Programa Nacional de Acreditación de Defensores
About NACP
The National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP)® professionalizes victim advocacy and upholds high standards, by providing credentialing services which evaluate and recognize standard training and direct service experience in victim services. Through our work, we are empowering advocates to be the best they can.
Our Mission
To continue to professionalize the field of victim advocacy and maintain professional standards of best practices for victim service providers through credentialing that assesses/recognizes standard training and direct service experience.
Application Windows and Review Dates
Application Window
Review Dates
Scheduled Review*
November 1st – January 31st
February
February 25-26, 2025
February 1st – April 30th
May/June
June 3 – 4, 2025
May 1st – July 31st
August
August 20 – 21, 2025
August 1st – November 30th
November/December
December 10 – 11, 2025
*Scheduled review dates are updated annually and are subject to change.
Benefits of Credentialing
Credentialing offers many benefits to those in the victim assistance field.
- Enhanced recognition, credibility and mobility in the victim assistance field.
- Promotion and acknowledgement of a standardized minimum of forty (40) hours of pre-service training and encouragement of thirty-two (32) hours of continuing education every two years.
- Initiation and definition by the field, rather than by outside professional groups.
- 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.
- Credentials are renewable every two years and may be upgraded.
- Credentialed advocates may request an indication of a “Specialty” on their credential (Comprehensive, Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Homicide, Campus Advocacy or Program Management) supported by documented specialty training.
- Credentialed advocates receive a certificate suitable for framing and a portable wallet card.
- Credentialed advocates may use the designation “CA” after their names.
Apply to be a Credentialed Advocate
First Time Applicants
Applying for the first time? Review the training requirements and levels of credentialing for first time applicants.
All new applicants are required to successfully complete an NACP Pre-Approved Training within 10 years of applying for NACP Credentialing. (certificates of completion or transcripts are required).
Direct service experience is assessed to determine the level of credentialing that applicants are eligible for and training experience is assessed based on the level being applied for.
Provisional Level
- No direct service experience required
- Not eligible for specialty designation
Basic Level
- 3,900 hours providing direct services to victims and survivors of crime are require
- 20 hours of basic level training per specialty designation
Intermediate Level
- 7,800 hours providing direct services to victims and survivors of crime are required
- 30 hours of training required per specialty designation (20 hours of basic level training + 10 hours of advanced level training)
Advanced Level
- 15,600 hours providing direct services to victims and survivors of crime are required
- 40 hours of training required per specialty designation (20 hours of basic level training + 20 hours of advanced level training)
Renewal Applicants
Already credentialed and need to renew?
Renew at your current NACP Credentialing level by completing the application form and meeting 32 hours of continuing education. The 32 CEUs must be documented with a certificate of completion or the NACP CED Form and included in your application packet.
Basic Level:
- 3,900 hours providing direct services to victims and survivors of crime are required
- 20 hours of basic level training per specialty designation
Intermediate Level:
- 7,800 hours providing direct services to victims and survivors of crime are required
- 30 hours of training required per specialty designation (20 hours of basic level training + 10 hours of advanced level training)
Advanced:
- 15,600 hours providing direct services to victims and survivors of crime are required
- 40 hours of training required per specialty designation (20 hours of basic level training + 20 hours of advanced level training)
Bridge Applicants
Are you D-SAACP credentialed and looking to have your experience recognized by NACP? Complete the NACP Bridge Application to become a Credentialed Advocate at the equivalent level of your D-SAACP certification.
A Bridge Application is for those moving from military to civilian advocacy or those who wish to be dual credentialed by D-SAACP and NACP. A Bridge Application may only be used to bridge your D-SAACP to NACP Credentials at their current NACP equivalent level.
Only DoD personnel who hold a current D-SAACP Credential or those whose D-SAACP Credentials have expired within 6 months at the time of submission are eligible to apply with this application, otherwise you must use one of the standard NACP applications.
Basic Level:
- 3,900 hours providing direct services to victims and survivors of crime are required
- 20 hours of basic level training per specialty designation
Intermediate Level:
- 7,800 hours providing direct services to victims and survivors of crime are required
- 30 hours of training required per specialty designation (20 hours of basic level training + 10 hours of advanced level training)
Advanced:
- 15,600 hours providing direct services to victims and survivors of crime are required
- 40 hours of training required per specialty designation (20 hours of basic level training + 20 hours of advanced level training)
NACP Scholarship
We are committed to the professionalization of all crime victim advocates and allied professionals. NACP offers need-based scholarships to victim advocates who are new to the field of advocacy.
Eligibility:
- Advocates with two (2) or less years of direct service experience specific to victims and survivors of crime
- Advocates with who can convey a financial need or organization restrictions to securing funding to apply for NACP Credentialing
Requirements:
- Completed Application submitted by 11:59pm EST on the deadline indicated below (specific to Review Committee schedule)
- Resume
All scholarship applications must be received by 11:59pm EST on the deadline indicated below (specific to Review Committee schedule). NACP will notify all applicants of their application status upon completion of the Review Committee’s decision and scholarship recipients will have two (2) quarterly reviews to submit their NACP application. The awarded scholarship will be forfeited if the recipient does not submit a credentialing application within the allotted time frame. The NACP Scholarship covers the cost of the NACP application fee for credentialing at any level.
- Application window: November 1st-January 31st (February Review)
- Application window: February 1st– April 30th (May/June Review)
- Application window: May 1st– July 31st (August Review)
- Application window: August 1st– October 31st (November/December Review)
Training and Continuing Education
Introductory Advocacy Training (Required for all new applicants)
Frequently Asked Questions
You can read a copy of NACP’s Code of Ethics here.
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