Renewal of Certification: Continuing Education Hours and Reporting
Does the NACC have any sample completed education report forms?
There are several sample versions of completed education report forms available on the NACC website. Visit the “Renewal Materials” page to see the most current samples.
How many hours of education do I need to achieve each year for my renewal of certification?
You need to achieve a total of fifty (50) hours of education per year for the renewal process. Of the 50 hours required you must complete a minimum of fifteen (15) hours of educational activities per year related to education in the specialty certification area (Veterans Affairs). These education hours will need to be reported on your education report form and be coded with the specialty certification credentials. For example: Veterans Affairs hours would be coded by the activity with the credentials “BCC-VA.”
Are handwritten education report forms acceptable for my renewal of certification?
No, the Certification Commission will not accept handwritten education forms or peer review report forms. The forms must be electronically produced (computer or typewriter).
What years of educational updating do I submit for my renewal?
Answer: For renewal in 2020, you may report either the years 2015-2019 or 2016-2020, depending on the Continuing Education Hours you have obtained that you did not report in a previous renewal year.
Do I use one education report form to report all five years of my renewal of certification continuing education?
No, you must use one form per year for each of the five years of your renewal of certification continuing education.
How do I decide if an educational activity can be reported for my renewal of certification?
The process of Renewal of Certification is an opportunity for the chaplain to demonstrate their maintenance and enhancement of the competencies recognized by certification. Activities reported for renewal should be those that are educational or informational for your ministry as a chaplain.
How do I divide my educational activities to the different categories on the education report form?
The sections listed on the education report form mirror the Categories of Competency in the NACC Certification Competencies. When deciding where to report an educational activity, begin by discerning what educational updating was received from the activity and to which Certification Competency(ies) that updating is related. The Category in which those Competencies fall is where you should report your activity.
Can I count additional CPE Units as continuing education hours for my renewal of certification?
Yes, CPE Units (either additional CPE units or supervisory CPE units) can be counted as continuing education for your renewal of certification.
Follow the below guidelines for reporting:
- Didactic activity should be listed by each session, including the topic of the session, the date, and the number of hours. (counted hour for hour) It should also be indicated if the applicant “A” attended the didactic or “P” presented the didactic
- Supervisory sessions (as part of the CPE unit) may be reported up to a total of 10 hours per year
- Ministerial activities (patient visitation, conducting worship services, etc.) cannot be reported as continuing education for your renewal of certification
How do I count my time spent reading?
As long as the reading is of an educational value to you, you may count time spent in review of any educational materials (e.g. books, articles, audio/video recordings) up to 25 hours per year. You count your time hour for hour.
Can I count a graduate level theology course toward my renewal of certification? How should I count each class hour?
Yes, coursework can be reported for your renewal of certification if it was of an educational value to your ministry.
A 3-hour class is usually 16 weeks at 1.5 hours of classroom contact per week (in accelerated classes – 8 weeks at 3 hours per week).
The 3 hour class would be 24 classroom contact hours. Additionally, you should spend one hour
studying for every classroom hour (that would be another 24 hours).
A 3 hour class can be counted for a total of 48 hours. The same rule of thumb can be applied to 2 hour and 1 hour classes.
Do I record the time spent participating in a live teleconference/webinar the same way I record it if I listen to a recording of the event?
The number of hours which can be recorded for a live teleconference/webinar or a recording is the same. However, the hours spent listening to a recording would fall under the 25 hour maximum which can be recorded as being spent on “educational materials.”
Participation in live webinars and teleconferences would be considered like any other “live” seminar/event because you are doing them in real time. They do not count toward the 25 hours of “educational materials”.
Can I count ministry (work) activities toward my educational updating for renewal of certification?
Activities which are ministry (work) related (directly or indirectly) cannot be reported for your renewal of certification. Examples of activities which cannot be submitted:
- Patient visits
- Priestly duties (e.g. mass, confessions, etc.)
Can I count work-required training toward my educational updating?
Activities such as annual mandates/trainings required for your employment cannot be submitted toward your renewal of certification. Examples of activities which cannot be submitted:
- Safety training
- HIPAA training
How do I count my time at an educational event?
When attending a gathering that is of an educational value, please count the actual educational time for your renewal. Example: If you attend a local event and the event was 7 hours, but only 6 hours of the event was education time – then you can report 6 hours on your education report form.
How do I count time spent on retreat?
You are permitted to report up to 20 hours per year in attending retreats. Please use the following criteria when discerning the number of hours to record for a retreat:
- Directed Retreat (you are on your own/you meet daily with a spiritual director) Four (4) hours per day
- Guided or Preached Retreat (You participate in a daily conference with a small group/you are on your own for the rest of the day/you meet daily with your spiritual director) Four (4) hours per day
- Individual Retreats (time for yourself/tailored by you) Four (4) hours per day
- Conference-Type Retreats (themed retreat/a presenter provides talks and periods of reflection/sharing) Count by hours of participation
When reporting a retreat, please include: title (theme), retreat facilitator/leader (if applicable), location.
How do I count time spent on spiritual direction or professional supervision?
Follow the following stipulations when reporting the specific activities:
- Spiritual Direction – Ten (10) hours per year
- Therapy/Professional Supervision – Ten (10) hours per year
Can I count volunteer time toward my renewal of certification?
You are permitted to report up to 15 hours of service hours for your renewal of certification. However, the hours reported must be hours in service to the NACC that is of an educational value.
If the Volunteer Service to the NACC includes serving as a volunteer for an initial certification interview weekend (interviewer, interview team educator, etc.), the Chaplain may report up to twenty (20) hours total per year.
When reporting service to the NACC on your education report forms, please code the activities as “V“.
Can I count my recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land for my renewal of certification? Do I need to present some kind of documentation as proof of my visit?
Yes, you can include your pilgrimage to the Holy Land in your renewal of certification report. You don’t need to present a certificate. The important question is “was it of an educational value to your ministry” and then you would document the number of hours you think would be appropriate for you to claim for this.
