The Executive Functioning Institute

Capstone Transparency Rubric

Certification Program · v2026.02 · Last reviewed: March 2026

This is EFI's operational capstone rubric — the same criteria framework used in live reviews. It is published before purchase so buyers can evaluate standards before committing. Internal reviewer scoring sheets add annotation fields but use these same criteria and thresholds.

Component 1

Intake Simulation

Rapport Building

Passing Standard
  • Uses primarily open-ended prompts and reflective listening.
  • Validates client frustration without judgment.
  • Maintains collaborative tone and role clarity.
Needs Revision
  • Uses primarily directive advice or closed questions.
  • Dismisses client affect and jumps to fixing.
  • Communicates in deficit-focused language.

EF Explanation (Psychoeducation)

Passing Standard
  • Explains EF with accessible, non-clinical language.
  • Uses process framing (e.g., air-traffic-control metaphor).
  • Preserves strengths-based tone.
Needs Revision
  • Uses dense jargon without translation.
  • Frames EF problems as character deficits.
  • Omits practical behavior translation.
Component 2

Intervention Plan

Theoretical Grounding

Passing Standard
  • Intervention choices map explicitly to Barkley, Brown, Ward, or Dawson/Guare concepts.
  • Rationale links each tactic to a documented EF mechanism.
Needs Revision
  • Suggestions are generic or motivational only.
  • No model-to-intervention rationale is provided.

Environmental Modification

Passing Standard
  • Includes concrete external supports before relying on willpower.
  • Includes implementation details at point-of-performance.
Needs Revision
  • Relies on internal effort alone.
  • Lacks operational environmental changes.

Interpretation Notes