NACP (National Advocate Credentialing Program)
The National Advocate Credentialing Program® (NACP), developed through the cooperative effort of multiple national and state victim assistance organizations, was launched in 2003 as the first voluntary credentialing program available to crime victim advocates nationwide.
NACP is designed to promote a minimum of forty hours of pre-service training for advocates, recognizes the advocate’s years of experience, whether volunteer or paid, and requires continuing education for all advocates credentialed under the program.
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NACP is designed to promote a minimum of forty hours of pre-service training for advocates, recognizes the advocate’s years of experience, whether volunteer or paid, and requires continuing education for all advocates credentialed under the program.
Four levels of credentialing are offered – Provisional, Basic, Intermediate and Advanced – for all of which eligibility is based upon minimum requirements. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and will be reviewed and approved quarterly.
| APPLICATION WINDOW | COMMITTEE REVIEW | EXPIRATION DATE | |
| November 1 – January 31 | February | February 28th | |
| February 1 – April 30 | May | June 30th | |
| May 1 – July 31 | August | August 31st | |
| August 1 – October 31 | November | December 31st |
The NACP is voluntary and open to any individual who provides (or plans to provide) services to those victimized by crime, whether as paid or volunteer staff, and whether or not they have a formal education or degree. The program is inclusive rather than exclusive and voluntary rather than mandatory.
Credentialing offers many benefits to those in the victim assistance field. They include, but are not limited to, the following:
– Enhanced recognition, credibility and mobility in the victim assistance field
– Promotion and acknowledgement of a standardized minimum of forty (40) hours of pre-service training and requirement of thirty-two (32) hours of continuing education every two years;
– Initiation and definition by the field, rather than by outside professional groups;
– Professional identification with a group whose common ground is victim services and whose members abide by a Professional Code of Ethics for Victim Service Professionals
– Credentials are renewable every two years and may be upgraded.
– Credentialed advocates may request an indication of a “Specialty” on their credential as supported by documented specialty training.
– Credentialed advocates receive a certificate suitable for framing and a wallet card containing their general credentialing information.
– Credentialed advocates may use the designation “CA” after their names.
For instructions, applications, and detailed information on the National Advocate Credentialing Program, please visit: www.TheNACP.org
(D-SAACP) Department Of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program
The DoD Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP) recognizes the critical support Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs), Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program Managers (PMs), and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocates (SAPR VAs) provide to victims of sexual assault. SARCs, PMs, and SAPR VAs certified through D-SAACP will join a growing field of certified civilian victim advocates who are trained and committed to upholding the highest standards of victim care and privacy.
How Do I Apply for a D-SAACP Certification?
Download the DD Forms:
Visit the DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office website: www.sapr.mil
New applicants: Download the DD Form 2950 (updated Jan 2020 version is now available. The March 2015 version is no longer accepted.)
Renewal applicants: Download the DD Form 2950-1 (updated Jan 2020 version is now available. The March 2015 version is no longer accepted.)
Please note, that these forms are secure documents and the content will not be displayed in the preview until it has been downloaded onto your computer and opened.
Submit:
via email: dsaacp@trynova.org
via fax: 703-535-5500
via mail: 510 King Street, Ste 220, Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone assistance: 703-535-6621
Monday-Friday, 0900-1700 Eastern Time (GMT -5)
Any questions, or corrections to the application after receiving an incomplete notice, should be sent to: dsaacp-followup@trynova.org
Please help us keep your official military mailing address and/or military email address current by emailing changes to: dsaacp-followup@trynova.org
Additional information on the D-SAACP increase to eight (8) boards a year and and FAQs can be found here.
