NCCAP Certification Process Your Guide to Becoming NCCAP Certified It is suggested the participant obtain a copy of the NCCAP certification standards booklet and have an NCCAP application form for reference during the in-service. These can be downloaded from the NCCAP web site at http://www.nccap.org/certification/NCCAP_Certification_Standards.pdf http://www.nccap.org/about/download/form.pdf

Who is NCCAP? The National Certification Council for Activity Professionals is an internationally recognized credentialing body which sets standards and criteria for those working to meet the individualized leisure and activity needs of those living a variety of care communities as well as remaining in the home. NCCAP is celebrating 25 years of certifying activity professionals this year. NCCAP certification is recognized in CMS Federal Guidelines as well as many state regulations as the qualifying credential for the activity professional working in Long Term Care settings. NCCAP currently has approximately 6500 certified individuals throughout the United States, Canada and Bermuda.

Why Become NCCAP Certified? Recognized by CMS and many state regulatory agencies Professional Credibility Certified = Qualified Refer to page 2, column 1 of Certification Standards Booklet “Why become NCCAP Certified?”

There are Five Components to NCCAP Certification Work experience College Credits MEPAP Continuing Education National Exam

Certification Levels Activity Assistant Certified Including : Activity Assistant Provisionally Certified Activity Director Certified Including: Activity Director Provisionally Certified Activity Consultant Certified Adult Day Services Certified Home Care Certified Page 2, Column 2 - Certification Standards Booklet

Tracks Within Levels Each Level Has Several Ways to become certified (Tracks) Your track (way to become certified) depends on how much work experience you have and how many college credits you have MEPAP 2nd Edition Required for all ADC & ACC Tracks

Academic Activity Consultant Certified Masters Degree for Track 1 Bachelors Degree for Track 2 & 3 Activity Director Certified Need a minimum of college credits for Track four. Bachelors degree for Track 1 Associates degree for Track 2 60+ Credits for Track 3 Activity Assistant Certified 30 or 6 college credits for Track 1 & 2

Experience Directly working with activities 50% of the time 20% of the hours can be volunteer hours 50% of clientele must be over the age of 55 20% can be overtime Must be within the past five years Need validation of total hours on facility letterhead signed by supervisor

Continuing Education Face to face conferences, seminars, workshops on topics within the NCCAP Body of Knowledge 20% can be in-services 30% can be on line in-services Independent study and other non traditional programs must be NCCAP Pre- approved Completed within the past five years

The MEPAP Class The Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals Taught by NCCAP Pre-approved instructors Classroom Instructors On line and non-traditional instructors Often taught in two parts – Part I and II Need entire MEPAP (I & II) for ADC certification.

The National Exam 50 questions per test Administered by an independent testing company Done on computer with a proctor Pass with 70% or better Must have completed MEPAP I & II and be certified at some level, to be eligible to take exam Anyone certified at any level prior to 1/1/2012 does not need to take exam

Activity Assistant Certified Track 1 ACADEMIC EDUCATION 30 college semester credits (must include an English PLUS 1 other course from B, C, and D of the required coursework areas). ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE 2,000 hours within past 5 years. CONTINUING EDUCATION 20 continuing education hours within past 5 years. Page 3, column 1 - Certification Standards Booklet

Activity Assistant Certified Track 2 ACADEMIC EDUCATION High school diploma or GED, PLUS 6 college credits (must include an English and 1 other course from the required coursework areas). ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE 4,000 hours within past 5 years. CONTINUING EDUCATION 20 continuing education hours within past 5 years. Page 3, column 1 - Certification Standards Booklet

Activity Assistant Certified Track 3 ACADEMIC EDUCATION High school diploma or GED, PLUS the 90-Hour Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals Part 1 including 90 Hour Practicum. (C.C.1-11) ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE 2,000 hours within past 5 years. CONTINUING EDUCATION 20 continuing education hours within past 5 years. Page 3, column 1 - Certification Standards Booklet

Activity Assistant Provisionally Certified High School Diploma or GED Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals Part One (Core Competencies 1-11) 50 hours of volunteer/experience in the delivery of activities services 20 continuing education hours of continuing education within the past 5 years Page 12 – Certification Standards Booklet

Activity Director Certified Track 1 ACADEMIC EDUCATION Bachelor's Degree or higher (must include an English (A) PLUS 7 other courses with at least one course from B, C, and D of the required coursework areas). ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE 4,000 hours within past 5 years. CONTINUING EDUCATION 30 continuing education hours within past 5 years. Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals National Exam Page 3, column 2 – Certification Standards Booklet

Activity Director Certified Track 2 ACADEMIC EDUCATION Associates Degree (including English PLUS 5 other courses, with at least 1 course from B, C, and D of the coursework areas). ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE 6,000 hours within past 5 years. CONTINUING EDUCATION 30 continuing education hours within past 5 years. Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals National Exam Page 3, column 2 – Certification Standards Booklet

Activity Director Certified Track 3 ACADEMIC EDUCATION 60 college semester credits (must include English PLUS 5 other courses, with at least 1 course from B, C, and D of the required coursework areas). ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE 6,000 hours within past 5 years. CONTINUING EDUCATION 30 continuing education hours within past 5 years. Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals National Exam Page 3, column 2 – Certification Standards Booklet

