Facilitating the Initial Application
Process
Learn all the ins and
outs of successfully applying for NCCAP Certification
by Susan
M. Archibald MS, ACC
The application for certification has been
revised several times in the past few years in an effort
to facilitate the process for new applicants. The directions
are quite clear and examples are given to demonstrate
how the information needs to be presented. Assistance
is available for those who have questions. The application
is often the first demonstration of the professionalism
the applicant wishes to attain. Below are some suggestions
and directions for filling out the application form
correctly.
Prior to beginning the form, read all of
the directions thoroughly. Any questions you may have
will most likely be answered. Read through the application
and familiarize yourself with the information requested.
Make a copy of the application and use this copy as
a rough draft. The application may be typed or printed.
Use black ink and neat penmanship. Remember: You are
applying for certification as an activity professional,
and your application should reflect this.
The first page of the application requests
information about you and asks the level for which you
are applying. The reviewer cannot process the application
without this information. Check the level and track
of certification you are requesting. If you are applying
for the Activity Director Provisionally Certified (ADPC),
make certain that you check the three areas that you
have fulfilled. Failure to fill this page out correctly
will necessitate the application being returned to you
and will delay the review of your application.
Page two requests information about your
education. If your application is for the Activity Assistant
Certified (AAC) tracks 2 or 3, make sure you provide
the information requested about high school education,
including a copy of your diploma or GED. For all other
levels and tracks, completely fill out the college course
work area. Include the actual name of the course, its
course number on your transcript, the number from the
applicable course work list on page 5 of the instructions,
and the school where the course was taken. Each of these
areas must be completed for a successful review of your
application! The different levels require different
numbers of hours and course work areas. For instance,
the Activity Director Certified (ADC) track 1 requires
8 different course work areas. Your application will
be returned if this area is not complete. It is not
the job of the reviewer to review and select appropriate
course work from your transcript. Request that your
official transcript be sent directly to NCCAP. If you
wish to list an extra course or two that’s fine,
but do not list your entire transcript. Grades in the
listed areas must be a “C” or above, as you
are using this grade as verification of your mastery
of the subject.
List your 90-hour Basic Education Course
(BEC) and Advanced Management Course (AMC), as appropriate,
on the bottom of the page. Be sure to include copies
of your certificate verifying that you have completed
the 90-hour course and the 90-hour practicum. Do not
list other courses in this area.
Page 3 verifies your work experience. Utilize
the sample letter found on page 10 in the instruction
package. This needs to be copied on to your facility’s
letterhead and signed by the supervisor. Make certain
that all requested information is provided. Send as
many letters as necessary to fulfill the requirements.
There is a space at the bottom right hand corner of
the page that is the total of activity hours worked.
Be sure to fill it in.
Page 4 of the application asks for your continuing
education hours.
Carefully fill out this page with the requested
information. Provide documentation for your hours in
the order in which they are listed on the page. Review
all documentation and determine that the requested information
is provided as listed on page 6 of the instructions.
You may list a few hours more than what is required
for your certification, but do not list a lot more than
what is required.
Applicants for the Activity Consultant Certified
(ACC) must fill out page 5 of the application. There
must be verification of consulting hours provided in
the form of a letter as explained on page 7 of the instructions.
All applications must be notarized and the appropriate
fee submitted with the application.
Do not send information that is not requested!
We appreciate that you are talented and wonderful people,
but the reviewers do not have the time to read unsolicited
documents and will generally discard them unread. Do
not send originals of your continuing education documentation,
as they will not be returned and will not be kept by
the NCCAP office.
Applicants can receive assistance with questions
they may have by calling the NCCAP office. They may
be referred to one of the Certification Review Committee
(CRC) members for assistance. Please realize that the
reviewer will answer specific questions you may have,
but will not be able to walk you through the application
item by item. Successful completion of the application
is a mark of a professional.
There are three reviewers on the CRC. We
receive many applications to review. Incorrectly completed
applications slow the process down for all applicants!
We strive for a quick turnaround time, which I am sure
all of the applicants appreciate. In order for the process
to be efficient, the applicant needs to be conscientious
and careful in executing the application. Let your application
show the professionalism for which you are requesting
certification!
Remember that you can get your NCCAP application
online at NCCAP.ORG. We are also a click away to assist
you with your application. We answer e-mail regularly
for those who are applying or renewing their certification.
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