1. 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

2. 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.

3. 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?”

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. Activity Director Certified Track 5
A basic activity course totaling 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

22. Activity Director Certified Track 6
MEPAP Part I and II, completed between 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

23. 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 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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 = 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

32. Certification Application
Apply today!
Obtain application from
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

33. 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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Questions & Answers

35. (Insert your contact information here)
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