When a case clearly warrants a life care plan, the name of an “expert” often arrives by way of a colleague’s recommendation. A curriculum vitae (CV) may or may not be attached. The real question is:

Will this life care planner truly help – or quietly weaken – your case?

This guide outlines the key qualifications, credentials, and professional activities to look for when evaluating whether a life care planner will provide defensible, trial-ready work for your client.

Section 1: Certification Matters

Is the expert a Certified Life Care Planner?

Life care planning is a distinct profession with its own:

• Standards of practice
• Certification processes
• Peer-reviewed journals and textbooks
• National conferences and continuing education

“Life Care Planner” is a trademarked title used by professionals who are certified by:

• The International Commission on Health Care Certifications (ICHCC)
• The Certified Nurse Life Care Planner (CNLCP®) Certification Board

Physicians who are certified as life care planners through ICHCC must also meet defined criteria and training standards.

A certified life care planner receives dedicated training in:

• Life care planning methodology
• Standards of practice
• Ethical guidelines
• The process required to develop a replicable, defensible life care plan

Section 2: Experience Counts

Does the life care planner have relevant clinical and forensic experience?

Certified life care planners must have at least three years of relevant rehabilitation experience, but the quality and focus of that experience also matter.

Key questions to consider:

• Does the CV show hands-on experience with the type of injuries in your case (e.g., TBI, SCI, burns, pediatric conditions, chronic pain)?
• Do they have continuing education specific to the population at issue?
• Have they worked in settings that mirror your client’s anticipated needs (e.g., acute rehab, outpatient neuro, pain management, pediatrics)?
• Do they have forensic experience (report writing, deposition, trial testimony)?

Section 3: Professional Engagement in Life Care Planning

Are they actively involved in the life care planning profession?

Understanding the history, standards, and evolving practices of life care planning is fundamental to expert credibility.

Look for evidence that the planner:

• Is a member of IARP (International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals)
• Reads the Journal of Life Care Planning
• Attends life care planning conferences, workshops, or webinars
• Participates in professional discussion groups or continuing education specific to disability and rehabilitation

Section 4: Membership in Disability-Specific Organizations

Do they stay current with diagnosis-specific standards and guidelines?

Beyond professional planning organizations, credible experts also monitor or participate in organizations relevant to the populations they evaluate, such as associations for:

• Brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Chronic pain and neurological disorders
• Pediatric rehabilitation and developmental disabilities

Section 5: Contribution to the Profession

Do they contribute to advancing the field?

Professionals who publish, present, or teach within the field typically:

• Have a deeper grounding in methodology and standards
• Communicate clearly and effectively
• Are more prepared to educate a judge or jury about the life care plan

Section 6: Specialization and Case Fit

Do they have the right expertise for this specific case?

Many experts build specialized experience, such as in:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Pain and orthopedic injuries
• Pediatrics and developmental disabilities
• Burns and reconstructive care
• Amputations
• Psychiatric and behavioral health

Matching the expert to the case is essential for credibility and reliable cost projections.

Section 7: Establishing a Proper Medical Foundation

How does the planner establish the medical basis for their opinions?

Life care planners are trained neither to:

• Simply list costs for others’ recommendations, nor
• Make unsupported or independent medical recommendations

A defensible plan requires a clear medical foundation supported by:

• Comprehensive review of medical records
• Communication with treating and evaluating clinicians
• Clinical practice guidelines and evidence-based resources
• Review of relevant testimony when available

Section 8: How Turning Point Life Care Planning Meets These Standards

Turning Point Life Care Planning maintains a team of highly qualified Certified Life Care Planners who meet all of the criteria identified above.

Our team includes:

• Occupational Therapists (OTs)
• A Certified Hand Therapist (CHT)
• A Nurse Practitioner specializing in orthopedics and spine
• A Certified Work Capacity Evaluator (CWCE)

We work collaboratively to ensure accurate consideration of functional capacity, long-term medical needs, equipment, and community integration over the lifespan.

Section 9: Next Steps – If You’re Evaluating a Case Now

If you have a case that may benefit from a life care plan — or if you are unsure whether the injuries rise to that level — we are available to consult.

Ways to get started:

• Email securely to services@tplcp.com
• Call 1-877-TOP-LCPS or 323-426-3203 (Los Angeles Headquarters)
• Request a brief case screening to determine whether a life care plan or additional assessment would be appropriate