Certification with IAABC in an ongoing, participatory process

The current process provides excellent screening and works consistent with the resources we have.

• Anyone interested in the path to certification applies first for Affiliate membership. Accepted applicants pay annual membership dues, $45.00 for Affiliates. All memberships are up for renewal at the end of the calendar year, December 31.

• The process leading to certification includes Applicant and a Tracker, and Reviewers

• Applicants send materials to Membership, by mail or e-mail. The application is assigned to a Tracker (Membership contact information is listed on application)

• The Tracker starts a file and keeps a checklist.

• Applications are not complete until the following have arrived:

  Application

  Applicant Summary Sheet

  3 References

  2 Case Studies

  Application fee-$125.00

• When application materials are complete, the Tracker sends the record to Reviewers

• The Tracker in conjunction with Reviewers Accepts applicants to the path to certification for Associate Membership, or Denies Associate Membership. If an Applicant is accepted for Associate, they are asked to pay the difference between Affiliate and Associate member dues. ($20.00)

• If the Applicant is accepted and accepted Associate membership, the Tracker engages the Applicant in ongoing discussion.  

 Get Acquainted Period:

The get-acquainted period for Affiliates and Associates may last from several months to a year or more. Standards wants to get to know our applicants and give applicants opportunities to know the profession, the association, how values and ethics are applied, to develop professional identifies, understand how certification is handled, and to learn as a result of their membershi.

In addition, Standards wants applicants to become acquainted with educational opportunities that are member benefits to discover how well these formats “work” for them; this gives applicants and reviewers valuable information before setting provisions for certification.

Applications to Reviewers:  

• CONFIDENTIALITY/PRIVACY FOR APPLICANTS:

Membership, Trackers and Reviewers treat any information about applicants as confidential and make every effort to protect the privacy of applicants, i.e. to not share private communications even among themselves unless there is a compelling reason. All discussion among Reviewers is kept confidential/private long-term.

• CONFIDENTIALITY FOR REVIEWERS:

Members will not know who is reviewing their applications and setting their provisions for certification. All communications are directed through the Reviewer.

It is expected that Applicants will respect the confidentiality/privacy of communications from Standards to Applicants.

• ROLE OF REVIEWERS : Reviewers generally have questions for applicants, pose scenarios, and ask for information in addition to what is provided by Applicants. These questions are funneled through the Tracker.

Reviewers set provisions for certification.

Reviewers ask Applicants for feedback on their provisions for certification. Applicants may negotiate for revisions in their plans and are encouraged to present alternative educational opportunities that may meet the same learning need.

Applicants are expected to evidence that they have the ability to negotiate issues. In addition, Applicants are expected to embrace core values of the profession throughout the application process: positive regard, humane practices, innovation, collaboration, integrity. The IAABC also embraces a nonjudgmental approach, diversity and openness, and respect for client and colleague's right to self-determination.