed, and the individual will have to re-apply for certification, meet all the eligibility criteria for initial certification, , including all training requirements, and re-take and pass the certification examination in order to reinstate certification.
Certificants who are participating in active military duty or whose personal circumstances preclude timely recertification should contact BICC and request an exception to this policy. Any exceptions will be made at the sole discretion of BICC.
BCAT certification may not be used from the date of expiration until the credential is successfully reinstated.
Changes in Contact Information
Applicants and certificants are responsible for keeping their mailing address and email address up to date and notifying BICC in writing of any changes. Your BCAT certificate and welcome kit will be sent to your mailing address. All other communication, notifications, confirmations, and reminders will be sent to your email address.