Frequently Asked Questions

Biofeedback is learning how to regulate your own physiological processes with a feedback mechanism, usually a machine that measures the function and gives a sound, visual cue, or haptic information as feedback. The physiological processes measured can be heart rate variability, galvanic skin response, temperature biofeedback, EMG biofeedback (for muscle tension), brainwave biofeedback (also called “neurofeedback” or EEG biofeedback). or others. With practice, the individual’s body learns a new way of being, by reconditioning the old state of processes, for greater health.

Neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback (sometimes called “EEG Biofeedback”). Most neurofeedback processes begin by first taking an EEG or Quantitative EEG (QEEG) to see what is happening in the person’s brainwaves that is responsible for their health complaints. Once the brainwave pattern responsible for their complaint is understood, the clinician next programs the neurofeedback software to address that condition (often by “uptraining” or “downtraining” that finding). There are many types of neurofeedback, as well as many different neurofeedback systems. Over the course of sessions, an individual will learn how to regulate their brainwave activity for the betterment of their psychology and/or health.

Quantitative EEG (also called a “brain map”) is the quantification of EEG. EEG is the measurement of brainwaves, taken by a differential amplifier. The EEG (also called “raw EEG”) is the squiggles that are the brainwaves, often used by neurologists to diagnose abnormal brain activity. A QEEG brain map decomposes the raw data, using a fast fourier transform, into individual integer Hz bins (i.e. 1 Hz, 2 Hz, 3 Hz, etc.). Other measures we commonly see are coherence, asymmetry, phase, cross-frequency coupling, connectivity measures, and independent components. Some QEEG databases are “normative” databases, which use Z-scores (i.e. standard deviations from the normal same-age range) as a basis of normalcy against which clinicians can measure their patients. QEEG is used to better understand what is happening with the EEG, thus allowing clinicians to make informed decisions.

Whether a clinician or technician starts with the board certification in neurotherapy or board certification in Quantitative EEG is a personal decision. The BCIA accreditation will prepare the individual as a neurofeedback technician by teaching principles of neurofeedback, however, the BCIA does not teach how to use any specific neurofeedback system. The applicant will either have to take a course on neurofeedback separate from the BCIA didactic, or train under a clinician using neurofeedback equipment. 

The QEEG accreditation will teach the individual how to interpret EEG and QEEG, and this is best suited for the applicant seeking deeper knowledge in this field. To complete this accreditation you must have access to EEGs and you must demonstrate proficiency in recording, editing, and analyzing EEG by the completion of the curriculum.

Both the QEEG and BCIA programs are 36-hours in estimated time to complete. They are both self-paced studies, allowing you flexibility and to work at your own speed. We recommend setting a reasonable goal that works with your lifestyle, establishing a schedule, and doing your best to stick with it. That will increase the likelihood that you will complete the program.

The course is available for one year; if you are concerned you will not be able to complete it within the year, please reach out to schoolofneurotherapy@gmail.com to request additional time.

Yes, upon completion of the QEEG and BCIA programs, you are eligible to receive Continuing Education Units issued by R. Cassidy Seminars. Each course can afford the attendee 36 continuing education units. Links will be provided once you have completed the QEEG Practicum.

No.Unfortunately, we cannot offer CEUs for the individual chapters in the BCIA and QEEG Programs. We can, however, provide a certificate of completion upon request that you may use to apply for CEUs with professional organizations to which you belong. You must request this certificate, as we do not create them otherwise.

There is no order in which the student has to complete the steps necessary for certification. That said, many people choose to pursue mentoring while they are taking the online course, they then present their five case reports to their mentor, and finally, they take the final exam.

Yes, of course. You are more than welcome to take the classes individually or enroll in the entire course set of each program.

Search the area you live in for neurofeedback practitioners, if you cannot find any, or the local practitioners are not taking trainees, you can shadow at many clinics around the country. Most clinics will charge a fee for one week of shadowing.

