Overview and Purpose:

The NCCPSS Program requires all approved courses to be recertified every five years. The purpose of recertification is two-fold:

  • To allow the NCCPSS program to add new core concepts that are relevant to the PSS workforce development and service, and
  • To allow course owners to reorganize or update their courses after training for a few years.

The NCCPSS Program approved a recertification plan as a road map to recertify the approved courses. The NCCPSS Course Recertification Plan may be accessed through the Download tab. The process will begin when the course owner receives a notification to recertify and end with the decision.  Below are the steps:

  • Notice to Recertify: The NCCPSS Program staff will notify the course owner of an approved course about the upcoming recertification and the submission date.
  • Desk Review: The NCCPSS program staff will complete a preliminary desk review of the course before the initial assessment. The course owner will be allowed a resubmission if the course does not pass the desk review the first time. If the course does not pass the desk review for the second time, the Program will post the course expiration date on the website.
  • Team Review: The initial recertification review will mirror the initial course review process used during the original approval. The team will have 60-90 business days from receipt of hard copies of the course to complete the initial review and send a report to the course owner. The team will email the course owner if they cannot complete the first assessment within the stated timeframe.
  • Technical Assistance: The review team will provide technical assistance to course owners during recertification. The course owner has two conference calls (via Zoom) for technical assistance to discuss the initial review reports and any other technical assistance needed if the course owner requests.
  • Resubmission and Review: After the initial review, the course owner has two opportunities to make revisions and corrections identified in the review report. Resubmissions of these corrections or responses to deficiencies stated in the review report will be submitted to the Program using the same protocol as the first submission.
  • Recertification Decision: The review team will recommend approval or denial of recertification. The Program staff will email the course owner of the recertification decision.

All Approved Courses recertifying must pause training until approved.