[Pibe-division] Fw: National Certification in Literary Braille - New York test venue

Mon Feb 23 21:31:27 UTC 2009

I am forwarding a response to a question that Penny posted on these listservs. Please address any questions or concerns directly to Louise Walch. You will find her to be very willing to share the work of this Board and to answer all questions you may have. 

Sheila
----- Original Message ----- 

Hello Penny,

In regard to your question about the five-year recertification requirement, here is some background to help explain our rationale:

The NBPCB was formed to insure that professionals working in the field
maintain high standards. Braille, like many skills, may erode over time if
it is not being used. If a candidate were to be certified indefinitely, the
NBPCB could not verify to employers that that person is in fact still
current in his/her Braille literacy. As a result, the five year retesting
policy is put in place to insure that candidates are not only competent at
the time of their initial test, but that they maintain this competence
throughout their professional career. This, we believe, is the only
responsible course of action to insure that qualified persons are working in
the field of providing braille literary skills to children and adults.  Furthermore, please be assured that we are making every effort to keep the cost to candidates as low as possible.

I hope I have sufficiently answered your question. If you have further
questions, feel free to contact me again by e-mail at Braille at nbpcb.org, or
call the NBPCB office at (318) 257-4554. Please also visit our website at
www.nbpcb.org for more information.

Best regards,

Louise

Louise G. Walch
NBPCB Coordinator
Braille at nbpcb.org
www.nbpcb.org

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Penny Reeder 
  To: Sheila Amato ; aernet at lists.aerbvi.org ; Professionals in Blindness Education Division List 
  Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 11:58 AM
  Subject: Re: [AERNet] National Certification in Literary Braille - New York test venue

  Dear Sheila and others,

  I wonder what the rationale could be for the requirement for recertification in braille?  I can understand the requirement for recertification in all kinds of other topic areas, but it seems to me that once someone has demonstrated competency with braille, he or she is unlikely to lose that competency.  It seems like more of a money-making scheme to me than a rquirement that could be based in any legitimate need.  The code does not change very much over time, and the skill set continues to remain the same.

  There is no similar requirement for certification or recertification in hand-writing, or keyboarding, or reading.

  What do others think?

  Penny

  At 11:41 AM 2/22/2009, Sheila Amato wrote:

    Braille Test Coming to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />New York, March 15<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

    THE NATIONAL CERTIFICATION IN

    LITERARY BRAILLE (NCLB)

    As you may be aware, the National Literary Braille Competency Test (NLBCT) of the National Library Service (NLS) has been transferred to the administration of the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB). With the NLBCT as its cornerstone, the NBPCB has established the National Certification in Literary Braille (NCLB), which is a complete professional credential that requires recertification on a five year cycle. Individuals who were certified with the NLBCT prior to 2006 will need to retest through the NBPCB; however, the initial fee may be waived if the applicant can show proof of original NLBCT credential.

    The NCLB is currently the only nationally recognized certification in literary Braille. The examination has not been substantially changed from its earlier version once administered by the NLS, however a five year recertification requirement has been instituted in the interest of maintaining high standards. The exam is not aimed at transcribers. Rather, it is a valid test of a person's ability to competently read, write, and understand contracted, literary Braille, and is being targeted to all individuals who teach Braille professionally, and/or those seeking to be credentialed in this area.

    See the following details for testing in New York:

    Date:                Sunday, March 15, 2009

    Time:                8:00am-5:00pm (Doors close 8:30am)

    Location:          Lighthouse International (6th Floor Studio/Jr. Ballroom)

    111 East 59th Street

    New York, NY 10022-1202

    Cost:                $250 combined application/testing fee

    Deadline:          Sunday, March 1, 2009

    Subsequent NCLB examinations will be convened wherever an appropriate venue can be procured, and sufficient applicant numbers make it possible. Please contact the NBPCB for more details.

    To apply online go to:

    www.nbpcb.org/nclb/application/

    or to download the NCLB Candidate Guidelines please visit:

    www.nbpcb.org/pages/downloaddocuments.php/

    For additional information please visit the NBPCB website at: www.nbpcb.org , call the NBPCB office at (318) 257-4554, or contact Louise Walch, NBPCB Coordinator, at: braille at nbpcb.org .

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