•   Board-Certification guarantees that an Education Advocate has completed a rigorous course of advocacy training, has peer-reviewed practical experience, and is bound by a professional  practice act which establishes standards of ethical practice. They must complete 13 exams and complete 198 hours of NSEAI Board approved curriculum (or equivalent curriculum) (16.50 hours for 12 classes  (Lecture 6.67 avg. hours + Out of Class Assignments 11.00 avg. hours )

•   There is no other guarantee that an advocate has the training and experience required to advocate effectively for your child. Education advocacy is an unlicensed, unregulated profession, and NSEAI is the only professional association offering voluntary board certification of Education Advocates.  Training programs offer certificates of attendance but do not Board Certify. Anyone can print a business card and say that he or she is an education advocate. There are unqualified and unethical practitioners providing services to those with special education needs, our most vulnerable population of children.  This leaves the public without recourse, except for the NSEAI BCEA complaint process. .  

•   Board Certified Education Advocates are experts in education advocacy.  The NSEAI, Board Certified Education Advocacy Training (BCEAT) program is the most comprehensive and broad in the nation.  It educates, education advocates in the cross training and broad scope of knowledge required to practice education advocacy today. This includes cross training in the areas of IEP development, education, law, research based programs, behavior management, clinical related services (occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, physical therapy, audiology, psychology, orientation and mobility…), ethics and business practice.  NSEAI focuses on solutions using the IEP development process  outlined in IDEA vs focusing on violations after the fact.

•   Board Certified Education Advocates are trained to get clients a free and appropriate education, at the IEP level, and to prevent due process, when possible. They often handle complex cases and appropriately refer to other professionals, creating a qualified team. A comprehensive education, including a sound foundation in research based methodologies and programs, provides education advocates with an understanding of what is vitally important to protect parental rights.  

•   NSEAI training develops technical and judgment skills. Practicum experience gained with other professional education advocates helps them address complex cases at the IEP level and develop outstanding technical skills. Additionally, the continuous education requirement finely tunes skills and provides for unique qualifications that are critical to the success of an education advocate, where conflict resolution skills are called upon continuously.  

•   Board Certified Education Advocates have knowledge of a wide range of potential solutions. Their recommendations are not limited by lack of training or inability to obtain appropriate information to make the complex recommendations when necessary.    

THE BCEA CREDENTIAL IS A MARK OF QUALITY
 

The BCEA Credential is a mark of quality and defines competency. Board certification shows the rest of the industry that BCEAs are committed to their profession. It demonstrates to the public that a professional education advocate has:
•   Completed an intensive, prescribed, customized and specific sequence of training, in
    Professional knowledge, skills, and experience.
•   Obtained supervised experience in the field of education advocacy.
•   Professional peer evaluation and references.
•   Completed prerequisite continuing education requirements.
•   Accountability to an active and enforceable code of ethics.
•   A commitment to continuing education, so to remain current within the profession.
•   Been trained by highly qualified instructors.
•   A professional identity and credential as an Education Advocate.
•   Advanced to a professional stature within the industry.
•   Demonstrated a voluntary professional commitment, to the profession.
•   Demonstrated a minimum level of proficiency, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities,
    judgment and expertise in the field of education advocacy.
•   Independent verification that they have met the minimum professional competency standards established by subject matter experts.
•   Successfully completed a rigorous process of testing of professional outcomes.
•   A time-limited credential that must have periodic re-certification.
•   Knowledge of evidence-based guidelines, national standards, best practices and the latest advances in education advocacy, so to assist clients.
•   The commitment and expertise to consistently achieve superior client focused outcomes in a responsive way. 

3 LEVELS OF CERTIFICATION

NSEAI offers three levels of NSEAI Board Certification for Education Advocates:

LEVEL 1 - FELLOW         
•    A master’s or doctoral degree in education, degree in psychology, law, clinical studies OR appropriate professional education advocacy experience of a minimum of three years and at least one of those years in independent practice
•    Continuing educational credit hours of at least 30 hours outside of NSEAI training
•    Successful completion of the Board Certified Education Advocacy Training and exams
•    Successful management of cases in a minimum of 5 different school districts (waiver available for some geographic regions)
•    Consultation on 20 cases with a minimum of 100 hours or 100 hours of mentoring by a BCEA
•    Agreement to follow the  NSEAI - Practice Act - Principles and Guidelines that govern their actions as consultants, in private practice
•    Submission of two professional or institutional references or one NSEAI BCEA reference


LEVEL 2 - DIPLOMAT           
•    A bachelors or master’s or doctoral degree in education, degree in psychology or law OR
     appropriate professional education advocacy experience of a minimum of one year
•    Continuing educational credit hours of at least 20 hours outside of NSEAI training
•    Successful completion of the Board Certified Education Advocacy Training and exams
•    Successful management of cases in a minimum of 2 different school districts  (waiver available for some geographic regions)
•    Consultation on 10 cases with a minimum of 50 hours or 50 hours of mentoring by a BCEA
•    Agreement to follow NSEAI - Practice Act - Principles and Guidelines that govern their actions as consultants, in private practice
•    Submission of two professional or institutional references or one NSEAI BCEA reference


LEVEL 3 - CONSULTANT        
•    Graduate or undergraduate degree in education, psychology, law or clinical studies, student in a college majoring in education, psychology or law, OR parent of a child with special needs requiring services OR up to 1 year of education advocacy experience
•    Successful completion of the Board Certified Education Advocacy Training and exams
•    Consultation on 1-9 cases with a minimum of 30 hours or 30 hours of mentoring by a BCEA
•    Agreement to follow NSEAI - Practice Act - Principles and Guidelines that govern their actions as consultants, in private practice
•    Continuing educational credit hours of at least 10 hours outside of NSEAI training
•    Submission of two professional or institutional references or one NSEAI BCEA reference.

Special education advocates that are highly trained in the interdisciplinary areas of special education, are needed. 

Watch this video and you will understand.