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Keywords: Biofeedback Certification International Alliance, biofeedback certification, neurofeedback certification, assessment
For the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA), assessment is the culmination of a learning process that begins with didactic training that is guided by Blueprints of Knowledge and Core Reading Lists. The references in the BCIA Core Reading Lists help applicants master the learning objectives of the Blueprint and are the source of the exam questions. BCIA certification exams test entry-level knowledge that is relevant to the current practice of biofeedback. Applicants can now take exams in both paper/pencil and online formats. BCIA encourages applicants to use the Blueprints as roadmaps to guide their study, to read the Core references, and to take advantage of their mentors' experience. The quality of the applicants, the excellence of didactic programs, and the careful construction of the exams have resulted in pass rates that exceed 70%. BCIA believes that the applicant's journey, not passing the certification exam, is the best metric for measuring success. BCIA has achieved its mission in the time before the professionals arrive at their testing site.
I didn't fail the test; I just found 100 ways to do it wrong. -Benjamin Franklin
Exams Should Test Mastery of Biofeedback Fundamentals
Written exams are a necessary part of our professional lives. While most of us don't enjoy taking them, we do like to challenge ourselves and expand our knowledge. We don't fear learning new material; we fear the unknown. What will the exam be like? Did I study the right material?
According to the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE), formerly the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA), ''certification of specialized skill-sets affirms a knowledge and experience base for practitioners in a particular field, their employers, and the public at large. Certification represents a declaration of a particular individual's professional competence'' (National Board for Certification of Orthopedic Technologists, 2010).
Most certifying agencies set standards of education and training to demonstrate entry-level competency. Most share the challenge of evaluating whether applicants have mastered a body of knowledge required for entry-level competence. BCIA, like many other certifying agencies, has found it challenging to build and maintain meaningful, current, and psychometrically sound assessment instruments. BCIA's exam task forces have taken this work very seriously.
BCIA believes that tests should...