AACBIS - Home

Welcome to the AACBIS Website

The American Academy for the Certification of Brain Injury Specialists (AACBIS) offers a voluntary national certification program for both entry-level staff and experienced professionals working in brain injury services. AACBIS provides staff and professionals the opportunity to learn important information about brain injury, to demonstrate their learning in a written examination, and to earn a nationally recognized credential.

AACBIS offers two certification options representing distinct levels of experience and supervisory skills: Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) and Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer* (CBIST). Certification is based on a comprehensive training manual that covers the following topics:

Incidence and epidemiology of brain injury
Continuum of services
Brain anatomy and brain-behavior relationships
Functional impact of brain injury
Effective treatment approaches
Children and adolescents with brain injury
Health and medical management
Family issues
Legal and ethical issues

Certification is not restricted to any one profession or discipline. Rather, it is intended for anyone who delivers services specific to brain injury.

*Previously known as Clinical Examiner and, most recently, AACBIS Trainer.

AACBIS is a Standing Committee of the Board of Directors of the Brain Injury Association of America.

AACBIS Announcements:

IMPORTANT - Please Read

The second David Strauss Memorial Lectures for 2008 is scheduled for May 21, 2008, at 3pm ET. "The Role of Applied Behavior Analysis in Brain Injury Rehabilitation" will be presented by Joanie C. Willard, MSW, LICSW, BCBA, CBIST, and Serra R. Langone, MS, MED, BCBA, CBIST, both of May Center for Education and Neurorehabilitation in Brockton, MA. The registration form is available here and in the BIAA bookstore. Remaining 2008 lectures have been tentatively scheduled for August 20 and November 12, each at 3pm ET. Registration for the Lectures will be available here as each specific lecture topic is announced.

The AACBIS Committee is proud to present a new pin available for Certified Brain Injury Specialists and Specialist Trainers. The pin is available for purchase in the BIAA bookstore and bears this image:

There's a new AACBIS newsletter! Click here.

Please note that when purchased with an AACBIS application, The Essential Brain Injury Guide is discounted to $40.00 plus $8.50 s/h.

All Certificants:

New Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainers and formerly certified Clinical Examiners and Clinical Instructors are required to attend ONE training teleconference. CBIST teleconferences for the rest of 2008 have been scheduled for July 16 and October 15, each at 3pm ET. To register, please email Marianna Abashian at mabashian@biausa.org.
Effective July 1, 2005: References are no longer required for either CBIS or CBIST application

Incomplete applications will be maintained for up to one year. After one year, the application will become null and void and the applicant will need to reapply. Applicants who have submitted completed applications but have not taken the certification exam within one year will need to reapply after one year.

Please update your contact information by sending an email to aacbis@biausa.org. Be sure to include your email address so that you can receive regular updates and announcements via email.

Complete the Certificant Survey by clicking on the survey button in the main menu. It will just take a few minutes to answer questions regarding the benefits of the AACBIS program.

Certification Updates
(Please click on the buttons on the main menu to view more detailed information)

The certification test has been revised based on the new manual. In addition, candidates are no longer required to pass a Performance Based Assessment; the written exam now includes, in addition to 50 general multiple-choice questions, 20 multiple-choice questions regarding case studies.

Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer eligibility and certification requirements have been updated.

There are new continuing education requirements and annual renewal fees for CBIS and CBIST to maintain certification. Annual certification renewal fees are now $50.

New training materials are available for CBISTs who have attended an orientation session (in conjunction with the CBIST teleconferences, schedule posted above).

Group Administrator Guidelines are now available. These guidelines will assist group administrators in facilitating the certification process and arranging training for their group members.

New variable group rates and annual renewal fees are in effect as of July 2007.

Important Policies Regarding Current Certificants:

Staff of state affiliates of the Brain Injury Association of America may contact Marianna Abashian at mabashian@biausa.org or 703-761-0750 x636 for information about certification.

CBIS candidates who started the process under the previous guidelines will now follow the new protocol (read the new manual and take the new test).

Renewal is annual, although the information required varies on a two-year cycle. A certificant's first renewal only requires completion of the first page of the renewal form (found under the Downloads Tab at left). The second renewal requires completion of the whole form. The third renewal requires the first page; the fourth, the whole form; etc.

Current CI/CE who attend the CBIST training receive a certificate with the new designation. Certificants use the date on their original CI/CE certificate as their recertification date. Certificants then follow the procedures stated above.

Upcoming Developments

Online applications!

Self-study CD-Rom!

Interactive training slides!

Questions regarding the previous guidelines, revised guidelines and/or cost model? Contact Marianna Abashian: mabashian@biausa.org.

Brain Injury Association of America/AACBIS

1608 Spring Hill Road, Suite 110

Vienna, VA 22182

703-761-0750 – Phone

703-761-0755 – Fax

Last updated: April 29, 2008.