Frequently Asked Questions
Please click on a topic below to view common questions. Once you have chosen your topic simply click any question to reveal the answer.
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Please click on a topic below to view common questions. Once you have chosen your topic simply click any question to reveal the answer.
Can’t find an answer to your question? Contact us today.
A University Autism Certificate is proof that you have completed a course or group of courses. IBCCES will accept these certificates, provided they are within the last 2 years, towards the 14 CE hours needed. The CAS certification demonstrates a higher level of an ongoing commitment to autism as an additional 14 CE hours are needed every 2 years. The field of autism is frequently changing and this ongoing commitment is needed. IBCCES autism certification also recognizes that an individual works in the field of autism. A university does not recognize this real-life experience.
The BCBA is behavior specific. Many BCBA’s do work with students with autism, however, no autism training is required. The CAS is autism specific. Many BCBA’s choose to also receive their CAS to demonstrate their commitment to autism.
An ABA certification is the study of a specific type of therapy that is used for students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ABA education hours are accepted for the CAS, but IBCCES does not require professionals to be certified in ABA.
Each professional should verify the insurance coverage policy guidelines in your area prior to any service. States/countries vary. Only licensed professionals are eligible to bill insurance under law. The CAS designation is an added credential that demonstrates a level of expertise when specifically treating autism. Individuals billing as a SLP, OT, PT, BCBA, etc. should strongly consider registering as a CAS upon eligibility as further support for billing for clients with autism.
IBCCES does not specialize in insurance reimbursement regulations, however some certificate recipients have been successfully reimbursed for services with their CAS certification. Reimbursement is typically based on the insurance company you are working with, and will need to be verified through that company.
Yes, you can upgrade your credential directly in your application via the Upgrade button. Log in here to proceed. Your upgrade fee will be $200 USD and you will need to provide proof of your education level as well as pass the CAS exam. The IBCCES board will determine if you must also submit additional CE hours depending on how close you are to your renewal date. Contact IBCCES for details specific to your situation.
The CAS requires a Master’s degree unless you have a Bachelor’s degree and ten years of experience in one of the qualifying fields. You will most likely be eligible for the Autism Certificate that does not require a Master’s degree, but does require experience in the field and 14 CE hours in autism every two years. You can upgrade to the CAS designation once you have your Master’s degree and two+ years of experience. Contact IBCCES if you would like clarification on which certification best fits your needs.
You will need to provide proof of your Bachelor’s degree (copy of transcripts or degree) and provide proof of consistent employment for ten years. A supervisor or current principal is required to verify your employment.
You can review our full renewal policies here. Your renewal can be processed directly through your IBCCES online application. Along with your renewal fee ($199 every two years), you will need to provide proof of your 14 CEUs within the last two years. Please contact us if you need additional details.
Upgrading from your CAS to your ACAS is a simple process you can access directly through your application. Click here and select Complete a Started Application. Once you’re logged in to your current CAS application, you will see a button that says Upgrade to ACAS on the top of your screen. This button will allow you to process your upgrade and submit a request to our team to enroll you in the online ABA training program.
No. By upgrading through your existing application, all your information will be carried over into your advanced application.
Each professional should verify the insurance coverage policy guidelines in your area prior to any service. States/countries vary. Only licensed professionals are eligible to bill insurance under law. The ACAS designation is an added credential that demonstrates a level of expertise when specifically treating autism. Individuals billing as a SLP, OT, PT, BCBA, etc. should strongly consider registering as a ACAS upon eligibility as further support for billing for clients with autism.
IBCCES does not specialize in insurance reimbursement regulations, however some certificate recipients have been successfully reimbursed for services with their ACAS certification. Reimbursement is typically based on the insurance company you are working with, and will need to be verified through that company.
The ACAS requires a Master’s degree unless you have a Bachelor’s degree and ten years of experience in one of the qualifying fields. You will most likely be eligible for the Autism Certificate and/or the Advanced Autism Certificate that does not require a Master’s degree, but does require experience in the field and 14 CE hours in autism every two years. You can upgrade to the ACAS designation once you have your Master’s degree and two+ years of experience. Contact IBCCES if you would like clarification on which certification best fits your needs.
You will need to provide proof of your Bachelor’s degree (copy of transcripts or degree) and provide proof of consistent employment for ten years. A supervisor or current principal is required to verify your employment.
You can review our full renewal policies here. Your renewal can be processed directly through your IBCCES online application. Along with your renewal fee ($299 every two years), you will need to provide proof of your 21 CEUs with ABA focus within the last two years. Please contact us if you need additional details.
A University Autism Certificate is proof that you have completed a course or group of courses. IBCCES will accept these certificates, provided they are within the last 2 years, towards the 14 CE hours needed. The AC certification demonstrates a higher level of an ongoing commitment to autism as an additional 14 CE hours are needed every 2 years. The field of autism is frequently changing and this ongoing commitment is needed. IBCCES autism certification also recognizes that an individual works in the field of autism. A university does not recognize this real-life experience.
