ANCDS Certification FAQ
Q: Do I need to be a member of ANCDS in order to be board certified?
A: No, applicants do not need to be a member of ANCDS; however, membership is encouraged in order to receive the benefits included in ANCDS membership.
Q: Do I need to be ASHA certified in order to be board certified from ANCDS?
A: Individuals residing in the United States must be ASHA certified (CCC) and/or hold current licensure in speech-language pathology in order to apply for board certification. Once you’ve achieved board certification, you can maintain it even if you let your ASHA certification lapse, as long as you satisfy the continuing education requirements for recertification every three (3) years.
Q: If I am a speech-language pathologist outside of the USA, can I apply for board certification?
A: Yes. Individuals from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom may be eligible to apply for board certification. Click here for details. Speech-language pathologists from other countries may also be eligible, but will need to contact [email protected] for instructions on how to proceed with their application.
Q: What is the cost to apply for certification?
A: The application fee is $125 for ANCDS members and $210 for non-members.
Q: When initially applying for certification, how many hours of continuing education do I need to submit with my application materials?
A: You will be required to submit 60 hours of continuing education that have been earned in the three (3) years leading up to your application.
Q: How long is the process once an application is submitted?
A: Once the application is submitted and approved, the candidate will have a total of two (2) years to complete the process. The Chair of the Board of Clinical Certification will be in contact with the candidate to communicate the deadlines for each of the steps during the process starting from submission of first case (within three [3] months after the congratulatory email from the chair) to the completion of the last step (the oral defense). The timeline for each step between submission of cases and receiving responses from reviewers for initial submissions/requested revisions can vary between four to eight (4-8) weeks depending on various factors, and will be adjusted at the discretion of the Chair.
Q: I am not yet a member but would like to become one and receive the discounted rate. How do I become an ANCDS member?
A: You can apply for membership here.
Q: What are some tips as I develop my case study?
A: We have provided some samples of case studies. Click here.
You may also find Episode 6 of the ANCDS podcast helpful. This episode covers the Board Certification process and helpful suggestions for writing a successful case study.
Q: Can I submit similar cases for both case studies?
A: In order to demonstrate the breadth of your clinical expertise, it is recommended that you submit two different types of cases. For example, if the first case study was focused on differential diagnosis assessment and treatment for aphasia, the second could focus on dysarthria associated with a different underlying etiology.
Q: Can someone receive mentoring for the board certification process?
A: ANCDS offers a group mentoring program typically twice a year, which is announced in the newsletter and through ANCDS social media sites. Email [email protected] for more details. Potential candidates may also reach out to certified members who can mentor them before they decide to apply; however, they cannot be mentored during the application process. Mentorship will focus on general details of the process, how to select a case, and the type of information to be included in a case study.
Q: What are the benefits of becoming certified?
A: By obtaining BC-ANCDS, you will be recognized as an authority in the field of neurogenic communication disorders. Click here to see a list of benefits.
Q: Is there a recertification process?
A: Board certification must be renewed every three years. Learn more about the recertification process here.
For more information on the ANCDS board certification process, listen to the podcast: Board Certification Process.
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