Board Certified Specialists in Child Language
In order to maintain certification as a BCS-CL with the ABCLLD, specialists are required to submit an annual fee. Renewal requests are sent via email each fall. In order to ensure you receive all ABCLLD communications, please notify us at abclldinfo@gmail.com if your contact information has changed recently.
Further, specialists are required to submit two additional documents every five years:
1. A completed Five-Year Renewal Form, which includes:
A description of current employment and responsibilities.
A description of activities related to child language and language disorders that complies with current standards of the Council for Clinical Certification for specialty certification.
Verification of completion of 70 clock hours of intermediate or advanced continuing education in the past five years—at least 55 hours must be specific to child language and no more than 15 hours can be related to child language and language disorders. CEUs may be from more than one source (e.g., workshops, webinars, journals). Specialists are responsible to maintain a record of every activity participated in (use this convenient spreadsheet). Specialists are only required to submit certificates and supporting documents if selected to participate in a random audit.
2. A scan of your current ASHA membership card to verify your Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP).
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CEU Tracking
Specialists, please use this convenient spreadsheet to record your advanced continuing education activities. This spreadsheet includes the information you will need to provide in the event you are selected for audit.
Retired Status
Are you considering retiring from practice or are you retired? You may remain a Board Certified Specialist in Child Language by changing your classification to BCS-CL (Retired).
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Board Certified Specialists Who Are Retired From Practice
Effective December 31, 2015: A Board Certified Specialist in Child Language and Language Disorders who is retired from practice (not providing or supervising the provision of clinical services) may qualify to change Active specialty certification status to BCS-CL (Retired). Retired Status allows for continued affiliation with the American Board of Child Language and Language Disorders (ABCLLD), appending the BCS-CL (Retired) designation to one’s name. If Retired Status is approved, the requirement for certification maintenance professional development will be discontinued. In addition, Retired Status results in reduction in annual fees.
Retired specialty certification in child language and language disorders is available to specialists who:
- Have retired from practice;
- Have held Specialty Certification in Child Language and Language Disorders (or Specialty Recognition in Child Language) for at least the past 10 consecutive years;
- Either have held CCC-SLP for at least 25 total years or are 65 years of age or older; and
- Have retired their CCC-SLP and now hold CCC-SLP (Retired).
NOTE: If an individual holds Retired Status in Specialty Certification in Child Language and wishes to return to Active Status, reinstatement will be subject to reinstatement procedures current at that time. This may include completing professional development hours and resubmitting the application portfolio.
To apply for Retired Specialty Certification Status, please complete and submit the Retired Status Application Form.
Retired Status Application
Are you a former specialist looking to regain your board certification?
ABCLLD offers a one-time reinstatement to individuals whose annual or five-year renewal lapsed. Please email abclldinfo@gmail.com for more information.