Recognition of Cognate Group Board Certification

A NACC member who holds Board Certification in one of the cognate groups may apply to
have his/her certification recognized by NACC. Cognate groups approved for recognition
of certification by the NACC are indicated in CP311-313.

Chaplain Certification:

• Association of Professional Chaplains (APC)
• Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC/ACSS)
• National Conference of Veterans’ Affairs Catholic Chaplains (NCVACC) National
• Association of Veterans’ Affairs Chaplains (NAVAC)

CPE Supervisor Certification:

• Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE)
• Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC)

Advanced Certified Hospice Palliative Care Chaplain:

• Association of Professional Chaplains (APC)
• National Association of Veterans’ Affairs Chaplains (NAVAC)

Prerequisites

• Full membership in the NACC (Qualification 301.QUA2).
• Documented proof of membership and valid certification by one of the accepted
  cognate groups (CP311-CP313).
• If the Applicant is a lay person, the Applicant requests that a current letter of
  recommendation from his/her pastor or from a priest in active ministry be
  submitted by the pastor/priest directly to the NACC National Office (Qualification
  301.QUA1). Letter is to be a signed original on letterhead. Current is defined as
  within one year of application for certification recognition. This letter accompanies
  the request for ecclesiastical endorsement initiated by the NACC National Office.
• The NACC National Office requests a current letter of ecclesiastical endorsement
  (Qualification 301.QUA1). Current is defined as within one year of application for
  certification recognition. The NACC will complete the endorsement request on the
  Applicant’s behalf.
• Adherence to the NACC Code of Ethics and knowledge of the requirements of that
  Code (Code of Ethics 100).
• Current completion of the NACC Ethics Accountability Statement (Code of Ethics
  206.11.1). Current is defined as within one year of application for certification
  recognition.

  Ecclesiastical endorsement is formal approval for ministry by:

• The Bishop of the diocese of the Applicant’s ministry if the Applicant is a lay
  person, or
•  The major superior if the Applicant is a member of a religious order, or
• The Ordinary (understood as the Bishop of the diocese where the priest or
  deacon is incardinated) if the Applicant is a diocesan priest or deacon.

Documents Required to Apply for Recognition of Certification

• Recognition application form available upon becoming a full member.
• Checklist For Supportive Materials Required For Recognition Of Certification By Cognate Group 1 2017
• Certification Procedures Manual for Recognition
• Code of Ethics for Spiritual Care Professionals
• NACC Ethics and Accountability Statement
  
• NACC Required eLearning Module and Post-Test – ERDs
  
• Narrative Statement I Template – NACC Specific Competencies
• Narrative Statement I Writing Guide – NACC Specific Competencies
• Integrative Theological Essay Instructions-ITP2.1

Qualifications and Competencies

Qualifications and Competencies for Certification of Chaplains (2015-2021) – updated October 2016
Qualifications and Competencies – Advanced Certification Hospice Palliative Care (2015-2021) – updated October 2016
Standards – CPE Supervisor Certification (2015-2012)

Code of Ethics

Code of Ethics for Spiritual Care Professionals (2015-2012)
Ethics Procedures Manual – as of April 2008

Certification Procedures

Recognition of Cognate Applicant Certification – Part Three of the Procedures Manual, updated October 2016
Certification Appeals – Part Six of the Procedures Manual, updated October 2016