NOMC Certification
Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures
All Certified Blindness Professionals (CBPs), working at all professional levels, shall treat persons who are blind or partially blind with dignity and respect and will provide the best possible training and related vocational rehabilitation services which can be offered, based upon the most current techniques and training principles available at the time. The National Blindness Professional Certif ication Boa rd's (NBPCB) Code of Professional Ethics is a public statement of the values and principles used to promote and maintain high standards of behavior among those specialists in work with the blind who become Certified Blindness Professionals (including NOMC) through the NBPCB certification processes. The NBPCB is committed to furthering the ability of persons who are blind or partially blind to function competently, independently, and successfully not only in their own environments but also as fully integrated and participating citizens in the broader society. It is the ongoing objective of CBPs to act in an ethical manner.
Abiding by the Code of Professional Ethics
All individuals who earn the designation of National Orientation and Mobility Certificant (NOMC) are obliged to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the NBPCB Code of Professional Ethics. As part of the NOMC application process, individuals must read, understand, and be willing to abide by the Code of Professional Ethics. An agreement form will be included with the application packet which must be signed by the individual seeking NOMC designation and witnessed by a second person. The code of professional ethics and agreement form are also available for download from the NBPCB web page.
Grievance
An allegation of a violation of the Code of Professional Ethics shall be submitted in writing to the President (or his/her designee) for action. Where there is incontrovertible evidence of a violation of the Code by a current certificant which is not supported by written allegation, the Board has the authority to proceed with prosecution of the issue as though a complaint had been filed.
Within ten days of the receipt of a written allegation of violation of the Code of Professional Ethics, the President (or his/her designee) shall name a three-member panel to review the allegation and shall furnish each member with a written copy of the complaint. The three reviewers may be members of the NBPCB Board of directors or the NOMCT committee. The President shall name one of the three appointees as chairperson of the review panel.
Within twenty days of receipt of the written allegation, the Chairperson of the review panel shall report the findings and recommendations of the panel to the President (or his/her designee) in writing, and the President shall notify the respondent in writing of the findings and recommendations of the panel.
Disciplinary Procedures
Any intentional violation of any section of the Code of Professional Ethics shall be prima facia evidence of a CBPs affirmative decision to choose voluntarily to relinquish NBPCB certification and to forfeit all rights or privileges which inure to a person by reason of holding NOMC certification. Where the finding of the panel has been either to recommend suspension or revocation of certification, the respondent may request that the entire NBPCB Board review the decision of the panel (see Section 8.1.2). This request must be in writing and submitted to the President within ten days of receipt by the respondent of the panel's adverse decision.
Where a CBPs certification has been revoked, the respondent may apply for re-certification after one full year has elapsed following the final revocation. It will be the responsibility of the respondent to demonstrate to the Board that a good faith effort has been made to correct the acts or practices giving rise to the revocation. A written request for re-instatement of certification must be submitted directly to the President, and the Board shall determine whether or not to reinstate certification. The respondent may not simply apply for certification through the usual certification application process.