Date: Thursday, June 21, 2012
Category: Conference News
RESNA will offer a discount on the Seating & Mobility Specialist (SMS) Certification application fee beginning June 27, 2012 until August 1, 2012. All applications received during this time period will receive $50 off the regular fee of $250. The start date was chosen to coincide with the RESNA 2012 Annual Conference in Baltimore, MD, which begins the same week.
RESNA decided to offer the discount to support skilled professionals in acquiring this advanced certification. “Wheelchair users and the clinicians and suppliers who serve them are being directly affected by a number of initiatives, so raising the bar by creating a standard that sets the professionals apart who have specific expertise is important,” explained Carmen DiGiovine, PhD, RET, ATP/SMS and Chair of RESNA’s Professional Standards Board. “We are excited to support the professionals who have dedicated 5, 10, or 15+ years of their professional career to the field of seating and mobility by offering this discount, so that they can benefit from the competitive and professional advantages of SMS certification."
Insurers, health plans, long term care facilities, suppliers and manufacturers can use the SMS and the Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) as a way to identify and recognize qualified specialists. The SMS is focused specifically on seating, positioning, and mobility and is considered an advanced certification, while ATP certification ensures a common level of competence in providing direct consumer-related services in assistive technology.
In order to qualify to sit for the SMS exam, candidates must have their ATP certification and be in good standing, and at least 1,000 hours of direct, in-person consumer service delivery experience in seating & mobility. In addition, candidates must document initiative in at least two professional service categories (continuing education, presentations/formal instruction, mentorship, client service delivery, advocacy, and publication). The program is intended for clinicians, suppliers, engineers and others involved in seating and mobility service provision.
The SMS exam is designed to test candidates’ ability to use knowledge required in daily practice. The 165-question computerized exam includes case studies, videos and photographs and covers five major domain areas:
- Performance of seating and mobility assessment
- Funding resources, coverage and payment
- Implementation of intervention
- Outcome assessment and follow-up
- Professional behavior
“Any ATP providing direct client services in seating and mobility who qualifies for the SMS certification should take advantage of this discount,” said DiGiovine. “The industry is clearly trending towards a demand for demonstrated specialized expertise. Now is the time to get this advanced certification, which provides external validation and recognition from the premier society for professionals working in this field.”
For more information, and to download the application (available on the website starting June 27 with the discount), please visit www.resna.org/certification.