Q & A
QUESTIONS ASKED
Questions and Comments
Received or Forwarded to NSEAI
NSEAI WELCOMES QUESTIONS
PLEASE FORWARD THEM TO [email protected]
Here are some questions or statements posted with our brief answers:
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“It is important to understand there are no national standards for special ed advocates, so there is no such thing as a "national" certificate for advocates.”
We agree that there is no “national certificate” for education advocates. Board certification is a continuing education service offered by a national professional association that sets minimum standards for that association's membership and quality standards for a profession. Board Certification, in whatever field, is always done under the direction of a single profession's association’s board. It is not directly related to licensure and is not a certificate of attendance. Board certification guarantees that the holder has met the professional organization’s established standards for education, professional training and experience. Board Certification further offers the client assurance the bearer has agreed to established standards of professional practice that are ENFORCEABLE.
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"The term board certification (only) refers to state professional licensing boards. no state licensing boards offer certification for education advocates, therefore, a board certification for educational advocates does not exist." (submitted by a lawyer)
Currently Education Advocacy is an unregulated and unlicensed practice. The development of a true homogeneous (just education advocates) self regulating professional association body, with defined technical skill sets and board certification are the steps PRIOR to establishing a profession. Once established, they can then become a regulated and licensed profession with a state licensing board.
This process has, most recently, been followed by the professions of Massage Therapy and Board Certified Behavior Analysts, who offered national professional association board certification decades prior to petitioning for licensure, development of regulatory laws, and the development of state licensing boards. Licenced professions (especially health care) also have developed national professional board certifications in subspecialities that are not related to their licensure or required for licensure.
National professional association board certification is the standard and the first step toward development of a profession.
Once a profession petitions for licensing, the national professional association's board certification is usually used by the licensing board. This licensing requires state legislation and state licensing boards and is NOT required to be a profession or to provide professional association board certification. Individuals unfamiliar with the processes or industry around board certification are often confused as to the sequence used and required in their use.
We sometimes get angry emails from lawyers or education advocate groups unfamiliar with the industry, stating that there is no such board certification. We now just refer them to the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE) and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs.
Licensed Professional Board Certifications (examples - with no legal licensing requirements to obtain, beyond their basic licensure)
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Physicians -have 24 different national board certifying bodies for a multitude of board certifications
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Nurses - have 50+ national board certifications within the profession
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Lawyers - have only one state (FL) that allows a board certified designation. Only 10 state bar associations offer board certification in a few specialities
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inter-professional board certifications also exist
Non Licensed Profession Board Certifications
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There are over 500 professional national and international board certifications within non licensed professions.
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These were developed by a broad range of stakeholders and experts that address social and technical improvements needed to meet their stated standards.
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They promote excellence in their professions globally through credentialing and board certification programs.
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"A certification means nothing when there is no national standard, so why pay money to some agency for it? any "certification" from this agency will not be recognized nationally by any authority figure."
National professional standards, for any industry, are developed by the industry's professional associations, like NSEAI. Disability agencies are now requesting this level of credentialing or documentation from their education advocates, in their employment ads as preferred or required. Only a national association specifically with a mission to promote only the profession of educational advocacy can develop education advocacy standards. There is a long history of multiple board certifying agencies within a profession competing to be the standard. NSEAI was the first to take the profession of educational advocacy seriously and take it to this level or professionalism. This was done because of the outcry from the public, in multiple states, about the sub standard quality of advocates, and the inability to find qualified professional advocates. No one has to be board certified by NSEAI. But, why would you not want to demonstrate the quality of your professionalism and education. Board Certified Education Advocates differentiate themselves from, “lay advocates”, “buddy advocate”, “parent buddies”, “hand holding advocates”, “parent advocates”, “paralegals”, or anyone who wants to put up a shingle on their door today with no cohesive qualifications. Board Certified Education Advocates don’t need to use reassurances to the public that they. “just know what they are doing”. NSEAI advocates are crossed trained in advocacy techniques, special education, related service clinical areas, evaluations, specific special education issues, behavior, law, and conflict resolution techniques.
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"Why is anyone… “promoting such a "certification" and giving the impressing the certificate is recognized everywhere."