Please expand for submission details:
Submit your application to dsaacp@trynova.org. It must be received in the email box by midnight ET of the application deadline date as listed below to be processed for the corresponding review board.
| Application Deadline | 2023 Boards | |
|---|---|---|
| January 31, 2023 | February 21 – 23, 2023 | |
| April 30, 2023 | May 23 – 25, 2023 | |
| June 30, 2023 | July 18 – 20, 2023 | |
| August 11, 2023 | August 29 – 31, 2023 | |
| September 15, 2023 | October 3 – 5, 2023 | |
| November 10, 2023 | December 5 – 6, 2023 |
You will receive an email notification confirming receipt of your application within one week of your submission. If you do not receive a confirmation email in that timeframe, please contact us. For an application timeline flowchart, please click here.
In order to continue to provide the same excellent customer service experience, the new eight (8) boards a year will be limited to 1,625 applications (this still credentials 13,000 advocates a year).
This asked for increase means that there will not be the option to request ad hoc boards in the future as eight (8) boards a year means they meet approximately every six (6) weeks and there will be no time in-between for an ad hoc board to convene.
As always, renewal applications for future boards will not be renewed early. The boards are designed to review and approve renewal applicants during their timeframe; renewal applications will have precedence of being reviewed first should the cycle reach the 1,625 application max.
How Do I Correct My Incomplete Application?
Please reply to the incomplete notice received by sending the updated/corrected documents to dsaacp-followup@trynova.org.
What Should I Do If My Certification Has Expired?
Through the May 2023 board:
If you miss 1-3 deadlines, submit your Renewal application, DD Form 2950-1, along with your documentation of 32 CEU’s.
If you miss 4 or more deadlines, submit your Renewal application, DD Form 2950-1, AND the initial SAPR training taken within the past year.
The intent of the DoDI 6495.03 expiration policy remains: being out of the role for a year (was 4 missed deadlines with quarterly review boards) requires that an advocate goes back through their Service’s pre-approved initial SAPR VA training.
With doubling the review boards, the expiration policy will also double. Beginning with the July 2023 board, the expiration policy will be:
If you miss 1-7 deadlines, submit your Renewal application, DD Form 2950-1, along with your documentation of 32 CEU’s.
If you miss 8 or more deadlines, submit your Renewal application, DD Form 2950-1, AND the initial SAPR training taken within the past year.
How Can I Provide Feedback to DoD SAPRO?
If you have comments, compliments, or complaints about the services on your installation/base or provided by a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC), victim advocate or other military staff or personnel, please use this feedback form. You can submit the form anonymously if you prefer. Information you provide on this form will be forwarded to the DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) and they will follow up with you if you wish.
Continuing Education Resources
Formal guidance for Continuing Education can be found on the SAPRO website or on this Fact Sheet released by SAPRO. Training courses are not limited to sexual assault advocacy – advocates should seek training in emerging issues and victim-focused, trauma-informed care. There is no “pre-approved” list of trainings provided by D-SAACP that you are required to take. This is to ensure that it is up to you and your SARC/PM to determine the most appropriate training related to your particular environment to guarantee that you have access to any relevant victim advocacy training available to you. Any training that relates to victim advocacy is acceptable for CEUs for renewing your D-SAACP certificate.
32 hours of continuing education (CEUs) are required for renewal. Out of the required 32 CEUs, the following are required:
–8 hours of “in-person” training. DoD SAPRO requires in the updated Feb 2020 version of the DoDI 6495.03 requires that 8 are “in-person” (note that the “in-person” training requirements may be met by attending live webinars (not recordings)). NOVA/D-SAACP does not maintain a list of in-person or live webinar training. If you are having trouble finding in-person or live webinar training, work with your SARC/PM to identify opportunities available to you (oftentimes your state coalition or local sexual assault service provider will offer live webinars).
–Safe Helpline 101 training (this can be the online training provided by RAINN or a 1 hour in-person Safe Helpline 101 provided by the SARC).
-A minimum of 2 hours of victim advocacy ethics must be documented (professional ethics do not meet the victim advocacy ethics requirement).
If you are a renewing applicant, you cannot repeat the same CEUs you completed for your prior renewal(s). If you take a training that has been updated, please be sure this is indicated in the documentation.
