Certification Examination
Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainers (CBISTs) are approved to provide official ACBIS training. CBISTs demonstrate advanced skills in the field of brain injury and maintain their skills through continuing education.
Accessing the CBIS Examination
Upon application approval, applicants receive an email notifying enrollment in the CBIST Examination. Please use the enrollment email’s unique link to access the CBIST Examination.
Suggested Study Resources
- ACBIS Examination Study Outline
- Essential Brain Injury Guide, Edition 6.0 Study Companion (Print & Digital)
CBIST Examination Guidelines and Instructions
- Candidates have two hours to complete the examination (unless accommodation has been requested under the ADA and approved).
- There are 70 multiple-choice questions. All of the questions are equal in value. There is only one correct answer for each question.
- Candidates must score 80% or higher on the examination to pass and receive certification.
Proctoring Requirements:
The exam is online, available on-demand, and proctored using automated facial, screen, and audio capture. There is no advanced scheduling. Candidates will need:
- A computer with a webcam and a microphone
- A smartphone or tablet with a camera and QR scanning capability
- A photo ID (i.e., driver’s license, work badge, etc.)
- Google Chrome (recommended) or Firefox browser
Retakes
CBIST Certification includes two attempts at the CBIST Examination within a one-year testing session. ACBIS allows for a third attempt of the CBIST Examination during the one-year testing session, requiring a 30-day waiting period from the most recent attempt and payment of the Third Attempt Fee of $125. Candidates will need to email ACBIS to receive access to an examination retake. After the one-year testing session or third attempt, candidates must reapply.
Certificate Issuance
Candidates must pass the exam and complete the CBIST Train-the-Trainer to receive a one-year certificate, available in Account Transcripts. Certificants in good standing may use the CBIST credential.
ADA Accommodations
ACBIS provides reasonable testing accommodations, guided by the Americans with Disabilities Act, to certification candidates with documented disabilities. Candidates should review the information and complete the Request for Accommodations form (here) for considered for accommodations.
Note: This exam is proprietary and belongs to the Brain Injury Association of America. During or after the exam, applicants cannot share or write down questions. The exam is administered online with automated proctoring. Permission for automated proctoring (including facial, screen, and audio capture recordings) is required during the entirety of the exam. The exam should be taken in a quiet room with no distractions. Papers, books, and notes are not allowed in the testing area. If these instructions are printed, please hold them to the screen (visible to the web camera) when in use. Otherwise, please remove them from the testing area once the examination has begun. No assistance of any kind may be given to or used by the examinee. Cheating can include speaking to another during the testing process, reading papers/notes/books, looking at another screen, stopping sharing, or leaving the testing screen while taking the test, or leaving the testing area while taking the test. The use of headphones, headsets, earpieces, and/or earbuds is prohibited. Use of more than one computer monitor is prohibited. Use of cell phones is prohibited other than for proctoring purposes (i.e., scanning the QR code and setting up your camera) and calling ACBIS Staff for troubleshooting technical issues.