Fellow/Diplomate Certification
Becoming ABVE Certified
The American Board of Vocational Experts (ABVE) has set forth the following formalized standard for identifying persons for board certification as Vocational Experts.
Applicants Must Have the Following
- Hold a Master’s or Doctorate degree from an accredited institution in human service field specializing in vocational rehabilitation, psychology, vocational counseling, etc.
- Have specific training and experience in such areas as assessment, functional capacity measures, psychological testing and measurement, job analysis, job placement, job surveys, and have experience providing testimony in these areas
- Display knowledge and expertise within a submitted forensic work product. Social Security Vocational Expert (SSVE) testimony is not considered an acceptable forensic work product.
- Attain a passing score on the ABVE examination.
- Sign and adhere to the ABVE Code of Ethics.
Ready to Apply to be a Fellow or Diplomate?
Please allow 60 – 90 days for your application to be reviewed.
The exam is 3-hrs in length and 150 multiple choice questions.
The ABVE exam can be proctored at anytime by a local Fellow/Diplomate member (search our membership directory) or through a local University or Library. Applicant is responsible for finding the proctor and coordinating the date and time of which the exam will be administered, and will need to coordinate with ABVE for the delivery of the exam. The exam will be administered electronically.
ABVE also administers the exam at our Annual ABVE Conference. In order to sit for the exam at the conference, completed applications for certification must be received 90 days before the start date of the Annual Conference.
Ready to Upgrade to Diplomate Status
Diplomates must have at least 7 years of of documented experience in assessment of vocational capacity and working as a forensic vocational expert.
Please allow 60 – 90 days for your application to be reviewed.
Knowledge Enhancement for Vocational Experts (Exam Prep)
Below are resources available to new applicants invited to take certification exam to enhance their knowledge about vocational forensic testimony.
Download References and Bibliography
A minimum of three Letters of Reference documenting your years of experience providing expert opinion in a forensic setting (ie. Attorneys, Judges, Hearing Officers, Arbitrators, etc.)
Areas of Practice
Definition of Areas of Practice and Specialty/Services on ABVE Member Directory
Members listed in the online member directory may list Area(s) of Practice with the specialty/service being designated as numbers within the Area(s) of Practice. The Areas of Practice are listed below A through F along with the specialty/service.
A) Workers’ Compensation
B) Personal Injury Litigation
C) Marital Dissolution
D) Civil Rights: ADA & Age Discrimination
E) Social Security
F) Wrongful Death
G) Other Areas of Practice (Specify in Application)
Core Competencies
Vocational Assessment
- Forensic Vocational Reporting
- Medical/Functional Aspects of Disability
- Forensic Vocational Rehabilitation Tools
- Psychometric Evaluation
Forensic Vocational Practice Venues and Systems
- Disability Systems
- The American Legal System
- Civil Litigation
- Life Care Planning
Professional Standards and Practice
- Clinical Judgment
- Research and Statistics
- Professional Standards and Ethical Issues
Specialty/Service
The following specialties and services are within the scope of one or more areas of practice shown above. A specialty or service is included in an area of practice.
- Case management
- Labor market surveys
- Vocational evaluation/TSA
- Job placement
- Rehabilitation planning
- Job analysis/modification
- Loss of earning capacity
- Life care planning
- Loss of household services
- Hedonics/consortium
- Economic analysis
- Psychological counseling, assessment, treatment