National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP) Resource Page

Credentialing offers many benefits to those in the victim assistance field, including but not limited to:

• Enhanced recognition, credibility and mobility in the victim assistance field
• 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
• Credentialed advocates receive a certificate suitable for framing and a portable wallet card.
• Credentialed advocates may use the designation “CA” after their names.
  • NACP credentialed advocates are encouraged to use the initials “CA” (Credentialed Advocate) after their names to exercise their professional standing in the victim advocacy field.  For example, Registered Nurses or “RNs” are immediately recognized as professionals signified by the initials after their names.  NACP promotes the use of the CA initials by credentialed advocates to move toward the same recognition and the professionalization of our field.  In addition to the NACP displayable credential certificate and wallet card, advocates should use the CA on their business cards and signature lines to further distinguish themselves among their colleagues.

Applications are accepted and reviewed quarterly.

Application Windows & Review Dates:

* scheduled review dates are updated annually and are subject to change.

Download and complete the application that best suits your direct service experience, AND Ensure that requirements are met based on the level you are applying for.

Once you're ready to submit, applications are accepted as follows: 

• Email  (preferred): credential@thenacp.org 
• Fax:  (703) 535-5500
• Mail: National Organization for Victim Advocacy

℅ NACP Applications 

510 King Street, Suite 220

Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Aspiring victim advocates and/or those provide direct service victim assistance specifically to victims and survivors of crime.

Your eligibility for credentialing is based on the number of verified hours you have spent providing direct services to victims and survivors of crime.

Yes, an application fee is required to process and prepare your submission. A military rate is available for all Active Duty members, Reserves, Veterans, Retirees or DOD Contract/Civilian Employees (note: the D-SAACP to NACP Bridge Application is not eligible for additional discounted rates)

• Provisional Level Application: 
  • $70.00 standard rate
  • $55.00 military rate
• Basic Intermediate or Advanced Level Applications: 
  • $140.00 standard rate
  • $100.00 military rate
• D-SAACP to NACP Bridge Application: $40.00
• Renewal at Current Level Application: 
  • $100.00  standard rate
  • $55.00 military rate
• Renewal and Upgrade Application: 
  • $140.00  standard rate
  • $55.00 military rate

• Notification of application receipt- within 10 business days of application submission, applicants will receive a notification from our automated system indicating formal receipt of their application
• Pre-review application screening- the NACP team will review all information provided by the applicant and provide feedback and advisement, as needed, to ensure the application is complete for Committee approval (first notification within 30 business days of submission). Potential Pre-review status:
  • Awaiting Committee Review (pending)- no additional updates provided until after Committee Review
  • Incomplete- additional information or clarification required to complete submission

*Note: The NACP Committee reviews all completed/pending NACP Applications. If your application remains incomplete when the Committee convenes, their submission will not be reviewed. 

• Post-review application status- within 5 business days from completion of each quarterly review, applicants will be notified of the status of their submission:

• • Approved- all requirements met
  • Approved if additional information is provided by specific deadline- most requirements met, but additional information or clarification may be required to ensure requirements are met
  • Denied- requirements were not met

You will need 32 hours of continuing education during the two-year period after you receive your credential from NACP.  You should attend workshops, conferences, seminars, in-service training or webinars which are relevant to providing direct services to crime victims.  Special attention should be given to training which is specific to your specialty area(s), like domestic violence, sexual assault or child abuse.  College courses specific to crime victimization, the impact of crime on victims or victimology are relevant and are applicable either in part (one class in a course on Women’s Studies is devoted to the topic of rape, for example; therefore the entire course wouldn’t count, but the hours spent on the topic of rape would) or in its entirety (the course is Violence Against Women and discusses domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse).

You will need a certificate of attendance reflecting your name and the date, hours and topic documenting your attendance at the training.  If no certificates are offered, you should use the NACP Continuing Education Documentation (CED). This form should be printed out prior to the training and taken with you to document the date, hours and name of the training and the trainer. You should obtain the signature of the trainer, the workshop monitor or the sponsor of the training for each workshop, seminar or training program you attend IF no certificate of attendance reflecting the number of hours of training is offered.  You will not need both.  Continuing education is required for all levels of NACP credentialing – Provisional, Basic, Intermediate and Advanced.

