*NCCAP Certification Process

Guide to becoming NCCAP Certified

*Mission Statement

*The National Certification Council for Activity Professionals is a credentialing body which sets standards and criteria for those working to meet the leisure needs of those in their care.

*NCCAP sets the following goals as means to achieve its mission:

*Directly provide opportunities for and/or information about educational offerings thereby enabling its members and potential members to pursue professional development.

*Educate on behalf of its membership on issues regarding credentialing in the political and industry spheres.

*Why Be NCCAP Certified?

* Professional Recognition & Credibility

* Portable

* Certified = Qualified

*Certification Levels

*Activity ASSISTANT CertifiedIncluding : Activity Assistant Provisionally Certified

*Activity DIRECTOR Certified Including: Activity Director Provisionally Certified

*Activity CONSULTANT Certified

*Tracks Within Levels

*Each Level Has Several Tracks

*CE Requirements Are Consistent for Levels –

*20 for AAC

*30 for ADC & ADPC

*40 for ACC

*Education and Experience are weighed

*MEPAP 2nd Edition Required for all ADC & ACC Tracks

* There are Five Components to NCCAP Certification

Academic• Amount of College Credits

Experience• Number of Hours Experience in Activities• Within the Past 5 Years

Continuing Education• Within the Past 5 years

MEPAP 2nd Edition

National Exam

*Academic

College Credits*Masters Degree

*Bachelors Degree

*Associates Degree

*60 College Credits

*12 College CreditNote: College Credits never expire &Must have an English Course

*Experience

*Number of hours of actual delivery of activities services to a population that is at least 50% over age 55

*1 year full time is equivalent to 2,000 hours of experience

*Experience must be within the past 5 years

*Continuing Education

*Workshops, seminars, conferences specifically for activities that fall within the NCCAP Body of Knowledge

*Must be within the past 5 years

*Can include 20% clock hours from mandatory in-service's

*Can include 30% from on line inservice programs such as Silverchair

*Any online or home study classes must be NCCAP Pre-approved…contact the company to find the NCCAP pre-approval number

* MEPAPModular Education Program for Activity

Professionals

*MEPAP, 2nd Edition – Often taught in two parts

*Successful completion of the course

*For NCCAP certification you must complete both section

*National Exam

HOW?*100 questions from MEPAP randomly picked out of a bank of 1,800

*Conducted by Comira Testing, an independent testing company

*Done on computer with a proctor

*Pass with 70% or better

*Cost covers development and testing company fees

* Is NOT retroactive – only applies to certification, not renewals

WHY?*Credibility with state and federal regulatory bodies

*National standard for recognized professions

*QA for MEPAP instructors

*Establishes competency

*AAC Activity Assistant

Certified

*ACTIVITY ASSISTANT CERTIFIED (AAC): One who meets NCCAP standards to assist, with supervision, in carrying out an activity program.

*Note: AAC certification is recommended for Activities Assistants. As long as you maintain your NCCAP certification you can level change at any time to ADC if you complete the other components for ADC certification.

*AAC – Track 1

*Track 1 A. ACADEMIC EDUCATION 30 college semester credits (must include an English PLUS 1 other course from B, C, and D of the required coursework areas).

*B. ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE 2,000 hours within past 5 years.

*C. CONTINUING EDUCATION 20 clock hours (Body of Knowledge) within past 5 years.

*AAC – Track 2

*Track 2 A. ACADEMIC EDUCATION High school diploma or GED, PLUS 6 college credits (must include an English and 1 other course from the required coursework areas).

*B. ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE 4,000 hours within past 5 years.

*C. CONTINUING EDUCATION 20 clock hours (Body of Knowledge) within past 5 years.

*AAC – Track 3

*A. ACADEMIC EDUCATION High school diploma or GED, PLUS the 90-Hour Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals Part 1including 90 Hour Practicum. (C.C.1-11)

*B. ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE 2,000 hours within past 5 years.

*C. CONTINUING EDUCATION 20 clock hours (Body of Knowledge) within past 5 years.

*AAPC – Activity Assistant Provisionally Certified

*High School Diploma or GED

*MEPAP Part One (Core Competencies 1-11)

*50 clock hours of volunteer/experience in the delivery of activities services

* 20 clock hours of continuing education from the NCCAP Body of Knowledge within the past 5 years

*AAPC

*This “Track” was designed for individuals such as High School students, college students or activity professionals near retirement who want to obtain national certification

*If the individual maintains their NCCAP certification they can level change at any time, providing that they obtain the components for that level.

*They can maintain their AAPC forever when they renew every two years.

*ADC – 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 EXPERIENCE4,000 hours within past 5 years.

* CONTINUING EDUCATION30 clock hours (Body of Knowledge) within past 5 years.

*MEPAPModular Education

Program for Activity

Professionals (MEPAP).

*National Exam

*ADC – 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 clock hours (Body of Knowledge) within past 5 years.

* MEPAPModular Education Program for Activity Professionals (MEPAP).

*National Exam

*ADC – 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 clock hours (Body of Knowledge) within past 5 years.

*MEPAPModular Education Program for Activity Professionals (MEPAP).

*National Exam

*ADPC – Track 4

*ACADEMIC EDUCATION

*12 semester college credits (must include an English PLUS 1 other required coursework area).