In the Fall of 2021, The School of Neurotherapy will launch a Mentor’s Directory, allowing you to find mentors in your areas of interest for both the QEEG and BCIA certification process. It is important that you find a mentor whose interests align with your own. The BCIA has recently expanded the permission of mentorship to include online mentorship. If you cannot find an appropriate mentor at the School of Neurotherapy website, check out the BCIA or QEEG-D website: https://certify.bcia.org/4dcgi/resctr/search.html

https://qeegcertificationboard.org/business-directory/

The School of Neurotherapy charges mentors a small, annual fee for inclusion in the Mentor’s Directory. There are no fees for students seeking mentorship. Most mentors charge students an hourly fee for their services. The amount and application of those fees are entirely at the discretion of the mentor.

The QEEG Practicum is a live, interactive, class covering comprehensive artifact detection, advanced interpretative techniques to avoid misdiagnosis, and much more. It is the capstone of the QEEG Certification Course and is required if you plan to seek certification from the International QEEG Board. It is important to remember this is your opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the content presented in the course and your proficiency at capturing and analyzing data. For that reason, we strongly encourage you to complete all of the chapter modules and feel confident in your abilities before enrolling in the Practicum.

While the Practicum is a live, interactive class, the Practice Exam is a self-paced, independent exam that mirrors the actual QEEG exam. You may take the practice exam at any time and repeat it as often as you’d like. The practice exam prepares students for the type and difficulty of questions they can expect from the QEEG examination.

If the instructor feels you are not yet prepared to take the QEEG exam (either you haven’t completed the QEEG course or you’ve failed to absorb important material) they may request that you go back and study some of the chapters again or in greater depth, so you are prepared to take the exam. In this case, you will be asked to retake the practicum so you can once again demonstrate your competency and proficiency in the field of EEG and QEEG.

No, we do not offer tuition assistance or scholarships at this time. We do, however, offer you the ability to pay in installments via PayPal and PayPal Credit. Your ability to utilize these features depends upon your individual standing with PayPal.

To see the classes you have signed up for, first, click on the “My Account” button at the top right of the School of Neurotherapy home page. In the dashboard, click on “My Courses” to see pre-recorded online classes. Click on “Orders” to see the training and events products you have purchased.

You need not fulfill any basic requirements to take the BCIA 36-hour didactic course. This course is available to anyone who desires to know more about neurofeedback and neurotherapy.

To qualify for the BCN accreditation, you must demonstrate a Bachelor’s level degree in a healthcare-related field. Approved health care fields include psychotherapy, psychology, nursing, (including 2-year registered nurses with license; not including LVNs or LPNs), physical therapy, occupational therapy, rehabilitation, social work, counseling, chiropractic, exercise physiology, recreational therapy, speech pathology, physician’s assistant (proof of certification or license needed), and sports medicine.

Anyone can take the QEEG course, the content applies to anyone wanting to learn about Biofeedback, EEG, and Quantitative EEG. 

Clinically-licensed individuals (be it Registered Nurse, Clinical Psychologist, Marriage and Family Therapist) are eligible for the QEEG-D. Non-licensed professionals can obtain the Quantitative EEG Technologist (QEEG-T) Certification. In the field of neurotherapy and applied psychophysiology, the QEEG-D and QEEG-T are seen as high distinctions denoting a clinician’s competence and experience in analysis.

To earn the BCIA certification, you will need to have completed 100 client sessions using neurofeedback, as well as 20 sessions on yourself, to demonstrate self-regulation. This means you must have access to a neurofeedback system. You can use many different neurofeedback systems to clock these hours. 

To earn the QEEG certification, you will need access to equipment and software for EEG and QEEG acquisition. By the completion of the course, you will need to have demonstrated proficiency in five of your own client cases. 

You can earn the BCIA certification with any neurofeedback equipment; you can earn the QEEG certification with any QEEG software and differential amplifier (hardware). If you are in question, contact the BCIA (at email phone) or the International QEEG certification board (at email phone) for approval.

Both the QEEG and BCIA programs are 36-hours in estimated time to complete. They are both self-paced studies, allowing you flexibility and to work at your own speed. We recommend setting a reasonable goal that works with your lifestyle, establishing a schedule, and doing your best to stick with it. That will increase the likelihood that you will complete the program.