Writing and Submitting your Portfolio
As you are writing your PBS portfolio plan, you are encouraged to use the checklist items as headings and subheadings. There may be some repetition, but being able to find each required item easily will work to your advantage as it is scored by the PBS Endorsement Board.
As you review the PBS Portfolio checklist, you will notice that many items seem repetitive. You may note in your plan that you have already mentioned the item and note the section (eg: see 3.1.a) or rewrite the information. Leaving a section blank or incomplete will result in receiving 0 points. You are welcome to submit a cover letter to the endorsement board but please do not include any identifying information including names, geographic locations, or names of support services.
When you are ready to electronically submit your portfolio, you will need to complete this PBS Portfolio Submission Form with your identifying information and an attestation that you did not receive unauthorized assistance. You should then attach your PBS Portfolio in PDF form. You may submit up to 5 attachments, but you should make an effort to keep your portfolio items in one document and use separate attachments for your appendices or a cover letter. If you have any technical problems with your submission, please reach out to the Virginia PBS Project via email: vapbsproject@vcu.edu and we will do our best to assist you with your submission.
The Endorsement Process
Your plan will be reviewed by three members of the PBS Endorsement Board who will designate points for each complete item. The PBS endorsement board is composed of endorsed PBS Facilitators who will carefully review each portfolio. Their scores will be checked for interrater reliability. Candidates who submit a portfolio with 77% of points will receive full PBS endorsement. It will take approximately two weeks for your portfolio to be reviewed and scored. You will be notified by email from the vapbsproject@vcu.edu with the results of your endorsement including your final scores.
Candidates who submit successful portfolios will be assigned an endorsement number in a letter that serves as documentation of your endorsement. You may use this letter and your PBS endorsement number as proof of your endorsement with the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) if you decide to bill for therapeutic consultation with people who use Medicaid Waiver services.
Candidates who fail to meet a successful score of 77% will not be eligible for endorsement. Candidates who are not endorsed may submit another portfolio two months after their initial submission. There is no limit to how many times a portfolio may be submitted, however the candidate must cover the cost of subsequent Endorsement Board reviews and interviews which is $1,200.
There is no appeals process regarding the determination of the VPBS Endorsement Board.