The practice of biofeedback has been around for a long time; however, it is becoming increasingly more important in the current medical landscape.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services(CMS) and the private insurance industry have each determined criterion for recognition and reimbursement pertaining to biofeedback interventions.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has revised and assigned specific CPT codes to be utilized for biofeedback clinical intervention.

What is Certification and Who Recognizes It?

Professional certification is the voluntary process by which a non-governmental entity grants a time-limited recognition to an individual after verifying that predetermined and standardized criteria have been met. Because biofeedback is an unregulated field, certification is crucial for providing standards of care. To be viable as a professional service, standards of competence and clinical practice must be defined and measured. Since 1981, BCIA has taken on this task and offers certification programs in Biofeedback, Neurofeedback (also called EEG biofeedback), HRV Biofeedback, and Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction Biofeedback. Through the BCIA recertification program, each Certificant is held accountable to a code of ethics, obtains specified continuing education, and maintains proper credentialing appropriate for clinical practice.  Additionally, BCIA offers a certificate of completion in Heart Rate Variability.

BCIA has trademarked three terms that certificants should use on their business cards, conference name badges, directory listings, PowerPoint presentations, speaker listings, and websites where allowed.

  • BCB designates Board Certified in Biofeedback.
  • BCN designates Board Certified in Neurofeedback.
  • BCB-PMD designates Board Certified in Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction Biofeedback.

BCB-HRV or BCN-HRV designates Board Certified in Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback. Only those who complete the full certification in HRV Biofeedback can use the BCB-HRV or BCN-HRV, which designates Board Certified in Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback or Neurofeedback; however, we have not yet completed the trademark process.

Who Recognizes BCIA Certification?

BCIA certification programs are recognized as international standards by The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB), the Biofeedback Federation of Europe(BFE), and The International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR), the premier biofeedback and neurofeedback membership associations.

 

International Biofeedback and Neurofeedback Membership Associations

Applied Neuroscience Society of Australasia (ANSA)

Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB)

Biofeedback Federation of Europe (BFE)

International Society for Neuroregulation and Research (ISNR)

 

State and Regional Biofeedback Societies

The Biofeedback Society of Florida

The Northeast Regional Biofeedback Society