This is an exciting time to be an educational advocate. NSEAI offers a voluntary credentialing tool and professional opportunity to differentiate your level of professionalism ethics, and education in the field of education advocacy. Over 1000 advocates have attended NSEAI courses since its first graduating class in 2008 - 2009. Over 2000 parents and professionals have attended NSEAI presentations at national conferences or at local support group presentations. They have received national recognition, made national news, changed special education regulations and addressed systemic issues. Board Certification recognition occurs within the professionals within an industry and is based on use and proliferation and is not controlled by organizations or groups who professes to not recognize something.
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“There is no certification recognized (or needed) for credibility by any school or disability agency.”
We agree that there is no certification needed by any school or disability agency. The client is not the school or the disability agency. The client is the parent or guardian. The stakeholders have expressed clear concerns that anyone may advocate for a child in a school. That includes people who have no training as a professionally educated advocate. This credentialing is neither mandatory nor required by any group. It is a voluntary continuing education credential that provides assurance of minimum education and training in a specific field.
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“There are no national or legal qualifications to be an advocate. You just need to know what you are doing! :-)”
There are no national or legal qualifications to be an advocate. Anyone can be an advocate despite his or her lack of education or experience. There have been no standards for just independent education advocates. We have studied the field and established, as a homogeneous education advocacy association (exclusively for advocates not under the direction of lawyers, clinicians or educators), minimum standards for the NSEAI board certification. We established a process of voluntary board certification (Board certification is voluntary for all professions) for education advocates to provide some level of reassurance for those seeking to hire advocates. This is a process done by many professions that do not require licensure. Establishing standards for a profession has been the first step to professional acknowledgement and eventual licensure, in many professions. Behavioral specialist and massage therapists followed this process recently.
There is no licensure for education advocates, NSEAI’s Board Certified Education Advocate program is completely legal and professionally appropriate. It offers a voluntary professional certification and passing of a 6 hour national certification exam. Should there be any state to initiate licensure rules for advocates, we would seek exemption from examination requirements.
The process of moving advocacy at a professional level requires educational standards specific to the profession of educational advocacy, which NSEAI offers. NSEAI has never claimed that there are any national or legal qualifications to being an educational advocate. There are many professional advocates that have extensive experience and training from multiple sources. The NSEAI program establishes minimum standards for its association members. This is an established process for qualified practitioners to join together to establish a profession. (Please see our pre and post testing results for extensively trained advocates)
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“This so-called certification is the work of ONE company which has decided to call themselves "national" and promote themselves as such.” "Board Certification for Education Advocates does not exist."
NSEAI is national. We have practitioners throughout the country and US territories. BCEAs practice in all states, as well as some international practitioners. NSEAI does not attempt to unfairly compete in the marketplace through the use of trade disparagement and unfair competition with the use of innuendo, misleading or unfounded comments. Refusal to admit or accept a truth is denial and a defense mechanism. Your assertion is false.
Our board certification program does exist and has existed since 2008.
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“Also, there are no national standards of qualifications for a "board" (such as this agency) to offer such certification.”
There are national standards for board certifying professional associations. NSEAI is not an agency. These standards are followed by clinical associations for nurses, doctors and radiology technicians, … as well as engineers, lawyers, architects and even wedding planners and fitness instructors and chocolatiers. (Refer to the Institute for Credentialing Excellence ICE and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies NCCA's Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs.)
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“While I know nothing about the quality of their training, or who will be doing it (because their website doesn't say so)”
NSEAI’s expert panelist and faculty are listed on our website. The curriculum is also listed on the website and was developed by multiple experts in each field of education, related services and legal representation – offering the latest research based programming, interventions and standards nationally. Many COPAA members participate in the NSEAI trainings and have taken the NSEAI trainings.
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“The agency (NSEAI) has not attempted to consult the largest and oldest network of 1400 special education advocates & attorneys in the nation: Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates nor have they attempted to link with COPAA member Pete Wright (wrightslaw.com) who has the most well known legal website for advocates and parents.”
Please note that Wrightslaw.com provides a quality product, within the industry. NSEAI has contacted them in previous years. Wrightslaw.com is often referred to by NSEAI as a top quality national resource. NSEAI participants, facilitators or faculty have taken all of the Wright’s law trainings. COPAA membership applications have been requested from COPAA and offered actively to our NSEAI participants at the NSEAI trainings. A founding member of NSEAI was on the Development Committee of COPAA and offered the NSEAI program, to COPAA, for no charge, reasserting that the focus was on promoting the independent profession of educational advocacy, separate from the legal practice of special education law.