The AC and the RBT programs are both designed with paraprofessionals in mind, but a RBT is required to work under the guidance of a Responsible Certificant who is publicly listed in the RBT Registry though BACB. This certificant is responsible for ensuring the RBT is working under the supervision of a BACB certificant. The AC has no such requirement. The RBT is also more focused on behavioral issues, whereas the AC program is specific to autism.
Each professional should verify the insurance coverage policy guidelines in your area prior to any service. States/countries vary. Only licensed professionals are eligible to bill insurance under law. The AC designation is an added credential that demonstrates a level of expertise when specifically treating autism. Individuals billing as a SLP, OT, PT, BCBA, etc. should strongly consider registering as a AC or Cas upon eligibility as further support for billing for clients with autism.
IBCCES does not specialize in insurance reimbursement regulations, however some certificate recipients have been successfully reimbursed for services with their IBCCES certification. Reimbursement is typically based on the insurance company you are working with, and will need to be verified through that company.
Yes, the AC does not have a minimum education requirement.
You can review our full renewal policies here. Your renewal can be processed directly through your IBCCES online application. Along with your renewal fee ($149 every two years), you will need to provide proof of your 14 CEUs within the last two years. Please contact us if you need additional details.
No. By upgrading through your existing application, all your information will be carried over into your advanced application.
Each professional should verify the insurance coverage policy guidelines in your area prior to any service. States/countries vary. Only licensed professionals are eligible to bill insurance under law. The AAC designation is an added credential that demonstrates a level of expertise when specifically treating autism. Individuals billing as a SLP, OT, PT, BCBA, etc. should strongly consider registering as a AAC upon eligibility as further support for billing for clients with autism.
IBCCES does not specialize in insurance reimbursement regulations, however some certificate recipients have been successfully reimbursed for services with their IBCCES certification. Reimbursement is typically based on the insurance company you are working with, and will need to be verified through that company.
Yes, the AAC does not have a minimum education requirement.
You can review our full renewal policies here. Your renewal can be processed directly through your IBCCES online application. Along with your renewal fee ($249 every two years), you will need to provide proof of your 21 CEUs with ABA focus within the last two years. Please contact us if you need additional details.
Two main differences – the education/experience prerequisite is higher for the BCCS and the final exam for the BCCS is more rigorous. Entry into the BCCS program requires a Master’s Degree in education or related field and 2 years’ experience. (OR Bachelor’s degree and 10 years of experience). The CCC has no education prerequisite.
A BCCS is defined as a professional who is responsible for the support and/or services provided to an individual with cognitive disorders that directly relates to the professionals’ specific scope of practice. Some examples of candidates for BCCS certification are administrators, licensed healthcare and education professionals and classroom teachers.
Certification requirements vary widely by state and by district, so it’s best if you have a question about your location’s rules to submit our information to your administrators for approval prior to beginning the course.
You will have to complete the coursework and final exam within 60 days.
Yes, the IBCCES learning management system is available 24/7 and is accessible via PC, Mac or mobile devices.
The BCBA program is only focused on behavior analysis; the BCCS introduces multiple research-based strategies and allows applicants to customize the learning path and to choose specific cognitive disorders as their area of focus. The BCBA has more rigorous prerequisites for practical experience and advanced training. The BCBA program is substantially more expensive than the BCCS and takes much longer to complete. BCBA’s are typically independent practitioners who provide behavior-analytic services, and some BCBA’s choose to add the BCCS certification to broaden their knowledge base.
The BCCS program addresses a wider range of cognitive disorders and related issues and the CAS is specifically focused on autism.
The online training is self-paced; therefore, each individual may complete the training within a different time period. Each CEU roughly equates to a contact hour.
Upon board approval, your certification packet will be prepared within 2-3 weeks. Once approved, you will have immediate access to the digital copy of your certificate and badge.
IBCCES will provide you with a credential identification card (which can be easily displayed in meetings or a badge holder), a hard-copy of your certificate suitable for framing, and a digital badge to be used in your email signature, on your employer’s web site or social media. You will also have access to digital copies of these items through your IBCCES application.
Yes, you can decide which of the 11 areas of cognitive competency best fit your professional and educational needs. For a customized program, please contact us.
You can review our full renewal policies here. Your renewal can be processed directly through your IBCCES online application. Along with your renewal fee ($295 every two years), you will need to provide proof of your 14 CEUs within the last two years. Please contact us if you need additional details.
A CCC is a professional who is responsible for the support and/or services provided to an individual with cognitive disorders, but who doesn’t meet the educational prerequisites of the BCCS program. Some examples of candidates for CCC certification are paraprofessionals, general education classroom teachers and volunteers for organizations that work with individuals with cognitive disorders.