Once approved, your credential should arrive within 6-8 weeks after the end of each deadline period.  You will, however, receive an email notifying you that the Committee has approved your application shortly after the Committee makes its determination. 

Your credential will be suitable for framing and may be displayed on your office wall.  You will also receive a wallet-sized card to carry with you.  In addition, you are encouraged to use the initials “CA” after your name on your business card and on your signature line for letters, email, etc.  An example would be:  Jane M. Doe, CA   Using the initials after your name indicates your membership in our growing profession as well as your professional recognition as a NACP credentialed victim service professional.

Effective August 1, 2025, all applicants will be required to successfully complete an NACP Pre-Approved Trainings and provide the corresponding certificate of completion or transcript to indicate they have met the minimum training requirement to be credentialed.

All NACP Pre-Approved Trainings can be found HERE.

Effective August 1, 2025, an NACP Pre-Approved Training is required to be successfully completed within 10 years of applying as a first-time applicant with NACP.

New Applicants: 

• Effective August 1, 2025, all new applicants are required to successfully complete an NACP Pre-Approved Training to become credentialed; If the college course work you have completed is one of our pre-approved trainings and you have passed the course with a C or better, you may use that to satisfy NACP’s Introductory Advocacy Training requirement. 

Renewal Applicants: 

• Coursework must be specific to victim advocacy to be accepted toward NACP’s continuing education (CE) renewal requirement. Please provide the NACP Team with a formal description of the coursework you are inquiring about for advisement prior to submitting your application to ensure that it meets NACP requirements. (note: college coursework is assessed as CEUs offered as opposed to contact hours).

The Memorandum of Confirmation (M.O.C.) must be completed and signed, by someone in a position of authority to verify your employment, volunteer, internship or practicum experience, and returned to you for inclusion in your application packet.  Make copies of the form as needed.  NOTE: You should only provide the experience necessary to meet the credentialing level hours required for which you are applying. Documentation of ALL prior relevant experience may not be necessary.  The M.O.C. is required for Basic, Intermediate or Advanced applicants only.

The Client Contact Observation form is required for all Basic, Intermediate or Advanced applicants.  This form is completed by someone who has had the opportunity to observe your interaction with victims of crime.  The form is a questionnaire and may be answered by checking yes or no, and the person completing it may add comments if she or he chooses.  The person completing the form returns it to the applicant for inclusion in the application packet.

No, please do not send employment or general letters of recommendation with your application.  Letters should be recent and related to your application for NACP credentialing.  For example, your letters of support should be addressed to the NACP Review Committee and speak to your skills and abilities as an advocate as well as recommendation for credentialing by NACP.

Any profession’s members are accountable for their professional conduct and behavior with those they serve and with their colleagues.  Our profession is no different and as you become a part of the growing field of victim advocacy, NACP credentialing requires your agreement to adhere to the Code of Professional Ethics for Victim Assistance Providers.  When applying for your NACP credential, you must be familiar with the Code of Ethics, read and sign the document and, once approved, you will be held accountable to follow the Code in your daily interaction with those whom you serve, your colleagues and in your professional conduct.

To highlight the specialized training and direct service experience you have in serving specific populations and/or crime types.

Applicants applying at the Basic, Intermediate or Advanced Levels are encouraged to apply for a specialty designation within their NACP Credential. (Note: Applicants applying with a D-SAACP to NACP Bridge Application are not eligible for a specialty designation).

Requirements for specialty designation depend on the level of credentialing you are applying for, and assess both the training experience (NACP Specialty Training Log) and direct services provided to the specified populations (Client Contact Observation Form).

“B” level training is any foundational training that includes topics considered basic and necessary for advocates to be trained in, specific to the populations and/or crime types served (example: domestic violence “B” level training could be a training on temporary protective orders).

“C” level training is any in-depth training that includes topics considered more advanced and necessary for advocates to be trained in, specific to the populations and/or crime types served (example: domestic violence “C” level training could be a training on strangulation).

You may apply for a maximum of 2 individual specialty designations OR a comprehensive service specialty designation.