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“COPAA is a membership organization which has an annual conference I've been to 2x. It offers advocacy training and has another cohort starting this fall, taught by special education attorneys who are in the fields of this work. It's not cheap and you do get a certificate at the end, but not "certification" because there IS no standard.”
Many of the NSEAI members, participants, facilitators and faculty are members of COPAA and have actively attended the yearly COPAA conferences. The Clinical Director of NSEAI encourages NSEAI participants to attend the conferences every year. COPAA does not offer a board certification program nor does it have a process, for the public, to address non-compliance to its standards. COPAA does not offer a practice act. Only a board certifying organization does this since there are no current licensure requirements to a profession.
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"The term education advocate has become synonomous with individuals with special knowledge or training with respect to the problems of children with disabilities. 20 U.S.C. 1415 (h)(1), since as early as 2000."
Individuals with special knowledge or training with respect to the problems of children with disabilities is not exclusive to or specific to education advocates it has also referred to related services providers. We have seen a broad range of personnel who fall under this category including:
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Privately parent contracted clinicians
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OT
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S/L
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PT
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Physician
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Psychiatrist
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Psychologist
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Therapist/Counselor
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Social worker
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Priests and Rabbis
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Neighbors
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Tutors
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Teachers from other environments (Sunday school)
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Even a babysitter.
Individuals with special knowledge or training with respect to the problems of a child with disabilities can go to IEP meetings without ever reading all the evaluations and IEPs and other pertinent materials prior to consulting with parents in the IEP environment. Educational advocates have a higher standard to meet.
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“The authors provide misrepresentations of what constitutes advocacy by special education advocates particularly in states that bar non-attorney advocates from representing parents and students at due process hearings, mediation, and resolution sessions. Educational Advocacy is not pleading or advocating another's case in a legal forum, that is what lawyers do."
Please read carefully What is printed on our web site, it is what you quoted (without quote marks or reference) from our website.
“Educational Advocacy is NOT pleading or advocating another’s case in a legal forum – that is what lawyers do.” Advocacy by Educational Consultants and Educational Advocates occurs in a different forum, than lawyers. Educational Advocates promote the development of an appropriate educational and community support service plan (especially during transition and with multi agency coordination) that identifies and addresses the child’s educational needs so as to create a FAPE, community and educational inclusion, functional and general curriculum based skills and adequate measurable progress in the educational environments that is generalized across environments.
There are clear lines of delineation between Advocates advocating in the educational and community service environment, advocating in an administrative capacity, and improving the efficiency of the LEA to comply with regulations vs. Lawyers advocating in the legal or judiciary environments. There are openly accepted and paid non-lawyer advocates in unemployment, welfare, EOC, social security, immigration and the parole systems. Advocates assist in the administrative aspect of the responsible agency to administer the law. They do not deal with the judicatory aspects.
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"Advocacy by Educational Consultants and Educational Advocates occurs in a different forum, than lawyers. Actually, non-attorney advocates do plead and advocate others cases in legal forums in twelve states, the last time I checked. Eight states leave the matter to the discretion of the hearing officer. Twenty-one states have no official or unofficial policy. Only ten states bar non-attorney advocates from representing parents at due process hearings.”
"There is a significant ethical issue and inherent conflict of interest in holding both roles. (lawyer and education advocate) I would say that there are significant ethical issues in non-attorney advocates engaging in the unauthorized practice of law."
We totally agree with you! We understand that advocates can plead and advocate another’s case in several states. NSEAI is not prepared to support that service by advocates. We hold that it is an attorney’s job to provide this service. If the parents chooses to use an advocate, in those allowed states and environments – (usually this is due to finances), then they need to be supported by legal groups to educate the advocate in this process, since NSEAI does not provided that type of education. We do not encourage parents to go pro se (on one's own behalf) to due process either due to the complexity of the process and need for accurate and expert legal advise .
We are clear that education advocates DO NOT REPRESENT their clients. This is actually a question on their exams. Advocates are consultants. Advocates are often called as witnesses in due process so they should not allow this conflict of interest to occur, with this practice.
There is a significant ethical issue and inherent conflict of interest in holding both roles.
