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The CIC (Credentialed ImPACT Consultant): What It Is, Who Needs One, and How to Find One
A trained interpreter can make a meaningful difference in the quality of concussion care.
When your child takes an ImPACT baseline test, any trained person can administer it. But when they sustain a concussion and need their post-injury results interpreted for clinical decision-making, the stakes are much higher — and the interpreter matters.
What a CIC is
A Credentialed ImPACT Consultant (CIC) is a licensed healthcare professional who has completed specialized training through ImPACT Applications in the administration, scoring, and clinical interpretation of ImPACT test results. The CIC credential indicates competency in understanding composite scores, validity indicators, reliable change indices, and the integration of ImPACT data with other clinical findings to guide return-to-play and return-to-learn decisions.
Who qualifies
According to ImPACT Applications, eligible professionals include physicians (MD/DO), neuropsychologists, athletic trainers, physical therapists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other licensed healthcare providers. The training program includes online education modules and a certification examination. CICs are listed in a searchable directory on the ImPACT website, allowing families to find trained providers in their area.
Why it matters
ImPACT scores are not self-interpreting. A verbal memory composite of 72 might be catastrophic for one athlete (whose baseline was 95) and perfectly normal for another (whose baseline, influenced by ADHD, was 70). The same numerical score requires entirely different clinical responses depending on context. A CIC understands how to apply reliable change indices, account for practice effects, identify validity concerns, and integrate ImPACT data with symptom reports, balance testing, and clinical examination findings.
When to seek one
If your child’s pediatrician or family doctor isn’t familiar with ImPACT interpretation — and many aren’t, as concussion management is a specialty area — seeking a CIC for post-injury evaluation can make a meaningful difference in the quality of care.
At Headquarters, our clinical team includes CIC-credentialed professionals. We also maintain referral relationships with CICs across our service area for families who need post-injury interpretation at a location closer to home.