Certification requirements vary widely by state and by district, so it’s best if you have a question about your location’s rules to submit our information to your administrators for approval prior to beginning the course.
You will have to complete the coursework and final exam within 60 days.
Yes, the IBCCES learning management system is available 24/7 and is accessible via PC, Mac or mobile devices.
The CCC and the RBT programs are both designed with paraprofessionals in mind, but a RBT is required to work under the guidance of a Responsible Certificant who is publicly listed in the RBT Registry though BACB. This certificant is responsible for ensuring the RBT is working under the supervision of a BACB certificant. The CCC has no such requirement. The RBT is also more focused on behavioral issues, whereas the CCC program allows the applicant to choose specific cognitive disorders as their area of focus.
The CCC program addresses a wider range of cognitive disorders and related issues and the AC is specifically focused on autism.
The online training is self-paced; therefore, each individual may complete the training within a different time period. Each CEU roughly equates to a contact hour.
Upon board approval, your certification packet will be prepared within 2-3 weeks. Once approved, you will have immediate access to the digital copy of your certificate and badge.
IBCCES will provide you with a credential identification card (which can be easily displayed in meetings or a badge holder), a hard-copy of your certificate suitable for framing, and a digital badge to be used in your email signature, on your employer’s web site or social media. You will also have access to digital copies of these items through your IBCCES application.
Yes, you can decide which of the 11 areas of cognitive competency best fit your professional and educational needs. For a customized program, please contact us.
You can review our full renewal policies here. Your renewal can be processed directly through your IBCCES online application. Along with your renewal fee ($195 every two years), you will need to provide proof of your 14 CEUs within the last two years. Please contact us if you need additional details.
A Certified Autism Center (CAC) is a facility or organization in which at least 80% of their staff is highly trained, fully equipped and certified in the field of autism. A CAC can range in specific specialty areas such as educational facilities, healthcare, recreational etc. A CAC would primarily be a facility or organization that has a dedication to serving individuals with autism and are committed to ongoing training in autism. A CAC could be comprised of a varying number of CAS’s (Certified Autism Specialists) and those who have their AC (Autism Certificate).
The CAC eligibility requirements are:
CAS (Certified Autism Specialist) requirements:
AC (Autism Certificate) requirements:
No. One of the many benefits in obtaining your certification through IBCCES is that the program is all online and self-paced. There will be no need to reschedule patients or classes to complete the program.
The course content selected for each individual is position specific and presented in a variety styles of learning (video recordings, text style, graphs etc.) This allows you to really be engaged and maintain interest in the coursework. Another benefit to our position specific form of training is that you can incorporate and apply the materials covered into your daily profession.
Upon approval your center will receive:
Certification requirements vary widely by state and by district, so it’s best if you have a question about your location’s rules to submit our information to your administrators for approval prior to beginning the course.
IBCCES offers group discounts depending on the amount of staff in need of certification through your center.
You can review our full renewal policies here. Your renewal can be processed directly through your IBCCES online application. Your CAC renewal fee is $2,500 each year. Please contact us if you need additional details.
One of the numerous benefits of completing our program and receiving our certification is highlighting your company as a Certified Autism Center. Your center will be featured in a local press release covering 150-mile radius with the announcement of your centers new designation. You will also be listed in our international registry for when providers, prospective patients and other professionals search for Centers and resources who specialize and provide services for those with Autism.
ISCRD International Symposium on Cognitive Research and Disorders. Education and healthcare providers are invited to attend this high-energy, TED-style conference. In addition to a live audience, the conference will be live-streamed internationally, bringing together industry professionals, decision makers, and experts in the field of cognitive disorders from around the world. Click here for detailed information.
Anyone who interacts with individuals with cognitive disorders would benefit from ISCRD attendance. Licensed professionals in the education and healthcare fields in particular will benefit by earning CEUs and connecting with experts and decision makers in their industries.
You can attend via live webcast by registering here. The webcast recording will be available for you to view for up to two weeks following the conference.
The agenda includes high energy, engaging, TED-style presentations every 25 minutes from world leading experts on cognitive disorders. In addition, there will be an Innovation Zone filled with cutting edge technologies and services with a Cognitive Playground for hands-on exploration. In addition, there are 90-minute collaboration sessions for an interactive, in-depth look at specific topics.
All applications are reviewed and approved by the Board. Here’s a link to submit your application. Call 877-717-6543 or email iscrd@ibcces.org to be an innovator, sponsor, or collaborator.
Registration is now open. Click here for more information and to register online.
Distinguished international presenters will include cognitive scientists, neurosurgeons, master educators, and top researchers from leading academic institutions from around the globe.
