• Recognition for voluntarily meeting rigorous professional standards beyond professional and regional licensing requirements.
• Enhancement of professional reputation and credibility
• Increased opportunity for career advancement and/or increased earnings.
• Listing on the online public registry of autism professionals

• Litigation is a major concern in schools. Attorneys and parent advocates want evidence that staff are highly trained to work with the students in their care. District administrators report that being able to show documentation of having a Certified Autism Specialist in the classroom has been an answer to this question. In addition, schools have found that certification of support staff (such as paraprofessionals) has also been a major benefit.
• Clinic and agency administrators have found that holding their Certification as an Autism Specialist has enhanced their professional and local reputation. Particularly, when numerous staff members are also certified.
• Increased parent confidence in your support of children with autism
• Can assist in procuring grant funding
• Assists in compliance with special education law
• Demonstration that your district, clinic, or agency has a strong commitment to ongoing professional development and support of children on the autism spectrum

Access to a community of autism professionals who have demonstrated their commitment to providing quality care

• Listing on the online public registry of autism professionals
• Monthly newsletter with updates and news in autism
• Certification for 2 years
• Continuing Education Units ** when applicable
• Jaden’s Voice Logo and Decal
• A digital badge is also available upon request

You will be issued a certification number valid for two years that will be made available on our public search by any third party. You will also receive an official certification card by mail. CAS will receive a certificate via mail and have the option to have this framed. All certificants will also receive monthly autism news updates via email.

A Certificate represents successful completion of a body of coursework focused on a specific area and sometimes includes an examination of knowledge. Completion of the courses indicates a significant commitment on the part of the student to make the Certificate topic an area of expertise.

Examples of Popular Certificates: Continuing Education Certificate of Completion, High School Diploma, General College Degree

A Certification is essentially the process of publicly attesting that a specified quality or standard has been achieved or exceeded. Professional certifications,  such as those obtained through a credentialing program like IBCCES,  use a formal process to identify and acknowledge individuals who have met a recognized set of standards. Usually these standards include formal education, documented work experience, and an exam of knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the job. When an individual meets the standards, he or she receives certification from a certifying agency. Certifications are nearly always offered by a private, non-governmental agency. These agencies are typically made up of industry experts who identify and acknowledge those who have met a set of approved industry standards. Certification is voluntary and usually represents recognition of the expertise itself. Completion of the certification requirements indicates a significant commitment on the part of the applicant to make the Certification topic an area of expertise. An individual takes the certification exam because they want to enjoy the benefits of certification which may include career promotion, increase in compensation and many other benefits.

Examples of Popular Certifications: Microsoft Certification, Certified Autism Specialist, Six Sigma Certification

Licensure usually refers to a state-based regulatory system, where a professional is required to document education, work experience, and perhaps some examination of knowledge level in order to legally provide a given type of service. It grants permission to an individual to engage in an occupation if it finds that the applicant has attained the degree of competency required to ensure the public health, safety, and welfare will be reasonably protected. Licensing it always based on the action of a legislative body. Once a licensing law has been passed it becomes illegal for anyone to engage in that occupation unless he or she has a license. The health care professions are typically licensed at the state and/or local level, but not usually at the federal level.

Examples of Popular Licenses: Physical Therapist, Speech Language Pathologist, Registered Nurse

• You can use the designation, CAS or AC following your name. A certification would follow your degree and license when writing out your name. For example, you could write: Jane Smith, M.S., NCSP, CAS.
• CAS will receive a certificate via mail. You have the option to have this framed.
• You may use the IBCCES, CAS, or AC logo as appropriate to indicate your credential. Please refer to our logo usage guide for specific guidance and to download logos.

CAS and AC receive a wallet card and can let individuals know that you are searchable in our database.

This certification is recognized in 50 states and 32 countries.

Certified Autism Specialists and Autism Certificants live and work throughout the United States and throughout the world.

• IBCCES uses the same stringent criteria that is used by state and governmental licensing boards.
• The CAS and AC credentials are a testimony to an individual’s commitment to ongoing professional development in the field of autism. Practice is limited to the individual’s professional license and area rules and guidelines.

A state, government, or professional license shows that you have met the set-upon criteria to perform a specific job in that area. IBCCES certification as a Certified Autism Specialist or an Autism Certificate is not profession-specific, it is content-specific. The CAS or AC is used in conjunction with your license to demonstrate that you specialize and have additional training in autism within your profession. IBCCES credentials are a voluntary enhancement of your license and dedication to the field of autism.

A University Autism Certificate is proof that you have completed a course or group of courses. IBCCES will accept these certificates, provided they are within the last 2 years, towards the 14 CE hours needed. The CAS and AC certifications demonstrate a higher level of an ongoing commitment to autism as an additional 14 CE hours are needed every 2 years. The field of autism is frequently changing and this ongoing commitment is needed.

IBCCES autism certification also recognizes that an individual works in the field of autism. A university does not recognize this real life experience

The BCBA is behavior specific. Many BCBA’s do work with students with autism, however, no autism training is required. The CAS and AC are autism specific. Many BCBA’s choose to also receive their CAS to demonstrate their commitment to autism.

An ABA certification is the study of a specific type of therapy that is used for students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. ABA education hours are accepted for the CAS and AC, but IBCCES does not require professionals to be certified in ABA.

• A restaurant that serves gluten free food
• An employer who supports an accommodating work environment
•  A service professional who is sensitive to special needs customers
• A medical office that goes the extra mile to make special needs visitors comfortable
• Care providers who welcome autistic children with open arms