* 90-Hour Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals Part 1 (C.C.1-11) and the 90-Hour Practicum

*90-Hour Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals Part 2 (C.C.12-20) and 90-Hour Practicum

*ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE 4. 6,000 hours activity experience within the past 5 years.

*CONTINUING EDUCATION30 clock hours (Body of Knowledge) within past 5 years.

*ADPC

*For ADPC you must have 3 of the 5 components

*You have will need to maintain your ADPC for 6 years. Upon completion of your missing components you can apply for a level change

*You have 6 years to obtain your missing components

*IF you do not obtain your missing components within the 6 years, you can become an AAC

*You will need to renew your NCCAP certification every two years

*When you are ready for a level change to ADC, you will be eligible to take the National Exam

*Upon successful passing of the National Exam, you will fulfill the level change to ADC

*ADC Track 5

NCCAP offers ADC TRACK 5 for individuals that completed a basic activity course between 1991

(when OBRA was implemented) and 2001 (when the requirement for the MEPAP course/pre-approved instructors was implemented), but that have the established experience, and ongoing continuing

education to effectively implement their job responsibilities and duties, an opportunity to apply for

certification as a director.

*ADC Track 5

ADC Track 5 requirements must include:

1. A high school diploma

2. A Basic Activity Course ____36 hours_____40/42/45 hour____60 hour____72 hour _____other

MUST have been completed between (1991-2001)-verified by submitting a certificate of completion, signed by the instructor.

3. Date(s) course completed (start date)_________ (end date)__________

4. State in which the course was completed____

5. Name of the Instructor_______________________

6. Instructor Credentials______

*ADC Track 5

6 years (12,000 hours) of current activity experience- within the past 10 years

30 hours of continuing education-20% (6 hours) of which addresses activity documentation

example (MDS 3.0, care planning, assessments)

*Remember

*NCCAP Certification must be renewed every two years.

*IF you do not renew, you will then have to re-apply and meet the current NCCAP Standards

*If you are NCCAP Certified at any level before 12/31/11 then you will not have to take the National Exam.

*Your NCCAP Certification is recognized in F Tag 249 by Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services

*Your NCCAP Certification is recognized in many states that utilize F-249 as the qualifying credential

* ACC – Track 1ACC has 5 components

* 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 clock hours (Body of Knowledge) within the past 5 years.

*CONSULTING EXPERIENCE 200 hours of activity consulting experience within the past 3 years.

* MEPAPModular Education Program for Activity Professionals (MEPAP).

*National Exam

*ACC – 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 clock hours (Body of Knowledge) within the past 5 years.

* CONSULTING EXPERIENCE200 hours of activity consulting experience within the past 3 years.

* MEPAPModular Education Program for Activity Professionals (MEPAP).

*National Exam

*ACC – 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 clock hours (Body of Knowledge) within the past 5 years.

* CONSULTING EXPERIENCE (Arranged with the Track 3 Consultant Review Committee).

* MEPAPModular Education Program for Activity Professionals (MEPAP).

*National Exam

*Academic Component

*High School Diploma or GED

*You will send a copy in your application packet

*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 submitting a college transcript which has your high school graduation date noted, that will suffice as well.

*Official College Transcript

*You will send the original so get a Student copy as well

*Have the transcript sent to your facility. HR Department would be able to receive it, if the college won’t send it to you

*Include the original in your

application packet

*Academic Component

*From an accredited college or university

*A variety of degrees and college courses are accepted, provided the course content areas are met

*No time limit for college degree or 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.

*Specialty Tracks

*10 Extra CE’s in Specialty Area from NCCAP Body of Knowledge

*Educator – ACC/ED, ADC/ED, AAC/ED

*Memory Care – ACC/MC, ADC/MC, AAC/MC

*Assisted Living – ACC/ALF, ADC/ALF, AAC/ALF

*Adult Day – ACC/AD, ADC/AD, AAC/AD

*Certification Application

*Download NCCAP Standards from website: nccap.org

*Read Standards several times

*Download application from website

*Fill out application COMPLETELY!

*Use Official College Transcripts – unopened

*Letter from employer on letterhead – verify hours, population, duties

*Send copies of continuing education certificates – send with time outline if over 8 hours

*Have notarized – include check

*Recommend – Certified Mail

*Certification Renewals

*Every Two Years From Month of Original Certification

*20, 30, or 40 CE’s

*10 CE’s per Specialty Area

*Submit Copies of CE Certificates

*Renewal Form MUST be Filled Out

*If Level Change, Renewals Are Still Due on Original Date of Certification

*Continuing Education

*Conferences, Seminars, Workshops

*NCCAP Preapproved Distance Learning

*College Courses/Adult Education

*Classes at Crafts Stores, etc.

*Articles Published in State or National Publications – 1 hour per 600-800 words

*Presentations – Double the hours for the first time topic is presented

*Must be dated after last renewal date

*Must Have Certificate with All of the Required Information

*Minimum of 1 Hour Long

*20% can be facility in-services

*CE Certificates

Sponsoring Body

Name of Participant

Date of Presentation

Location of Presentation – City & State

Title of Presentation

NCCAP Body of Knowledge Area

Length of Presentation

Name and Credentials of Instructor(s)

Signature of Instructor or Sponsor

*Questions & Answers

?

*Thank You for Coming!

(Insert your contact information here)

www.nccap.org1-757-552-0653