To document your CEUs, please submit a signed page 14 of the DD Form 2950-1 or a signed DSAID printout whenever possible. Any training that is over 8 hours requires an agenda to be submitted with the application (ensure your name is written on the agenda so the documentation can be correctly assigned to your packet).
Below are some online resources available to you. This list is not comprehensive, it is a starting point to gather ideas. If you are having trouble with a training, you will need to contact the agency the training is under, we have no control over other organizations websites or trainings.
General CEU Opportunities
The Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault offers online modules on different topics relating to sexual assault.
The Battered Women’s Justice Project offers technical assistance and referrals. They also offer conferences and webinars related to victim advocacy.
End Violence Against Women Online Training Institute (Please note EVAWI’s course titled Laboratory Analysis of Biological Evidence and the Role of DNA in Sexual Assault Investigations will count towards a maximum of 12 CEUs as it is a periphery topic.)
The National Center on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault has a listing of upcoming training around the country, including webinars.
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) has listings of training and webinars.
The NOVA Victim Assistance Academy
NOVA Premier Membership: Become a NOVA Premier Member ($80 – military members discounted rate) to gain access to NOVA’s Live Monthly Webinars and earn up to 24 CEUs a year. Click here to see the 2021 monthly webinar schedule.
Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center
Office for Victims of Crime offers an online advanced victim advocacy training course (AMSAAT), open only to DSAACP certified personnel, please contact OVC for access at amsaat@ovcttac.org or 866-682-8822.
The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape & National Sexual Violence Resource Center offers online modules of varying topics related to the field of victim advocacy. The Free Courses do not provide a certificate – to obtain documentation you may take a screen shot of the congratulations page, write your name on it and the date you completed the training, and submit that as proof of completion. You may also document completion of the course by listing it on page 14 or DSAID and having your SARC/Supervisor sign off on that document.
The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) offers additional online, self-paced, courses through free registration at: https://safehelpline.rainntrain.org/
Contact your state sexual assault coalition. They may offer online training or may be able to connect you to local resources. To find your state coalition, refer to RAINN’s website.
The Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs offers online modules of varying topics related to the field of victim advocacy. If a certificate of completion is not provided, take a screen shot of the congratulations page, write your name on it and the date you completed the training, and submit that as proof of completion. You may also document completion of the course by listing it on page 14 or DSAID and having your SARC/Supervisor sign off on that document.
Connect with local crisis centers or hospitals –they may offer training or be able to come speak at your installation.
Victim Advocacy Ethics Online CEU Opportunities
The Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center offers a 1-hour on-line Confidentiality and a .75-hour Ethics training module that counts towards the D-SAACP Victim Advocacy Ethics CEU requirement (as part of their VAT Online Core Competency & Skills catalog). Please note the Ethics training module is only .75 CEUs, it cannot be rounded up.
The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape & National Sexual Violence Resource Center offers a 1-hour on-line Ethical Practice and a 1-hour on-line Confidentiality training module that counts towards the D-SAACP Victim Advocacy Ethics CEU requirement. Document completion of the course by listing it on page 14 or DSAID and having your SARC/Supervisor sign off on that document. We do not require you to pay the $20 to obtain the certificate of completion.
Texas Victim Assistance Training Online offers a 1-hour on-line ethics training that counts towards the D-SAACP Victim Advocacy Ethics CEU requirement. If you do not have time to wait for the certificate, document completion of the course by listing it on page 14 or DSAID and having your SARC/Supervisor sign off on that document.
The Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs offers a 1-hour online Ethics of Confidentiality training that counts towards the D-SAACP Victim Advocacy Ethics CEU requirement. Document completion of the course by listing it on page 14 or DSAID and having your SARC/Supervisor sign off on that document.
Facilitator Information: Office of Victims of Crime Ethics in Victim Services is a trainer’s toolkit and is only acceptable if it is presented as an in person training. It is not acceptable to review the materials on your own and generate your own certificate.