1. Kay Brooks, CBIST Meghan Trowbridge, CBIST
Want to be a cbis? the certified brain injury specialist and brain injury fundamentals courses
Kay Brooks, CBIST
Meghan Trowbridge, CBIST

2. Objectives
Explain the difference between ACBIS Fundamentals & CBIS Exams
Review the ACBIS Fundamentals Certification Process
Identify the target audience for ACBIS Fundamentals

3. What is acbis? Academy for the Certification of Brain Injury
Specialists
Provides education, training, certification and ongoing resources for specialists in the brain injury community
ACBIS offers a voluntary certification program for both direct care staff and professionals working in brain injury services

4. What is brain injury fundamentals?
Certificate program (not a credential) valid for three years
7-12 Hour Course
No continuing education needed
Taught by a Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer

5. Who should attend ACBIS fundamentals?
Direct support staff
Family members
Non-licensed facility staff
Case managers
First responders
Community members

6. ACBIS Fundamentals breakdown
Cost: Fundamentals application & Workbook = $125 + shipping
Commitment of 7-12 hours of training (in person)
ACBIS Fundamentals Certification – valid for three years
Must have a group of at least 7 for a training session with CBIST

7. ACBIS Fundamentals overview
Cognition
Guidelines for interacting and building rapport
Brain injury and behavior
Medical complications
Safe medication management
Families coping with brain injury
Case studies

8. Testing process Brian Injury Fundamentals Quiz administered online.
Quiz is open book an open notes.
Total of 34 multiple choice questions and two ungraded short answer questions.
Must score 80% or higher on the quiz to receive the certificate.
Candidates may retake the quiz again if they do not pass – unlimited attempts within the first year of application.

9. ACBIS Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS)
Brain Injury Fundamentals Certificate
The Certified Brain Injury Specialists (CBIS) crossdisciplinary education for professionals and paraprofessionals in the field emphasizes familiarity with all aspects of brain injury, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, establishes a common vocabulary
among service providers, and contributes to an inter‐disciplinary team approach to rehabilitation.
The Brain Injury Fundamentals training and
certificate program for direct care and ancillary staff, family caregivers, and community members provides practical knowledge across mechanism of injury, cognition, physical issues, medical issues,
behavioral issues, medication review, and
family/caregiver burden.
CBIS/CBIST application fees range from $210 to $300. Included in the fee is a one‐year subscription to the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. The annual renewal fee is $65.
Fundamentals participants pay $125 (plus s/h) for the registration and course workbook bundle.
Applicants can choose to purchase the Essential Brain Injury Guide 5.0, the primary text, for $90 (plus s/h).
The Brain Injury Fundamentals Practical Training Workbook is included in the registration/workbook bundle.
Applicants must have 500 hours of currently verifiable direct contact experience with individuals with TBI.
No hour requirement
Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED.
No educational requirement

10. What is the certified brain injury specialist?
A credential for individuals who assist persons with brain injury to restore, maintain and promote optimal health.
CBIS is the next step in professional development and has been widely recognized in the brain injury field since 1996.
Provides recognition of advanced training and work experience in brain injury services

11. Who should consider becoming a cbis?
Applicants with at least 500 hours of currently verifiable direct contact experience with an individual(s) with brain injury
Experience can be paid employment or academic internship. Volunteer work does not qualify
Qualifying experience must include formal supervision or have have been conducted while the individual operated under a professional license
Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent

12. CBIS Breakdown: Application
Applicants may apply individually or as a member of a group. Individual cost $300; Group of 5-29 $235/person
Must first complete a User Account Setup Form, then the CBIS application form
Verification of employment is required
New paid applicants receive a free one year subscription to the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation
Highly recommend purchasing Essential Brain Injury Guide $90 if purchased at time of application

13. CBIS Breakdown: Training/Renewal
Training is not required to sit for the CBIS examination; self- study is allowed. Training is helpful to many
Official ACBIS training is offered by Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainers (CBIST) in SC.
Course length is dependent on the training and their teaching plan. Typically 8-12 hours over several days
Certification must be renewed annually (requirements must be best to maintain certification). Annual fee is $65

14. CBIS Training /EBIG 5.0 Topics (Sample)
Neuroanatomy and Neuroimaging
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Fatigue and Sleep Disturbances
Aging with a Brain Injury
Psychosocial Complications
Substance Misuse
Pediatrics and Adolescents
Gender and Sexuality

15. CBIS Examination Must score 80% or greater on examination
The exam is online; there are 70 multiple choice questions
You have exactly two hours to complete the test; no books or notes
Scores are reported immediately via
You may take one retest within one year of the initial application submission date. You must then reapply

16. References
ACBIS Fundamentals. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists ACBIS Brain Injury Treatment Education Clinical Treatment. (n.d.). Retrieved from information-eligibility
The Essential Brain Injury Guide. 5th ed. Brain Injury Association of America, 2016.

17. To schedule a training:
Joyce Davis, CBIS, Executive Director
Brain Injury Association of South Carolina
121 Executive Center Dr., Ste. 135
Columbia, SC  29210
1-877-TBI-FACT(in-state), (803)