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Guide to becoming
NCCAP Certified

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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.
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NCCAP sets the following goals as means to achieve its mission:
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Directly provide opportunities for and/or information about educational offerings thereby enabling its members and potential members to pursue professional development.
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Educate on behalf of its membership on issues regarding credentialing in the political and industry spheres.
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Each Level Has Several Tracks
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CE Requirements Are Consistent for
Levels –
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20 for AAC
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30 for ADC & ADPC
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40 for ACC
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Education and Experience are weighed
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MEPAP 2 nd Edition Required for all ADC &
ACC Tracks
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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 2 nd Edition
National Exam
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Masters Degree
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Bachelors Degree
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Associates Degree
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60 College Credits
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12 College Credit
Note: College Credits never expire &
Must have an English Course
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Number of hours of actual delivery of activities services to a population that is at least 50% over age 55
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1 year full time is equivalent to 2,000 hours of experience
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Experience must be within the past 5 years *

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Workshops, seminars, conferences specifically for activities that fall within the NCCAP Body of
Knowledge
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Must be within the past 5 years
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Can include 20% clock hours from mandatory inservice's
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Can include 30% from on line inservice programs such as Silverchair
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Any online or home study classes must be NCCAP
Preapproved…contact the company to find the
NCCAP pre-approval number
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nd
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HOW?
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100 questions from MEPAP randomly picked out of a bank of 1,800
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Conducted by Comira Testing, an independent testing company
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Done on computer with a proctor
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Pass with 70% or better
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Cost covers development and testing company fees
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Is NOT retroactive – only applies to certification, not renewals
WHY?
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Credibility with state and federal regulatory bodies
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National standard for recognized professions
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QA for MEPAP instructors
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Establishes competency
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ACTIVITY ASSISTANT CERTIFIED (AAC): One who meets NCCAP standards to assist, with supervision, in carrying out an activity program.
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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.
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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).
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B. ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE
2,000 hours within past 5 years.
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C. CONTINUING EDUCATION
20 clock hours ( Body of Knowledge ) within past 5 years.
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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).
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B. ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE
4,000 hours within past 5 years.
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C. CONTINUING EDUCATION
20 clock hours ( Body of Knowledge ) within past 5 years .
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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)
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B. ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE
2,000 hours within past 5 years.
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C. CONTINUING EDUCATION
20 clock hours ( Body of Knowledge ) within past 5 years.
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High School Diploma or GED
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MEPAP Part One (Core Competencies 1-11)
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50 clock hours of volunteer/experience in the delivery of activities services
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20 clock hours of continuing education from the
NCCAP Body of Knowledge within the past 5 years

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This “Track” was designed for individuals such as High School students, college students or activity professionals near retirement who want to obtain national certification
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If the individual maintains their NCCAP certification they can level change at any time, providing that they obtain the components for that level.
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They can maintain their AAPC forever when they renew every two years.
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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).
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ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE
4,000 hours within past 5 years.
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CONTINUING EDUCATION
30 clock hours ( Body of Knowledge ) within past 5 years.
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MEPAP
Modular Education
Program for Activity
Professionals (MEPAP).
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National Exam
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ACADEMIC EDUCATION
Associates Degree (including English PLUS 5 other courses, with at least 1 course from B, C, and D of the coursework areas).
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ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE
6,000 hours within past 5 years.
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CONTINUING EDUCATION
30 clock hours ( Body of Knowledge ) within past 5 years.
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MEPAP
Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals (MEPAP).
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National Exam *

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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).
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ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE
6,000 hours within past 5 years.
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CONTINUING EDUCATION
30 clock hours ( Body of Knowledge ) within past 5 years.
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MEPAP
Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals (MEPAP).
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National Exam *

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ACADEMIC EDUCATION
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12 semester college credits (must include an English PLUS 1 other required coursework area).
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90-Hour Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals
Part 1 (C.C.1-11) and the 90-Hour Practicum
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90-Hour Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals
Part 2 (C.C.12-20) and 90-Hour Practicum
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ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE
4. 6,000 hours activity experience within the past 5 years.
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CONTINUING EDUCATION
30 clock hours ( Body of Knowledge ) within past 5 years.