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Lawyers represent their client’s rights to have FAPE implemented and enforced in a very adversarial environment of due process or court. Lawyers “advocate” under their practice act / legal authority. They are not educational consultants or educational advocates, educators or clinicians. Their job is not to develop an appropriate IEP it is to defend the position that one is or is not appropriate based on expert input and that it should appropriately address a student’s individual needs. They should send advocates, educators and clinicians back to the table to create an appropriate one if one does not exist. The lawyers are there in enforce standards and practices and deal with IDEA and other law violations when things go wrong.
Senator Kennedy, in 2004, stated, “Most parents don’t have access to any attorney, or must rely on low-cost legal aid. And data from surveys shows that even this help is in short supply…Those parents who have the courage to go it alone face schools that are well represented. State data shows that … schools were much more likely to bring an attorney to a hearing than parents were.” 150 Cong. Rec. S5351 (daily ed. May 12, 2004)
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Advocates assist in the development and monitoring of an individualized, Free And Appropriate, Education. They attempt to create a cooperative environment where questions are raised, research based practices used, answers are researched, plans are implemented, education provided, responsibility is taken, assessment and credit taken, praise given, anxiety relieved and where cooperation should be the norm, with a student focused attitude.
THE ROLE OF THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION ADVOCATE IS:
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Increase communication between school district (SD) personnel and the parent
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Develop a School District relationship where the parent’s concerns are heard and acted on
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Facilitate the IEP process so that the parent feels like and participated as an equal part of the educational team
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Diffuse sadness, anger and frustration when parents mourn over
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Facilitate the acquisition of FAPE
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Facilitate identification of educationally based needs through the school district or through appropriate clinical referrals
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Prevent the blaming of the child or the parent for the child's failures
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Develop a team approach where parents and teachers are supported with information, training and research based programming available to address the child’s disability and how it effects their ability to be educated
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Development of an individualized educational plan, with an awareness of the continuum of services and placements available, so as to promote FAPE and improve student's functional outcomes and inclusion
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Development of positive behavioral interventions that appropriately deal with disability associated disruptive behaviors and behaviors that interfere with a child accessing their education
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Assist in managing the time spent resolving differences through effective communication
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Protect parent rights by preserving them throughout the IEP process, so they can exercise them later
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Provide clients with appropriate attorney and clinical evaluation referrals.
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"The role of the professional special education advocate is to protect parent rights throughout the IEP process. No, it is not. Protecting parent's and student's legal rights is the province of attorneys unless this takes place in one of the twelve states that expressly permit parents to be represented by non-attorneys."
It is the role of the education advocate to protect parent rights by preserving them throughout the IEP process, so they can exercise them later, if they choose. This is done, outside of the UPL, by educating parents as to process, referring them to appropriate resources, giving general information as to rules, procedures and practices, check documents for completeness, provide information on published deadlines, and provide department of education information on how to disagree with the school district, but not giving them legal advice, tell them what to say or tell them if they should file, give your opinion as to outcomes or represent their client.
See the document: legal advice vs legal information Judicial Council of California, Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER)
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What is your response to the news report on Fox News? It was so slanderous! We who know your group know it as false and they slammed education advocates everywheres.
For NSEAI's official response and news release click here.
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"I also believe that educational consultants are not coterminous with special education advocates, as asserted at your website, as they are, most often, PhD level specialists considered expert witnesses by administrative law agencies."
We will have to disagree with this limited definition. Please see the professional association, Independent Educational Consultants Association, that offers specialty designations, just like NSEAI does, as a professional association.
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WHAT IS NSEAI’s VISION?
To develop and maintain a membership comprised of professionally trained education advocates, from multiple disciplines and advocacy focus, in practice within our communities and across the country.
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WHAT IS NSEAI’s PURPOSE?
Founded as an organization for professional development, NSEAI exists to serve the education advocacy community by:
• Providing its members with opportunities for continuing education public service
• Providing professional credentialing through established uniform and minimum content standards, criteria and exams
• Providing protection for practitioners and consumers by establishing a minimum standard of expertise in the education advocacy field
• Promoting the profession of education advocacy
• Providing a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize effective and accomplished education advocates
• Providing and maintaining best practices, ethical standards, professional conduct standards and disciplinary standards for the education advocacy profession
• Promoting the development of legal standards in state, federal and case law for education advocates and the establishment of the profession
• Creating diverse and effective networks of effective and collaborative advocates who have a child focused professional and collaborative approach.
