BCCI Certification
Notice About BCCI® Certification Verification
APC/BCCI issues two types of certification verification.
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Ratification Letters– These letters are issued to those candidates that have earned a new status of certification including Provisional, Associate, Board, and specialty certification. These letters are proof of the chaplain’s certification status.
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Verification of Certification Letters– These letters are issued at the request of the chaplain or by request of the chaplain’s employer. These letters verify that the chaplain is certified and in good standing with APC and/or BCCI.
Certification Certificates are not an accurate verification of certification because they are not issued annually. Some Human Resource Departments have incorrectly identified BCCI Certificates to be equal to government issued licenses, however certificates are intended to be for ceremonial and display purposes only. A BCCI certificate only confirms that the chaplain was recognized as certified by BCCI on the date the certificate was issued.
The BCCI® certification program is designed to elevate professional standards, enhance individual performance and designate professional chaplains who demonstrate the knowledge essential to the practice of chaplaincy care.
Chaplains are certified as board certified chaplains (BCC) or associate certified chaplains (ACC) according to established national qualifications, including a code of ethics.
Please note: BCCI certification does not include membership in the Association of Professional Chaplains. Chaplains who join APC before submitting their BCCI application receive a discount on their application fees. This is just one of the many benefits APC membership offers. Join APC today.
For those already board certified, BCCI offers specialty certification, which recognizes the advanced knowledge essential to practice in a specialized field of chaplaincy care.
The application process for board certified chaplains and associate certified chaplains is described below, followed by links to applications and materials.
The application process is conducted year-round.
A certification mentoring program is available to all applicants.
Candidates who need to apply for a subsequent appearance must comply with the deadlines noted in the letter they receive following their most recent committee appearance.
Before Submitting Your Application
Please check this website to ensure you are using the most current forms and information. (All forms show date last revised.)
Note: There is no specific preparatory or certificate course or seminar required for any type of certification through BCCI. For educational and other requirements, please refer to the certification qualifications and requirements.
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The candidate submits an application.
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The application is reviewed for completeness.
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The candidate is notified within 30 days whether or not the application is complete and that he/she is eligible for an interview.
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If the candidate submits an equivalency request with his/her application materials then the application is considered incomplete. The equivalency review time may take up to 180 days. Once the equivalency is granted, the candidate is notified and is eligible for an interview.
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The candidate is given a list of dates and locations where he or she may be interviewed. (Please see our upcoming application deadlines for interviews.) The candidate may choose to be interviewed at the APC annual conference or at any one of several locations where interviews are scheduled. Interviews are held in several geographic areas throughout the year, on a rotating basis. A candidate may prefer to be interviewed as soon as possible and elect to travel (at his/her expense) to complete the interview, or a candidate may opt to wait until interviews are held near his or her home.
NOTE: Candidates wishing to schedule certification interviews during the annual conference are advised to submit complete applications as soon as possible, as a limited number of spots are available and will be filled on a first-come first-served basis.
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After the interview, the candidate is notified of the committee’s recommendation.
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The committee’s recommendation is reviewed by the Commission on Certification and forwarded to the board of directors for ratification.
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Upon board ratification, the candidate is granted the recommended status by BCCI and receives official documentation by mail.
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The candidate is invited to receive formal recognition of his or her achievement at the next APC annual conference.
Applications & Forms
Equivalency
Subsequent Appearance Candidates
Updates & Announcements
About BCCI
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