NBEFC Professional Credentials
The National Board of Executive Function Certification awards professional credentials to qualified individuals who meet rigorous education, training, and examination requirements. Upon passing the board examination, you become a Board Certified Executive Function Coach with a credential designation that reflects your professional background. Educators and licensed clinicians who complete a specialist program also become a Board Certified Educational Executive Function Specialist or a Board Certified Clinical Executive Function Specialist, each with its own designation.
Why Credentials Matter
The difference between a certificate and a credential is professional recognition.
Training Programs (Certificate)
- ✗ Certificate of completion
- ✗ Attendance-based
- ✗ No competency verification
- ✗ No public registry
- ✗ Limited professional recognition
- ✗ No governing body oversight
NBEFC Board Credential
- ✓ Board certification
- ✓ Examination-based
- ✓ Verified competency
- ✓ Public registry listing
- ✓ National board recognition
- ✓ Code of ethics & standards
Your Credential Opens Doors
Schools, clinics, and organizations prioritize board-certified professionals. Your NBEFC credential verifies that you’ve met national standards through examination, not just attendance. It’s the difference between “I took a course” and “I’m a Board Certified Executive Function Coach.”
What You Earn
All credential holders receive both a professional title and a credential designation.
Board Certified Executive Function Coach
Upon passing the NBEFC board examination, you earn the professional title of Board Certified Executive Function Coach. This is your primary professional designation that demonstrates you have met rigorous national standards for competency in executive function coaching.
You also receive a credential designation (NBEFC-C, NBEFC-E, or NBEFC-T) that reflects your professional background and educational pathway.
Candidates in the Educational or Clinical Executive Function Specialist program earn a second board credential through that program’s own board examination: Board Certified Educational Executive Function Specialist (NBEFC-ES) or Board Certified Clinical Executive Function Specialist (NBEFC-CS). Each designation is reserved only for that certification.
Credential Designations
Your coach designation reflects your professional background and educational pathway. The specialist designations are reserved only for the specialist certifications.
Board Certified Executive Function Coach
For coaches, consultants, and practitioners providing EF support.
You earn: Board Certified Executive Function Coach + NBEFC-C designation
The NBEFC-C designation is awarded to professionals who provide executive function coaching, skills training, or performance support in private practice, organizational settings, or educational environments.
Who This Is For:
- • Executive function coaches building private practices
- • Life coaches and career coaches adding EF specialization
- • Performance coaches working with students or professionals
- • Educational consultants and academic coaches
- • Parent coaches and family support specialists
Requirements:
Complete NBEFC training and preparation program (150 hours) and pass the Board Examination.
Board Certified Executive Function Coach
For professionals with educational backgrounds working in school settings.
You earn: Board Certified Executive Function Coach + NBEFC-E designation
The NBEFC-E designation is awarded to professionals with degrees in education who provide executive function support in schools, districts, or formal educational environments.
Who This Is For:
- • Special education teachers adding EF coaching to their role
- • General education teachers supporting neurodiverse students
- • Learning specialists and academic intervention specialists
- • School counselors and educational support staff
- • Teachers transitioning to school-based EF coaching positions
Requirements:
Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in education or a related field. Complete NBEFC training program and pass the Board Examination.
This designation is based on education and experience only. It does not imply licensure.
Board Certified Executive Function Coach
For professionals with clinical or allied health educational backgrounds.
You earn: Board Certified Executive Function Coach + NBEFC-T designation
The NBEFC-T designation is awarded to professionals with advanced degrees in clinical or allied health fields who provide executive function coaching.
Who This Is For:
- • Occupational therapists (OT/OTR) adding EF specialization
- • Speech-language pathologists (SLP/CCC-SLP) working with EF
- • Mental health counselors (LMHC, LPC, LCSW)
- • School psychologists and clinical psychologists
- • BCBAs and behavior analysts integrating EF frameworks
Requirements:
Hold a master’s degree or higher in a clinical or allied health field, including counseling, psychology, social work, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, or behavior analysis. Complete NBEFC training program and pass the Board Examination.
This designation is based on education and experience only. It does not imply licensure.
Board Certified Educational Executive Function Specialist
For educators who complete the Educational Executive Function Specialist program.
