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NOMC Recertification

The National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB) recognizes the need for blindness professionals to continue their education and training in order to remain current on innovations and policies in the field. The Recertification Program is designed to ensure that certificants maintain their skills and knowledge as Orientation and Mobility Instructors and to encourage certificants to expand their knowledge and expertise in the field of Orientation and Mobility. The National Orientation and Mobility Certification (NOMC) is granted for a period of five years. At the end of the five year period, an individual holding certification can be recertified by either of the following:

 

Continuing Education: Certificants must accrue 100 points of approved Continuing Education (CE) credits during the five year period of certification.

 

Each certificant who acquires 100 Continuing Education (CE) Credits over the five year certification period will be eligible for automatic recertification. An applicant for recertification may accrue points in any of nine different Categories. All 100 points must meet the criteria listed under one of the nine categories; however, no more than 50% of points during the five year period may come from a single category. Credit will only be given for activities and experiences that have occurred during the five year certification period. Additionally, applicants are required to obtain at least 10 points of CE credit from the area of Professional Ethics.

 

Application for Recertification

All individuals seeking recertification through accrual of continuing education credits must:

 

Reporting of Points

During January of the year that certification is set to expire, a packet will be sent out that contains the guidelines for reporting CEC and a form for recording accrued points. The applicant is responsible for noting all CE credit earned along with sufficient documentation to verify those points. It is important to note that an individual may earn 100 points of CE credit during a single calendar year; however, at least 10 points of credit must be accrued during each of the five years in order to remain current. It will be the responsibility of the certificants to track his/her credit balance and insure that sufficient points are earned each year.

 

At least three (3) months prior to the expiration date printed on the NOMC certificate, individuals will be mailed a recertification packet. The applicant for recertification must obtain a final summary of CE points documenting all credit earned from the NBPCB office to be submitted with the application for recertification. All applications for recertification must be received at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to the expiration date listed on the original certificate. Any application received after the expiration date will be assessed a late fee, and the applicant will not hold valid certification until all forms have been received and processed.

The recertification packet includes:

  • One (1) Application for Recertification
  • A summary of points earned to date
  • Verification of employment or professional activities
  • One (1) copy of the NBPCB Code of Professional Ethics
  • One (1) signed agreement to abide by the Code of Ethics

 

Documenting Points

All points earned must be approved by the Certification Committee and appropriate documentation must be provided for each. A list of pre-approved CE opportunities can be located on the certification web page www.nbpcb.org . It is also possible to seek pre-approval to earn points for other activities and conferences-please see the NBPCB Approval guidelines for more information. The Certification Committee should be contacted at least 30 days in advance of the event for approval of all activities. The following documentation is required for each category of CE credit.

  • Direct Service Provision - A completed Verification of Employment Form must be provided by the employer
  • Academic Coursework - A copy of a transcript must be provided
  • Published Articles and Book Chapters - A copy of the work must be provided
  • Workshops or Seminars - A certificate of participation must be signed by an approved sponsor
  • Published Research or Assisted in Published Research - A copy must be provided - if assisted, a letter from author of research must be provided
  • Reading Orientation and Mobility Articles or Books - A one page summary must be provided

 

Each certificant who does not acquire 100 points must go through the original application and examination process to retain certification. If the applicant chooses this option, he/she must:

  • Complete the recertification application
  • Return the application with a $50 application fee
  • Schedule and take performance and written examinations (a $100 examination fee will be assessed at that time)

 

NOMC certification will be invalid during the time of any lapsed expiration date on the NOMC certificate. The applicant will be recertified once the application and examination process is completed.

 

Examination: Certificants can choose to complete all initial eligibility and application procedures, and must pass both the written and performance examinations

 

Deadlines for Recertification

Applications for recertification must be received at least 30 business days before the expiration date printed on the certificate. If the application is not turned in with the CE report and applicable fees by the date of expiration, the applicant will have 30 days to get all materials submitted but will be charged a late fee. No application for continuing education credit will be accepted after 30 business days past NOMC expiration. After the late deadline has passed, the recertification applicant will have to apply for original certification—completing both the written and performance examinations.

(See Fees for more information.)

 

NOMC Continuing Education Categories

Category 1: Direct Service Provision

Structured Discovery mobility instruction with blind children, youth, or adults in a residential facility, day program, or itinerate instruction. Direct service must be travel instruction that is part of the applicant's job. Direct instruction means that the instructor is physically providing mobility instruction or otherwise responsible for the monitoring and progress of individuals learning mobility skills.

 

Full-time Instruction: (30+ hours per week) - 5 points per quarter (20pts every 12 months)

Part-time Instruction: (15+ hours per week) - 2.5 points per quarter

Other: (Less than 15 hours per week) Contact the NBPCB office for directions

 

Category 2: Professional Conferences and Presentations

Attendance at a Professional Rehabilitation Conference - 1 point per conference hour

Presenting at a Professional Rehabilitation Conference - Add 2 points

Coordinating a Professional Rehabilitation Conference - Add 2 points

Note: A conference hour includes time spent in conference, but does not include time for breaks, registration, or other waiting time. Contact the NBPCB office for pre-approval of conferences. An individual attending a three hour conference will earn three (3) points. If that person is also a presenter, he/she will earn a total of five (5) points for the conference.

