Benefits of Certifications

Continuity and Quality of Care  

The educational components of all NCCAP Certifications are modular building blocks. Each module is based on a foundation of person-centered care through activities and engagement. NCCAP Certifications are based on over 30 years of training, education and practice across the continuum of care. NCCAP Certification ensures the highest level competencies and skills to use the social model of care to improve quality of life and healthy aging.

Home Care Engagement Certification

For Families

NCCAP Home Care Engagement Certification provides peace of mind to families that their caregiver has met rigorous educational standards to become NCCAP Certified. A Home Care Certified caregiver can offer family members insights on communicating and engaging with loved ones living with dementia. 

For Employers: staff retention, reduced recruitment and administrative costs, higher client retention 

The educational requirement of NCCAP Certifications establish a baseline of knowledge for the caregiver and improves their skill sets. This can lead to less job stress, an increase in the quality of the work atmosphere and satisfaction with their position. This can lead to greater employee retention rates, stability in your workforce and reduced costs. Further, a strong educational foundation can improve the quality of life of the client while decreasing  opportunities for accidents and potentially dangerous situations.

For State and Federal Agencies: Reduced cost of care and reduced re-admittance to hospitals

The cost of caring for an individual aging or rehabbing in place is significantly less than the cost of aging or rehabbing in a Skilled Nursing Facility. A NCCAP Home Care Engagement Certified caregiver has the educational foundation to communicate and engage an older person aging in place at home. Proper communication is a preventative tool the caregiver can use to identify issues affecting the individual and potentially prevent or limit medical interventions.

Addressing the Growing Dementia Crisis

Best practices for engaging a person with dementia or cognitive decline are a part of the NCCAP educational curriculum. NCCAP offers a Certification in Dementia using the principles of Montessori care. We also offer a Memory Care Certification based in the principles of Validation established by Namoi Feil. Additionally, NCCAP offers a Specialization in Memory Care with additional courses from the approved NCCAP Body of Knowledge. The Memory Care Specialization strengthens the educational foundation to meet the needs of the growing numbers of those aging in place with dementia.

Benefits of Certification for Long-Term Care Communities and Day Centers

From meeting Federal or State requirements to staff Continuing Education (CE) needs, the standards, certifications and educational content provided by NCCAP offer multiple benefits to Long-Term Care Facilities:

  • Federal Law, OBRA, states that an activity department must be directed by a “qualified professional.” Since 1986, NCCAP Certification has been accepted as meeting this requirement.
  • NCCAP certification is recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as an organization that certifies activity professionals who work specifically with the older adult.
  • NCCAP certification assures administrators and surveyors that you have met professional standards required for Certification and can assist the community in meeting specified requirements while also improving quality of life for residents and other staff members.
  • NCCAP Certified Professionals can offer fellow staff insights and best practices on how to communicate, engage and intervene with those living with dementia.
  • NCCAP Certification offers individuals the opportunity for increased wages and can be a gateway to professional advancement within your organization.
  • NCCAP Certification can provide peace of mind to families that the caregivers has met rigorous educational standards that offer a higher quality of life based on person-centered care.

Benefits of NCCAP Certification for Government and Nonprofit Agencies

Federal, State and Local Governments, along with Nonprofit Agencies can realize the benefits and added value provided by NCCAP Certification through higher employee retention rate, lower staff turnover, reduced recruitment and administrative costs, reduced costs for the delivery of care, and lower admission rates for hospitalization, skilled nursing facilities and re-admittances. 

Benefits of NCCAP Certification for Activity Professionals

Activities are the foundation of care. Activity Professionals are the pillars of this foundation and our Organization. Recognized since 1986 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), NCCAP has trained and certified over 150,000 individuals. NCCAP's person-centered activity and engagement programs based on the social model of care set the Gold Standard for long-term care and quality of life. Here are just a few of the benefits to becoming NCCAP Certified:

  • Federal Law (OBRA) states that an Activity Department must be directed by a “qualified professional.” Since 1986, NCCAP has been accepted as meeting this requirement.
  • NCCAP certification assures administrators and surveyors that you have met proven criteria and professional standards to become certified.
  • Many administrators will only hire Activity Professionals who are certified.
  • Some administrators offer a higher salary to a certified Activity Professional.