Accreditation Resources

Many certification programs struggle with understanding the NCCA’s accreditation Standards and the intent behind them. If your organization is planning to apply for NCCA accreditation here are some resources you should review to help make this process easier:

Online Resources:

1. Start with reading the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs. You can download them, along with the application form, from the NOCA Web site. While it sounds basic, many organizations make the mistake of skipping this step and relying on second hand information about what their certification program will have to do to meet the Standards. There are only 21 Standards, take the time to read them so that you know first hand what you are dealing with.

2. As you read the Standards you should begin to get a sense of where your organization is in terms of compliance. NCCA also sells an accreditation package that includes an application checklist that may you may find helpful.

3. Check the Frequently Asked Questions document published by the NCCA for answers to some of the most common inquiries.

4. Contact people who have recently been through the process. If you are a NOCA member take advantage of the listserv in the members-only section of the Web site to post questions.

5. Scan the list of NCCA accredited programs and review some of their Web sites. This is a great resource for seeing how other organizations have structured their programs and met the Standards for providing information to stakeholders. Many of these organizations post their Candidate Handbooks, policy manuals and/or Bylaws on their Web sites.

In Person Resources:

1. As you read the Standards and get a sense of where your certification program stands in terms of compliance, you will probably develop a list of questions. For answers to general questions about the application process, including fees, deadlines, submission guidelines and forms, contact NOCA/NCCA headquarters.

2. Attend a NOCA or ATP conference to meet people who have been through the process. But, consider your sources carefully. The NCCA Standards were updated significantly a few years ago and the “new” Standards were implemented in 2003. Make sure the people you connect with are knowledgeable about the “new” Standards.

3. If you have specific questions about how a Standard may apply to your program you may want to contact an NCCA Commissioner directly. These folks are all volunteers and have busy full-time jobs, so often the best way to connect is at a NOCA sponsored educational event. I would suggest that anyone planning to apply for accreditation attend a session at NOCA’s annual conference or an audio seminar presented by the NCCA. This is one of the best ways to get answers directly from the people that make the accreditation decisions.

4. Hire a consultant. A consultant can help you assess your program to determine where changes are needed and can help you implement those changes. Determine if you need help with the “administrative” standards, the “psychometric” standards, or both. Then choose your consultant(s) based on their expertise in those areas. A psychometrician can be a great help if you need a new job analysis, but is not the best choice if you need to restructure and address governance issues. Make sure you choose a consultant that is familiar with the accreditation Standards.

Many organizations that have successfully completed the accreditation process have told me that while achieving NCCA accreditation is challenging, the overall quality of their programs was greatly improved by the process. If you start with understanding the Standards and make sure you get your questions answered, you should be off to a good start.

Janice Moore, SeaCrest