 

Category 3: Literature and Professional Discourse

Authorship of a Published Article or Book Chapter - 5 points

Reviewing Orientation and Mobility Related Textbooks or Manuals - 2.5 points

Critique of O&M Related Article or Book Chapter - 1.5 points

Critique of Orientation and Mobility Book or Monograph - 2.5 points

Grant Writing - 5 points

Reviewing Grants Related to Orientation and Mobility, Education, or Rehabilitation - 2.5 points

 

Category 4: Professional Preparation

Teaching Academic Course (in which at least 50% content was focused on Structured Discovery Cane Travel (SDCT) methods/techniques) - 5 points per quarter/semester (20 pts/12 months)

Curriculum Development (for training O&M instructors in SDCT methods and principles) - 2.5 points per course

Supervision of SDCT internship (400 hours) or fieldwork supervision (800 hours) - 5 points

Conducting NOMC Certification examination - 2 points

 

Category 5: Training and Education

Conducting Training Workshop/Session (in which the content centered on SDCT training philosophy and principals) - 2.5 points

Attendance at a Workshop (at least 50% of the content was related to SDCT techniques and principals, or CBMR philosophy and history) - 1.25 points

Conducting Field Training or Demonstration in Hands-on SDCT Instruction - 2.5 points

Completion of Course Related to O&M/Rehabilitation - 2 points

Membership in Professional O&M/Education/Rehabilitation Organizations - 2 points

Attending a workshop or seminar in multicultural aspects, research or research design, disability legislation, principles of case management, negotiation and conflict resolution strategies, community resources, client advocacy, working with teams across disciplines, healthcare, medical aspects and implications of various disabilities, attitudinal barriers of people with disabilities - 2 points

Completing a Foreign Language Course (where a second language was acquired) - 2.5 points

 

Category 6: Research

Conducting Original SDCT/Rehabilitation-Related Research - 5 points

Publishing Results of Research - 2.5 points

Assisting in Research or Research Design that is Published- 2.5 points

Participating in SDCT-Related Research - 1.5 points

Critiquing Published O&M Research - 1.5 points

Secondary Analysis of Published Research or Original Data - 2 points

 

Category 7: Community Service

Providing Direct SDCT Instruction without Compensation - (see category 1)

Developing In-house SDCT/CBMR-Related Training Programs - 10 points

Conducting/Training In-house Training Programs - 5 points

Demonstrating Services to a National or State Professional Organization - 1.5 points

Presenting at Public Schools/Colleges on Blindness - 1.5 points

 

Category 8: Governmental Affairs

Develop and advocate for Legislation, Regulations, or Policy - 5 points

Advocating for Legislation at the State or Federal Level - 2 points

Drafting Resolutions Related to SDCT/Education/Rehabilitation - 1.5 points

 

Category 9: Professional Ethics

Note: At least 10 points during the five year period of certification must come from continuing education in the area of professional ethics.

Read NBPCB Code of Ethics- 8 points

Sign and Return NBPCB Code of Ethics Agreement Form - 2 points

Complete a Course in Professional Ethics, Multicultural Awareness, or Professional Counseling (may be an online course) - 5 points

 

NOMC Recertification Examination

Each certificant who does not acquire 100 points must go through the original application and examination process to retain certification. If the applicant chooses this option, he/she must:

  • Complete the recertification application
  • Return the application with a $50 application fee
  • Schedule and take performance and written examinations (a $100 examination fee will be assessed at that time)

 

NOMC certification will be invalid during the time of any lapsed expiration date on the NOMC certificate. The applicant will be recertified once the application and examination process is completed.

 

NOMC Recertification Grievance and Appeals

Eligibility criteria for recertification are established by the Board of Directors of the NBPCB with recommendation from the Certification Committee.

 

Unsuccessful candidates will receive a written denial of certification. A process of appeal upon written submission is available to any denied candidate who feels that the eligibility criteria have been inaccurately, inconsistently, or unfairly applied.

 

The process of appeal does NOT permit:

  • Additional time to acquire education, employment experience or supervision required for certification
  • Additional time to submit the documentation required for certification

 

Levels of Appeal

There are two levels of appeal the event of denial of initial certification or recertification. The first is to the Certification Committee and the second is to the Board of Directors. This structure assures:

  • A review of the relevant facts
  • A second, independent evaluation of the materials presented
  • Fair and consistent application of eligibility criteria

 

First Level of Appeal

The appellant must send to the Certification Committee a written request for appeal, by certified mail postmarked within 30 days of official receipt of the letter of denial. The request for appeal must include in a single packet: a signed statement of the grounds for appeal and all relevant documentation in support thereof. Only documentation included with the first appeal request will be considered at either level of appeal.

 

The Certification Committee makes all final decisions on what are acceptable Continuing Education credits. Any additional documentation related to CE credits as well as the reason the appellate should receive Continuing Education credit must be submitted at this time.

The decision will be made by majority vote of the Certification Committee. All documentation will be reviewed and discussed by each member of the Certification Committee before an appeal is voted on. If the Certification Committee upholds denial of certification, the appellant has the right to petition for a second level of appeal.

 

The Second Level of Appeal

The appellant must send to the President of NPBCB a written request for a second level appeal, by certified mail postmarked within 30 days of receipt of the decision on first appeal. The request for a second level of appeal must set forth specific objections to the determinations made by the Certification Committee in rendering its decision in the first appeal. No additional documentation may be included.

 

The President will forward the appellant's written request and all documentation accompanying the request for the first level of appeal to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will review the appeal and have a majority vote. The decision of the Board of Directors will be final and can not be appealed.

 

NOMC Recertification Fees

Applications will not be processed without proof of payment of appropriate fees. Any application post marked after the expiration date printed on the NOMC certificate will be automatically assessed a late fee. All fees are non-refundable.

 

Recertification Application Fee – $250.00

Late Fee – $50.00

Certificate Replacement Fee – $20.00

 

Payment Information

All fees can be paid by personal check, bank draft, or money order. All payments should be made out to:

NBPCB

101 South Trenton Street

Ruston, LA 71270

 

Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) Policy

A fee of $25.00 will be charged for any returned check due to NSF. Fees must then be paid by bank draft or money order. No services will be provided by the NBPCB until all fees are paid in full.