Yes! Those attending ISCRD will receive 14 CE Credits issued by IBCCES. IBCCES CE Credits are recognized by organizations in all 50 states and over 40 different countries. Click here for more information.
Yes! We host conferences in London, Moscow, Singapore, and other locations, although ISCRD is our flagship event you won’t want to miss! Visit our calendar for all our events.
Registration price includes the full two-day conference and one-day registration is not available.
Credentialing is an umbrella term used to refer to concepts such as professional certification, certificate programs, accreditation, licensure, and regulation.
These are just some of the concepts that fall under the umbrella of credentialing. We encourage you to explore our website to learn more about IBCCES and the credentialing industry.
We encourage you to seek out the suggested resources and products which have been IBCCES reviewed to address one or more areas of autism competency
Once your account has been created, a system generated access code will be sent via e-mail to your registered e-mail address. Additional instructions for account activation will also be included in the e-mail.
Every course registrant will have access to a dedicated User Dashboard, and will be able to sign-up and access the course by logging in to their account.
Note that you will have to confirm and activate your user account in order to access your dashboard. You can do this by clicking the account activation link indicated in the e-mail.
If you do not see the e-mail in your primary inbox, try checking your spam folder. If for reason you did not receive the auto generated e-mail(s), kindly e-mail us at training@special-learning.com with the subject line “Activate Account/Resend Access Code.”
You have a total of ten weeks to complete the course, beginning with the registered start date. This gives you about one week per session, including the final exam, plus two extra weeks to review the materials or re-watch the videos.
Please note: We can give you one extra week extension free of charge, but beyond one week, you will have to pay the reactivation fee to complete the course.
There is a $50 extension fee to continue access to the online courses past the allotted time.
We always have our clients’ best interests in mind and we do provide exceptions in certain cases. You may be eligible to delay the start of your course if you have not yet completed the first session. Please contact jennifer@ibcces.org for more information.
The download links for the e-books and the guide notes can be found on the Customer Courses page on your User Dashboard.
The guide notes for each session can be downloaded as soon as you unlock a session by passing the post test of the previous sessions.
Detailed info on your test results can be viewed from the same page by clicking the blue arrow down button to the right of page.
The tests are an important part of the learning process and each participant is required to complete them for each session before they can move forward to the next session.
The pre-test must be completed before you can view the corresponding session’s webcast. As soon as you complete the pre-test, you will be redirected to the webcast viewing page.
After you pass a post-test, you should be able to move to the next session right away.
Our system does have an automatic delay timer that will prevent anyone from going through the session too quickly. The amount of time allotted for each session depends on the length of the video/webcast for each session.
Our system has an auto-timer and delay function that serves to discourage participants from moving through each session too quickly. You will not be able to
move on to the post-test unless you have watched the entire video for the current webcast you are on.
In addition to counting towards your Advanced Certified Autism Specialist certification, the ACAS training is eligible for 18 BACB Type 2 CEU’s. The AAC training is eligible for 8 BACB Type 2 CEUs, and 20 NASW CEUs.
The Advanced Certified Autism Specialist and the Advanced Autism Certificate exams are 40 questions each. They are in multiple choice format.
Usually, this is because your account is still inactive. Your account will remain inactive until you click the link in the automated e-mail that was sent to you right after you created your account. You will not be able to log in until you have completed the confirmation process. Any attempts to reset your password before account activation will also not work.
In the event you are still unable to access your account after you have clicked the activation link, please contact us at training@special-learning.com to request account activation. Use the subject line: Activate Account/Resend Access Code
Clearing your browser history and cache and restarting the page usually does the trick.
You can find full instructions for clearing your cache here:
http://help.ea.com/en/article/clearing-your-browsers-cache/
We also suggest that you clean your Java Cache:
https://www.java.com/en/download/help/plugin_cache.xml
All access codes are case sensitive. Make sure you type in the access code exactly as shown in the e-mail. We suggest you copy and paste the code and make sure that there are not extra spaces before or after the code.
This could be your browser, firewall or computer settings that are causing the issue.
Here are a few tricks which usually work in cases like this:
Interruptions in the webcast can also be due to bandwidth capping or slow internet connection. The file sizes are quite large for some of our webcasts. In
this case, you can try accessing the webcasts during off peak hours or try using another connection.
The default schedule is one session per week. If you are not able to complete a session within the one-week period, our system will start counting the days that you are “behind schedule” so you will know how much time you need in order to catch up. Please note, you are not required to follow the weekly schedule as long as you are able to complete the course within the allotted twelve-week period.
You will not be able to move on to the next session when your post-test scores fall below the required 80% passing rate. In this case, you will be prompted to re-take the test. You will be able to unlock the next session as soon as you get a score of 80% or above.
We can give you one extra week extension free of charge, but beyond one week, you will have to pay the reactivation fee to complete the course.