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For ADPC you must have 3 of the 5 components
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You have will need to maintain your ADPC for 6 years. Upon completion of your missing components you can apply for a level change
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You have 6 years to obtain your missing components
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IF you do not obtain your missing components within the 6 years, you can become an AAC
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You will need to renew your NCCAP certification every two years
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When you are ready for a level change to ADC, you will be eligible to take the National Exam
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Upon successful passing of the National
Exam, you will fulfill the level change to
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ADC

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.
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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______
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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
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NCCAP Certification must be renewed every two years.
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IF you do not renew, you will then have to re-apply and meet the current NCCAP Standards
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If you are NCCAP Certified at any level before 12/31/11 then you will not have to take the National Exam.
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Your NCCAP Certification is recognized in F Tag 249 by Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services
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Your NCCAP Certification is recognized in many states that utilize
F-249 as the qualifying credential
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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).
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ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE
2,000 hours activity experience within the last 5 years.
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CONTINUING EDUCATION
40 clock hours ( Body of Knowledge ) within the past 5 years.
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CONSULTING EXPERIENCE
200 hours of activity consulting experience within the past 3 years.
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MEPAP
Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals (MEPAP).
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National Exam
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ACADEMIC EDUCATION
Bachelor's Degree (include an English plus 7 other coursework areas with at least 1 course from areas B, C, and D).
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ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE
4,000 hours activity experience within the last 5 years.
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CONTINUING EDUCATION
40 clock hours ( Body of Knowledge ) within the past 5 years.
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CONSULTING EXPERIENCE
200 hours of activity consulting experience within the past 3 years.
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MEPAP
Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals (MEPAP).
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National Exam
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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).
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ACTIVITY EXPERIENCE
4,000 hours activity experience within the last 5 years.
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CONTINUING EDUCATION
40 clock hours ( Body of Knowledge ) within the past 5 years.
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CONSULTING EXPERIENCE
(Arranged with the Track 3 Consultant Review Committee).
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MEPAP
Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals (MEPAP).
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National Exam
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High School Diploma or GED
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You will send a copy in your application packet
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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
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If submitting a college transcript which has your high school graduation date noted, that will suffice as well.
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Official College Transcript
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You will send the original so get a Student copy as well
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Have the transcript sent to your facility. HR Department would be able to receive it, if the college won’t send it to you
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Include the original in your
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From an accredited college or university
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A variety of degrees and college courses are accepted, provided the course content areas are met
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No time limit for college degree or credits
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Required coursework areas must be a grade of “C” or better
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Nursing schools, technical credits, and foreign transcripts must be accompanied by an official evaluation from an accredited US
College, University or Independent Agency.
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10 Extra CE’s in Specialty Area from NCCAP Body of
Knowledge
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Educator – ACC/ED, ADC/ED, AAC/ED
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Memory Care – ACC/MC, ADC/MC, AAC/MC
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Assisted Living – ACC/ALF, ADC/ALF, AAC/ALF
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Adult Day – ACC/AD, ADC/AD, AAC/AD
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Download NCCAP Standards from website: nccap.org
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Read Standards several times
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Download application from website
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Fill out application COMPLETELY!
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Use Official College Transcripts – unopened
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Letter from employer on letterhead – verify hours, population, duties
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Send copies of continuing education certificates – send with time outline if over 8 hours
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Have notarized
– include check
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Recommend – Certified Mail
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Every Two Years From Month of Original Certification
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20, 30, or 40 CE’s
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10 CE’s per Specialty Area
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Submit Copies of CE Certificates
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Renewal Form MUST be Filled Out
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If Level Change, Renewals Are Still Due on Original
Date of Certification
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Conferences, Seminars, Workshops
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NCCAP Preapproved Distance Learning
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College Courses/Adult Education
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Classes at Crafts Stores, etc.
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Articles Published in State or National Publications – 1 hour per 600-800 words
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Presentations – Double the hours for the first time topic is presented
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Must be dated after last renewal date
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Must Have Certificate with All of the Required
Information
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Minimum of 1 Hour Long
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20% can be facility in-services
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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
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1-757-552-0653
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