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WHAT IS NSEAI’s MISSION?
To function as an integral part of the national education advocacy community and provide a variety of continuing education opportunities with a commitment to professional development, a national board certification program, high ethical standards, and promotion of the independent education advocacy profession.
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WHAT ARE NSEAI’s FIVE CORE PROPOSITIONS?
• Education Advocates are committed to students and their learning at various developmental levels.
• Education Advocates are cross trained in the multiple disciplines that apply to IDEA and education of students.
• Education Advocates are responsible for managing and monitoring their level of expertise and scope of practice.
• Education Advocates learn to systematically use critical thinking skills in their practice and learn from their experience and the experience of other advocates.
• Education Advocates are collaborative members of a learning and professional community.
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WHAT ARE BCEA’S ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS?
Eligibility to apply for the BCEA™ certification requires meeting requirements in:
1) NSEAI Coursework or equivalent
2) Previous CEUs
3) Exam Requirements
4) Practicum or Field Experience
5) Advocacy Experience or Degree Requirements
6) Professional References
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ARE THERE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF BOARD CERTIFICATION?
There are 3 levels of certification:
Fellow: A member of a specialist society doing continued study or research in their specialty.
Diplomat: One certified as a specialist within a profession.
Consultant: One who gives advice in order to help one make the best possible choices.
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WHAT ARE THE BCEA™ APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS?
Board Certification Requirement
Board Certification requirements are dependent upon the 3 levels of certification. A Consultant is an entry level advocate, a Diplomat is a practicing professional advocate level and a Fellow is the highest level of advocacy certification.
Prior to Board Certification the BCEA™ will acquire
Fellow - 328 hours
198 hours of defined education (included in the 12 courses)
65% attendance requirement per course (2 independent study classes allowed)
Pass all 12 exams and the midterm with a 70% or higher
30 additional elective non NSEAI CEU hours
100 hours (or equivalent) in practicum hours.
Diplomat - 268 hours
198 hours of defined education
65% attendance requirement per course (2 independent study classes allowed)
Pass all 12 exams and the midterm with a 70% or higher
20 additional elective non NSEAI CEU hours
50 hours (or equivalent) in practicum hours.
Consultant - 238 hours
198 hours of defined education
65% attendance requirement per course (2 independent study classes allowed)
Pass all 12 exams and the midterm with a 70% or higher
10 additional elective non NSEAI CEU hours
30 hours (or equivalent) in practicum hours.
FELLOW
Board Certified Educational Advocate™Fellows (BCEAs ™) are required to:
· Complete 198 hours of NSEAI Board approved curriculum (or equivalent curriculum)
o 16.50 hours for 12 classes (Lecture 5.50, Out of Class Assignments 11.00)
o 83% course completion with direct instruction requirement
o 65% attendance hours requirement per course.
· Have 30 hours* of other professional training or other special education related CEUs
outside of the NSEAI curriculum related to the special education fields prior to certification *
· Have 100 hours of graded practicum experience* with experienced mentors including:
o experience serving multiple clients and working in multiple school districts or regions
o providing families with the broadest and most informed choices for special education,
and community based services for their child
or have 3 years of previous advocacy experience
or have a graduate degree related to the special education related field including:
o Experience with 20 cases in 5 or more school districts
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Demonstrate expertise through membership in relevant associations, leadership positions,
speaking engagements and books and articles published
· Pledge adherence to the NSEAI PRACTICE ACT of Principles and Guidelines and following
ethical standards
· Have professional references related to educational advocacy prior to board certification
· Pass 6.00 hours of exams with an accuracy score of 70% or greater
· Have ongoing involvement in the quickly changing field of education advocacy with required
ongoing CE continuing education course work to stay well informed.
DIPLOMAT
Board Certified Educational Advocate™ Diplomats (BCEAs ™) are required to:
· Complete 198 hours of NSEAI Board approved curriculum (or equivalent curriculum)
o 16.50 hours for 12 classes (Lecture 5.50, Out of Class Assignments 11.00)
o 83% course completion with direct instruction requirement
o 65% attendance hours requirement per course.
