Many times practitioners ask my advice on how to be successful in applying for Board or Specialty Certification. Simply, it is a goal-setting process in which you must carefully attend to all steps in the application process.
First of all, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of reading the directions! The first thing I tell practitioners to do when they are considering certification is to download the application and read over it completely. Read it once to just let the words wash over you; read it a second time for understanding. And as you are completing the application, read each section you are working on to make sure you are following the instructions correctly! Don’t hesitate (or wait until the last minute!) to ask questions either.
Then--just as we would do with a client--set realistic goals for the completion of each step. When I was preparing my application for board certification, I completely under-estimated the time it would take to gather all the evidence and to complete the reflections. Assuming you actually have a fairly well organized collection of evidence to support the various professional development activities you’ve engaged in, a minimum of 3 months is not an unreasonable expectation. Especially if you’re not planning to block an entire weekend or more to work on the application!
Take your time with this…it’s supposed to be a meaningful process that helps you really look at your practice and think about where you’ve been, how you’ve grown professionally, and where you’re going next. Savor the journey…and take a friend along for the ride!
Christine Urish, PhD, OTR/L, BCMH
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