The neurodevelopmental training certification is given to medical professionals working in a specialty field. The certification consists of formal training and on the job experience. Neurodevelopmental certified professionals work with children and adults, diagnosing developmental disabilities because of birth defects or brain injuries. They then decide the best treatment for the patient, such as physical or occupational therapy.
Training
Find a training center. Training centers, universities and many hospitals offer the formal training that is required to get the certification. Certification requires 24 months of formal training in neurodevelopmental disabilities. You must also complete 12 months of formal training in neurodevelopmental disabilities and 50 percent of practice time working with patients with neurodevelopmental disabilities for the prior two and one half years. You must have 50 percent of practice time working with neurodevelopmental disabilities for the past five years.
Certification Examinations
Earn certification from exams in three areas. These areas include pediatrics, neurology with special qualification in child neurology and neurodevelopmental disabilities.
On the Job Training
Work with neurodevelopmental patients for five years. Before receiving your certification, you must have a minimum of five years working in a medical facility with 50 percent of your time devoted to helping neurdevelopmental disabled patients. The alternative to the five years working at a medical facility is to have additional formal training classes.
Supervised Training
Complete 4 years of combined training in a supervised residency program. This program must be focused on neurology and neurodevelopmental disabilities. The training must be done at a single institution. You must also complete a two-year residency in general pediatrics.
Certification Examination
Take your certification exam. You must sit and take an exam to receive your neurodevelopmental training certification. The exam will be for one of three specialty areas: child neurology, pediatrics or general neurodevelopmental disabilities. Once the examination has been completed with a passing grade, all applicants have to go through a period called the “grandfathering period”. During this period, you are required to have 24 months of ACGME accredited training in general pediatrics. This consists of PL-1 and PL-2 residency years. It is also required that you have 48 months of combined training in neurodevelopmetnal disabilities and neurology that is credited by ACGME.
The neurodevelopmental training certification exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions that are to be completed over a computer module. You have a total of 4 hours to take this exam.