· Have 20 hours* of other professional training or other special education related CEUs
outside of the NSEAI curriculum related to the special education fields prior to certification *
· Have 50 hours of graded practicum experience* with experienced mentors including:
o experience serving multiple clients and working in multiple school districts or regions
o providing families with the broadest and most informed choices for special education,
and community based services for their child
or have 1 years of previous advocacy experience
or have a graduate degree related to special education related field including:
o Experience with 10 cases in 2 or more school districts
· Demonstrate expertise through membership in relevant associations, leadership positions,
speaking engagements and books and articles published
· Pledge adherence to the NSEAI PRACTICE ACT of Principles and Guidelines and following
ethical standards
· Have professional references related to educational advocacy prior to board certification
· Pass 6.00 hours of exams with an accuracy score of 70% or greater
· Have ongoing involvement in the quickly changing field of education advocacy with required
ongoing CE continuing education course work to stay well informed.
CONSULTANT
Board Certified Educational Advocate™ Consultants (BCEAs ™) are required to:
· Complete 198 hours of NSEAI Board approved curriculum (or equivalent curriculum)
o 16.50 hours for 12 classes (Lecture 5.50 and Out of Class Assignments 11.00, per class)
o 83% course completion with direct instruction requirement
o 65% attendance hours requirement per course.
· Have 10 hours* of other professional training or other special education related CEUs
outside of the NSEAI curriculum related to the special education fields prior to certification *
· Have 30 hours of graded practicum experience* with experienced mentors including:
o experience serving multiple clients and working in multiple school districts or regions
o providing families with the broadest and most informed choices for special education,
and community based services for their child
or have 1 year of previous advocacy experience
or have a graduate degree related to special education related field.
· Demonstrate expertise through membership in relevant associations, leadership positions,
speaking engagements and books and articles published
· Pledge adherence to the NSEAI PRACTICE ACT of Principles and Guidelines and following
ethical standards
· Have professional references related to educational advocacy prior to board certification
· Pass 6.00 hours of exams with an accuracy score of 70% or greater
· Have ongoing involvement in the quickly changing field of education advocacy with required
ongoing CE continuing education course work to stay well informed.
2 NSEAI exams may be challenged by independent study thus complying with the 65% direct instruction requirement
BCEAs may charge for supervision
Other degrees may be considered on a case by case basis
65% attendance hours requirement per course is related to instruction time not break times.
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CAN I CHALLENGE THE EXAMS?
Experienced Professional Education Advocates may take the 12 Board Certification exams and the midterem without taking the NSEAI coursework, if they meet the minimum requirements.
These exams were opened in 2014.
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WHAT ARE THE COURSEWORK REQUIREMENTS FOR A BCEA™?
The Coursework Requirements are satisfied by the completion of 198 classroom hours of instruction at NSEAI’s BCEAT (Board Certified Education Advocate Training) in specific contents areas. The BCEAT training does not include the additional continuing education hours required for each level of certification. See Coursework and Exam requirements.
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WHAT ARE THE EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR A BCEA™?
The Experience Requirements are satisfied by the completion of a specific number of hours of supervised or unsupervised experience. Experience falls into either Independent Fieldwork or Practicum Experience. Students may accrue experience in only one category at a time and complete constructed response exercises that assess content knowledge. Documentation of one’s experience will need to be submitted with the application for board certification.
Independent Field Work:
Requires interviews about the organization of one’s chosen subject matter, research, and student observations and feedback.
OR
Practicum Experience:
Requires Supervision for 15% of time accrued.
Intensive Practicums may be offered by NSEAI and count for 2 times a supervised practicum. (Values will be determined by complexity of programming and areas of specialty. )
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WHEN CAN I GET THE BOARD CERTIFICATION APPLICATION?
At the student's successful completion of the 10th course, NSEAI will offer an application to apply for board certification as an education advocate. This will give the student in time to acquire the additional required documentation for the application submission by the completion of the 12th course.
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WHAT EDUCATION ADVOCACY LAWS EXIST?
Currently we have knowledge of education advocacy laws or regulations in the country, other than noted in IDEA. This is a quickly changing profession so please check with legal council in your state or geographical area of practice.
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WHAT LICENSURE EXISTS FOR EDUCATION ADVOCATES?
There is no education advocacy license available in any state. The board certification process, for newly defined professions, is the first step toward licensure. This process was followed by massage therapist and Board Certified Behavior Analysts - who are NOW licensed.