Activity Director Provisionally Certified Track 4 Any three of the five following components: 12 semester college credits (must include an English PLUS 1 other required coursework area). Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals Part 1 (C.C.1-11) and the 90-Hour Practicum Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals Part 2 (C.C.12-20) and 90-Hour Practicum ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE 6,000 hours activity experience within the past 5 years. CONTINUING EDUCATION 30 continuing education hours within past 5 years. Page 4, column 1 – Certification Standards Booklet

Activity Director Provisionally Certified You will renew your ADPC every two years You have 6 years to obtain and submit remaining two components At anytime during the six years, the remaining two components can be submitted for a level change to ADC If you do not obtain your missing components within the 6 years, you will become an AAC When you apply for a level change to ADC, you will have to have passed the national exam. If you have not taken the exam at the time of level change, you will need to pass the national exam to complete the level change. Page 4, column 1 – Certification Standards Booklet

Activity Director Certified Track 5 A basic activity course totaling 36-90 hours and completed between the years 1991 and 2001 12,000 hours (six years) of activity experience within the past ten years 30 hours of continuing education including six hours on the topic of documentation High school diploma National exam (unless certified prior to 1/1/2012) Application can be downloaded from NCCAP web site at http://www.nccap.org/about/download/ADC-Track5-Application.pdf

Activity Director Certified Track 6 MEPAP Part I and II, completed between 2001 and present 12,000 hours (six years) of activity experience within the past ten years 40 hours of continuing education including eight hours on the subject of documentation High school diploma National exam (unless certified prior to 1/1/2012) This track expires 7/1/2018 Application can be downloaded from NCCAP web site at http://www.nccap.org/about/download/ADC-Track5-Application.pdf

Activity Consultant Certified – Track 1 ACADEMIC EDUCATION Master's Degree or higher (must include an English plus 7 other coursework areas with at least 1 course from areas B, C, and D). ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE 2,000 hours activity experience within the last 5 years. CONTINUING EDUCATION 40 continuing education hours within the past 5 years. CONSULTING EXPERIENCE 200 hours of activity consulting experience within the past 3 years. Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals National Exam Page 4, Column 1 – Certification Standards Booklet

Activity Consultant Certified Track 2 ACADEMIC EDUCATION Bachelor's Degree (include an English plus 7 other coursework areas with at least 1 course from areas B, C, and D). ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE 4,000 hours activity experience within the last 5 years. CONTINUING EDUCATION 40 continuing education hours within the past 5 years. CONSULTING EXPERIENCE 200 hours of activity consulting experience within the past 3 years. Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals National Exam Page 4, Column 2 – Certification Standards Booklet

Activity Consultant Certified Track 3 ACADEMIC EDUCATION Bachelor's Degree (must include an English plus 7 other coursework areas with at least 1 course from areas B, C, and D). ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE 4,000 hours activity experience within the last 5 years. CONTINUING EDUCATION 40 continuing education hours within the past 5 years. CONSULTING EXPERIENCE Arranged with the Track 3 Consultant Review Committee. Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals National Exam Page 4, Column 2 – Certification Standards Booklet

Adult Day Services Certification ADSC High School diploma or GED Completion of Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals – Part I (CC 1-11) Two years of activity experience in adult day services 20 hours of continuing education

Home Care Certification HCC High school diploma Completion of Activities 101 course 20 hours of continuing education 1000 hours work experience in the home care field Work and coursework within the past five years

Specializations Add a specialization to your certification by adding ten additional training hours in the specific topic area. There is no limit to number of specializations you can have. ED Educator MC Memory Care ALF Assisted Living AD Adult Day PC Person Centered’ HC Home Care Page 12 Certification Standards Booklet

Academic Component Defined High School Diploma or GED Send in copy of diploma or proof of HS graduation If you cannot get a copy, a letter on official High School letterhead with your graduation date would work. You will need to send the original so keep a copy for your records If your college transcript notes your high school graduation, that will suffice Page 5 – Certification Standards Booklet Refer to A.1 & 2

Academic Component Defined Official College Transcript from accredited college or university Official transcript can be sent to NCCAP office if they will not send to you. Official transcripts only, not any kind of copy or student copy A variety of degrees and college courses are accepted, provided the course content areas are met No time limit for college credits Required coursework areas must be a grade of “C” or better Nursing schools, technical credits, and foreign transcripts must be accompanied by an official evaluation from an accredited US College, University or Independent Agency. Page 5 – Certification Standards Booklet Refer to A. 2

Continuing Education Defined Conferences, Conventions, Seminars, Workshops Face to Face NCCAP Preapproved Distance Learning or Non Traditional College Courses (one college credit = ten continuing education hours) Articles Published in State or National Publications – 1 hour = 600-800 words Presentations – Double the presentation hours for the first time topic is presented (one hour presentation = two hours continuing education) Must be dated after last renewal date or within five years of initial application Must Have Certificate with All of the Required Information 20% can be facility in-services 30% can be on line in-services Page 6 Certification Standards Booklet Refer to C. 2

Certification Application Apply today! Obtain application from www.nccap.org Submit with appropriate documents for level of application High school diploma Official College Transcripts MEPAP certificates Continuing Education Certificates Verification of employment letter Have notarized Submit appropriate payment Send in priority envelop with tracking

Certification Renewals You will renew your certification every two years You can renew on line or print out form and send in hard copy Submit copies of certificates for the correct number of hours per your level of certification Submit an additional ten hours per each specialization obtained Page 7, column 2 – Certification Standards Booklet

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