Individual specialty designation(s): 

• Can apply for a maximum of 2
• Require that the training requirement, depending on level, be met by providing training hours specific to the population/crime type

Comprehensive specialty designation:

• Comprised of 3 or more of the indicated populations/crime types
• Requires that the training requirement, depending on level, be met by providing training hours specific to the 3 or more populations/crime types indicated are independent to comprise your comprehensive specialty designation 

(Note: when applying at the Intermediate or Advanced Levels, the training hours logged in both “B” and “C” Levels should be within the same 3 or more populations/crime types).

Yes, you can apply to change or modify your specialty designation when renewing your NACP Credentials.

• When applying to renew your credentials at their current level: 
  • Indicate that you would like to change/modify your designation (page 1 of Renewal at Current Level Application) 
  • Complete an NACP Specialty Modification Packet [link to NACP Specialty Modification Packet]. 
• When applying to renew and upgrade your credentials:
  • Indicate that you would like to change/modify your designation (page 1 of Renewal and Upgrade Application [link to Renewal/Upgrade Applications on Application and Forms section]) 
  • Complete the appropriate Specialty Training Documentation page(s) for the designation you would like to apply for (pages 4-8; Note: you are only required to complete the pages that coincide with the designation(s) you are applying for)

Client Contact Observation Form completed by a professional who can evaluate your interaction with and services provided to designation specialized population (pages 10- 12 of Renewal and Upgrade Application [link to Renewal/Upgrade Applications on Application and Forms section])

No, you are not required to apply for the next or higher level after two years.  You may renew at the same level if you choose but you must provide documentation of your required 32 hours of continuing education.

If you choose to renew and upgrade to the next or a higher level, you must provide an additional Memorandum of Confirmation to verify your experience meeting the minimum number of hours required for that level,  You must also submit all other required documentation.  Additional Client Contact Observation forms and letters of recommendation are not necessary unless you add or change specialty areas.

No. Unfortunately, we do not have enough room in our offices to store applications for future renewal periods. Please note that the quarterly reviews are set up to review the people who are expiring that term, so that their credentials will not expire prior to new credentials being approved.

You will be notified via email within 30 days from submission of the status of your application. You will receive a second notification of your incomplete status within 10 business days of the first, if the status remains incomplete.

The notifications you receive regarding the incomplete status of your submission will indicate the information required to complete your submission.

It can take our team up to 5 business days to process in supplemental documentation, so it should be provided at least 5 business days prior to the scheduled Committee Review, if not sooner. 

Your application can remain incomplete.. 
Incomplete- through NACP Review application was submitted for 
Abeyance- incomplete for 1 full NACP Review (approximately 3 months)
Closed- incomplete for 2 full NACP Reviews (approximately 6 months)

NACP Offers 4 levels of Credentialing: Provisional, Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced.

By calculating your direct service experience and ensuring that you meet all other requirements for the level that corresponds with the direct service hours calculations (see the NACP Memorandum of Confirmation for details on how to calculate your direct service hours) 

No, please do not send employment or general letters of recommendation with your application.  Letters should be recent and related to your application for NACP credentialing.  For example, your letters of support should be addressed to the NACP Review Committee and speak to your skills and abilities as an advocate as well as recommendation for credentialing by NACP.

No.  You do not need to and should not start over.  You may bring your credential status up-to-date and renew at your current level by providing the Renewal Application and the required CEU’s (Continuing Education Units).  If you are interested in upgrading your credential, you will need to fill out the Renewal/Upgrade Application and provide the documentation which supports your required Continuing Education Units as well as your additional hours of victim services.  If you have questions about your specific situation, please send us an email at credential@thenacp.org 

When contracting with groups (10 or more applicants)  for NACP credentialing, we offer the following services for an additional 20% fee.  Our Group Services plan was developed to offer better customer service to groups seeking credentialing and to cover our additional administrative costs associated with providing the following:
•    Scheduled Quarterly Reports
•    Option for bulk payment
•    Scheduled training on NACP and the application process, upon request
 The above list is not offered to the general public applying for NACP certification.
Please contact us for additional information.