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WHERE CAN I PRACTICE WITH A BCEA™ DESIGNATION?
Board Certified education advocates are qualified professionals who can practice independently without supervision, from another professions, in all states.
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WHAT STANDARDS ARE THERE?
The BCEA Practice Guidelines provide a scope of training and practice
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WHAT OVER-SITE IS THERE?
Historically education advocates have had no oversight and thus are not organized as a profession. NSEAI has developed Professional and Disciplinary Standards and may issue sanctions, including denial of initial board certification and revocation of board certification.
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IS NSEAI NONDISCRIMINATORY?
NSEAI, in conducting its activities, shall comply with all applicable laws that prohibit discrimination in employment or service provision because of a person’s race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, national origin, or because of any other protected characteristic.
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IS EDUCATION ADVOCACY A PROFESSION?
Education Advocacy has evolved into an independent practice profession. Education advocates have established a private practice model of service, opening small individual or group practices without the benefit of peer mentoring or professional, ethical, educational and conduct standards, as required in any other profession. Education advocacy has grown in both number of consumers and practitioners expedential due to the increase in children with developmental disabilities and revisions in IDEA. This requires the need to ensure that the consumers of these services are adequately protected due to the increase in education advocates with no minimum standard of practice, education or expertise. The additional complexity within the education advocacy profession is that practitioners come from multiple disciplines with power plays between professions and associations occurring to control the profession. NSEAI provides a program to train education advocates with a unique multidisciplinary education with consistent minimum educational standards.
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WHAT HAS NSEAI DEVELOPED FOR ITS MEMBERS?
A National BCEA™ Registry
Eligibility Standards for board certification application
Professional Practice Standards and Guidelines for BCEA™s
Professional Disciplinary Standards
Professionally maintained certification examinations.
Certification and certification renewal standards
Education Advocacy Resources, and a
National Resouces Center
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WHAT IS BOARD CERTIFICATION?
Board certification in the USA is currently not just designed to provide credentialing over and above licensing boards. (Fitness instructors and wedding planners can become board certified) There are many certificates of completion provided by limited focus trainings that lack minimum professional standards. Since there is no licensure for education advocates, board certification is the only vehicle that will differentiate between basic eclectic training and more advanced consistent minimum levels of educational and practice competency.
The required minimum of 120 hours of classroom and assignment hours and 100 hours of practicum/field experience and 30 hours of other special education CEUs is sufficient to train students to the entry level of competency needed to begin practicing independently. Services provided by education advocates not adequately educated create a risk to those served. The BCEA designation will allow consumers to identify an advocate with a minimum level of professional training and experience.
Additional benefits of board certification include the protection of the profession, and the future opportunity, within state laws, to define the scope of the education advocacy practice. The adoption of other standards recommended by national groups may eliminate the ability of education advocates, as a profession, to practice independently and not under the direct supervision of lawyers. It should be noted that no specific training or qualifications are required of lawyers to practice in this field.
Education advocacy is not a new field of practice and requires significant cross training in education, law, clinical evaluations, educational and clinical best practices, research based interventions, communication, and organization to protect the rights of consumers. It is now up to professional education advocates to establish their profession as a true and unique profession. Advocacy groups, that represent special education clients, continue to assist NSEAI in the development of this profession.
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WHAT DOES THE BOARD CERTIFICATION PROGRAM INCLUDE?
• Education includes core knowledge in a cross training program.
• A curriculum outline is posted on the web.
• This includes the education, behavior, legal and clinical aspects of special education
advocacy.
• NSEAI has offered in the past CLEs for lawyers, Act 48 for teachers and continuing clinical
education units dependent upon location of program
(based on specialty – RN, social worker, psychologist, …).
• College credits will be offered in the near future.
• Programming includes direct instruction, case reviews and interactive education, as well as
a practicum.
Program Requirements:
• There are 3 Levels of certification, Fellow, Diplomat or Consultant.
• Experienced advocates – receive a higher level of certification and may test out of 2
modules
FELLOW LEVEL requires :
TRAINING - 228 CEU hours to include:
☐ 198 Training Hours NSEAI Board Certification Training or equivalent
☐ 30 CEU hours in Special Education or related field outside of NSEAI Training
☐ Educational Advocacy Experience in 5 or more School Districts/ regions
PRACTICUM
☐ Consultation on at least 20 cases with a minimum of 100 hours or
☐ 100 hours of graded mentoring by a BCEA with recommendation
EXPERIENCE
☐3 years or more of Education Advocacy Experience with one year in Independent Practice
☐ OR a Graduate Degree in: _Education __Psychology __Law __ Clinical
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ARE ONGOING CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS REQUIRED?
