The ACNP was founded to establish a comprehensive and neurodiversity-affirming framework for professionals, caregivers, educators, and first responders who serve neurodivergent individuals. We are seeking experienced and ethical leaders to collaborate on the development of the following credentials:
Certified Neurodiversity Advocate (CNA)
Purpose: The CNA credential equips non-clinical supporters, such as family members, caregivers, mentors, and advocates, with the foundational knowledge, advocacy skills, and systems navigation tools necessary to support neurodivergent individuals ethically and effectively including the healthcare and education systems.
Overview: CNA recipients are trained to recognize ableism, promote autonomy, and communicate effectively with schools, healthcare providers, and public institutions. The program emphasizes the value of lived experience, legal rights, identity-affirming support, and ethical advocacy. No formal degree is required to apply, and the certification honors both community-based and familial insight.
Primary Audience: Special Education Advocates, Parents / Guardians, Community Health Workers, Case Managers and Service Coordinators, Faith-Based or Cultural Community Leaders, Disability Rights Organization Volunteers and Staff, Non-clinical Behavioral Support Staff, and more.
Certified Neurodiversity Scholar-Practitioner (CNSP)
Purpose: The CNSP credential is designed for educators and academic professionals who seek to create inclusive, affirming learning environments for neurodivergent students from preschool through higher education.
Overview: This certification centers Universal Design for Learning (UDL), trauma-informed pedagogy, sensory integration, and non-coercive behavior support. It prepares educators to recognize the impact of masking, implement strengths-based instruction, dismantle deficit-based frameworks, and advocate for systemic change within educational institutions.
Primary Audience:Â Early Childhood Education Providers, School Board Members, School District Leadership, K-12 Faculty, University Faculty, Instructional Designers and eLearning Developers, Independent Education Consultants, Mental Health Professionals Embedded in Schools, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Trainers in Education Settings, Education Researchers and Graduate Students in Education or Psychology, Education Technology Developers, and more.
Certified Neurodiversity First Responder (CNFR)
Purpose: The CNFR credential prepares public safety professionals, including police officers, firefighters, EMTs, dispatchers, and corrections personnel, to engage with neurodivergent individuals in a trauma-informed, rights-respecting, and safety-centered manner.
Overview: This program addresses the disproportionate harm often experienced by neurodivergent individuals in crisis encounters. Training focuses on de-escalation, communication, sensory processing, and legal rights. CNFR recipients learn to distinguish neurodivergent behavior from noncompliance, avoid coercion, and promote safety through understanding and accommodation. Certification includes both practical simulation and written assessment.
Primary Audience: Police Officers, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs/Paramedics), Nurses, 911 Dispatchers and Call Center Staff, Corrections Officers, Campus/Public Safety Personnel, Attorneys, Judges, Protective Services Caseworkers, Crisis Response Teams, Other Hospital and Outpatient Staff, and more.
Fellow, American College of Neurodiversity Practitioners (FACNP)
Purpose: The FACNP designation is a prestigious fellowship awarded to experienced professionals who have demonstrated leadership, innovation, or systems-level impact in the field of neurodiversity.
Overview: The fellowship requires submission of a professional portfolio, participation in a seminar series, and completion of a capstone project that advances equity or reform in a relevant system (e.g., policy, clinical practice, public education). Fellows are viewed as mentors and leaders committed to co-creation with neurodivergent communities and to advancing systemic justice.
Primary Audience:Â Doctors of Allopathic Medicine (MD), Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Doctors of Naturopathic Medicine (ND), Graduate-level Psychologists, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Physician Assistants, Graduate-level Social Workers, Mental Health and Professional Counselors, Graduate-level Behavior Analysts, Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Marriage and Family Therapists, Art and Music Therapists, Rehabilitation Counselors, Non-profit leaders, and more.
