International certification for brain injury rehabilitation specialists

Abstract

Several efforts have been made to create national standards for the training and certification of brain injury rehabilitation specialists in post-acute settings in the United States, culminating most recently in the formation of an academy that has developed a basic training curriculum and national certification standards. Despite similar efforts to develop certification standards on an international level, progress has been slower for several reasons. The status of interdisciplinary training in the US and several European countries over the past decade is briefly reviewed. Progress made to date in the US is contrasted to what has been done in Europe. Due to the vast differences between the American and European models of service delivery, more survey data needs to be collected at the international level to guide planning and determine what needs to be done to advance training in the field of brain injury rehabilitation. The method in which the international academy will proceed with further study of this important issue is described.