• There is an ongoing continuing education requirement of 50hours/ 5years.
• Monitored continuing education is required with any board certification.
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WHAT IS BOARD CERTIFICATION IN A NON-LICENSED PROFESSION?
• It sets a minimum standard to meet in any profession and within a profession.
• It defines the profession.
• It often becomes the minimum exam requirement when and if licensure occurs.
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WHO IS THE CERTIFYING BOARD? ·
• As in all board certifications, the professional association is the certifying board. The Board
of NCARE is the certifying agency. It's educational arm NSEAI has a defined curriculum
(required in all board certification programs) and a Board Certification Advisory Board.
• The Board Certification Advisory board oversees the certification process.
• NSEAI presently does quality improvement reviews on 21 professional competency board
certification national standards. These standards are similar to those used with board
certification through BCBAs, Massage Therapists, Nursing Organizations, Physician
Organizations and other professional organizations that offer Board Certifying programs.
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IS THIS A NATIONAL CERTIFICATION?
• YES it is a National Board Certification, not state or local.
• NSEAI is a national professional organization
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WHAT IS THE COST OF THE COURSES?
• It is determined by the board ($195 per course)
• NCARE offers scholarships.
• Discounts are applied for members of sponsoring organizations.
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CAN I TAKE THE COURSES ON THE WEB?
• Webinars are NOW available, as of September 2013.
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WHAT IS THE COST OF THE BOARD CERTIFICATION, AFTER I TAKE THE COURSE?
• $150 one time Board Certification Application Fee, which includes an application fee of $100 and handbook fee of $50.00
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DOES NSEAI INVESTIGATE INDIVIDUALS OR COMPLAINTS?
NSEAI has a practice act and policy statement. If there is a suspected violation, and a
complaint filed, an investigation occurs. Sanctions or removal of certification may occur.
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HAS NSEAI EVER RECEIVED A COMPLAINT AND WHAT DID THEY DO?
NSEAI has received three complaints. All three complaints were for advocates who DID NOT have NSEAI Board Certification.
All three were all graduates of an other national training program.
1) NSEAI received a lack of appropriate fee disclosure complaint, from a parent
Advocate was accused of charging the client for services prior to a contractual agreement and after being fired, continuing to charge the client. This was settled in court with the client winning.
No NSEAI action was taken. Advocate was not a BCEA.
2) NSEAI received a unprofessional behavior complaint, from a parent.
Advocate was accused of threatening a client and insisting that the client was not allowed to talk about the advocate's quality of services.
Client hired a lawyer who insisted that the advocate stop harassing the client.
No NSEAI action was taken. Advocate was not a BCEA.
3) NSEAI received a misrepresentation complaint, from a lawyer.
Advocate was accused of misrepresentation and the court transcript was received, where in court testimony the advocate claimed to have attended all of the NSEAI courses and received board certification, which was not accurate.
Advocate was not a BCEA. This was referred on to the appropriate authorities and documentation of Non Board Certification sent to the lawyer and court.
The use of this complaint process is clearly of value to the community who uses it. Unfortunately we were not able to address the issues due to the individuals not being associated with NSEAI nor being a BCEA. This only shows the state of the industry today and the need for a minimum level of professionalism within this industry.
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DOES THE NSEAI BOARD CERTIFY SOMEONE WITH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND?
• If convicted, found, or entered a plea of guilty, or if presently being investigated or charged
with any felony or misdemeanor, subject to a detention order, on probation or parole, or if
one’s case is under appeal, NSEAI will not accept the person’s application. If someone is
convicted after their board certification, board certification is revoked and an appeal may occur.
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IS BOARD CERTIFICATION LICENSURE?
• No there is no licensure for education advocates.
• Education Advocacy is also an unregulated industry and a newly defined profession.
• Board certification is an important first step in this industry. Professional association board
certification protects the public by enforcing standards. Board Certification also provides a
public credential to qualified individuals who have met specific minimum qualifications in
education, work, experience, and exams, in the absence of licensure.