You earn: Board Certified Educational Executive Function Specialist (NBEFC-ES) + Board Certified Executive Function Coach (NBEFC-E)
The NBEFC-ES designation is reserved only for this certification. It is awarded to educators who complete the Educational Executive Function Specialist program, written in educational scope, and pass that program’s own board examination, which earns the specialist credential and the coach credential together. The specialist credential is for the executive function work you do with students now; the coach credential is for wherever you take it, now or later.
Who This Is For:
- • Classroom teachers
- • Special educators and intervention specialists
- • Learning specialists, reading specialists, and academic support staff
- • School counselors and instructional coaches
- • Educators planning a move into coaching, now or later
Requirements:
Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in education or a related field, verified after the board examination. Complete the Educational Executive Function Specialist program (150 hours) and pass the Board Examination. Candidates without the degree qualify for the Board Certified Executive Function Coach credential only.
This designation is based on education and experience only. It does not imply licensure.
Board Certified Clinical Executive Function Specialist
For licensed clinicians who complete the Clinical Executive Function Specialist program.
You earn: Board Certified Clinical Executive Function Specialist (NBEFC-CS) + Board Certified Executive Function Coach (NBEFC-T)
The NBEFC-CS designation is reserved only for this certification. It is awarded to clinicians who complete the Clinical Executive Function Specialist program, written in clinical scope by profession, and pass that program’s own board examination, which earns the specialist credential and the coach credential together. The specialist credential is for the executive function work you do with clients now; the coach credential is for wherever you take it, now or later.
Who This Is For:
- • Psychologists, licensed counselors, clinical social workers, and marriage and family therapists
- • Occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists
- • Board certified behavior analysts
- • School psychologists
- • Clinicians adding a coaching service, now or later
Requirements:
Hold a master’s degree or higher in a clinical or allied health field, verified after the board examination. Complete the Clinical Executive Function Specialist program (150 hours) and pass the Board Examination. Candidates without the degree qualify for the Board Certified Executive Function Coach credential only.
This designation is based on education and experience only. It does not imply licensure.
Board Certified Executive Function Organization
The NBEFC-O designation is awarded to schools, districts, clinics, hospitals, and professional organizations that demonstrate institutional commitment to executive function coaching standards through credentialed staff and structured programming.
Call About NBEFC-O: 1-844-306-2611Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time
How NBEFC Credentials Work
Every program follows the same path to board certification. Each program has its own board examination.
Your Path to Board Certification
1. Complete Training: 150 hours of comprehensive training in executive function coaching, ADHD strategies, autism support, and evidence-based interventions. You have 365 days access to training and exam prep materials from purchase. The program is 100% online, asynchronous, and self-paced.
2. Pass the Proctored Board Examination: Demonstrate competency through a rigorous proctored examination. Your credential is earned through verified knowledge, not just attendance.
3. Become a Board Certified Executive Function Coach: Upon passing, you earn the title of Board Certified Executive Function Coach along with your professional designation (NBEFC-C, NBEFC-E, or NBEFC-T) based on your educational background. Candidates in a specialist program also earn Board Certified Educational Executive Function Specialist (NBEFC-ES) or Board Certified Clinical Executive Function Specialist (NBEFC-CS). Each of the three programs has its own board examination, and one examination earns both of that program’s credentials.
4. Public Registry Listing: Your credential includes a unique ID and listing in the NBEFC public registry for verification by clients and employers.
5. Maintain Your Credential: Complete 40 hours (4 CEU) of professional development every 2 years to maintain board certification and stay current in the field. As a credentialed professional, you receive full access to our library of continuing education courses designed specifically for executive function practitioners.
6. Biennial Renewal: Your credential renewal fee of $575 every two years includes your continued listing on the NBEFC public registry and an updated certificate reflecting your current credential status. While your credential is active you keep access to the Neurocognitive EFTech System™. As the field evolves, so does your toolkit. The system is updated regularly with new techniques, emerging research, and advances in neurocognitive science to ensure your practice remains at the forefront of executive function support.
Your Official Board Certification
Example certification showing Board Certified Executive Function Coach with credential designation
Ready to Become a Board Certified Executive Function Coach?
Join the growing community of professionals in therapy, clinical, and coaching settings choosing to pursue board certification through NBEFC.
Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time