NACC Certification and Professional Development 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How many hours of continuing education are required for NACC board certified chaplains to renew their certification?
- 25 hours every 2 years
- 50 hours every 5 years (Correct answer)
- 30 hours every 3 years
- 20 hours annually
Correct answer: 50 hours every 5 years
NACC requires 50 hours of continuing education over a 5-year certification cycle for renewal.
Question 2: Which body is primarily responsible for accrediting Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) programs recognized by NACC?
- NACC itself
- The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) (Correct answer)
- The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- The Joint Commission
Correct answer: The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE)
ACPE is the primary accrediting body for CPE programs, and NACC accepts ACPE-accredited units as meeting CPE requirements.
Question 3: What does the designation 'BCC' stand for in NACC credentialing?
- Board Certified Counselor
- Board Certified Chaplain (Correct answer)
- Basic Chaplaincy Credential
- Bishops' Committee on Chaplaincy
Correct answer: Board Certified Chaplain
BCC stands for Board Certified Chaplain, the standard professional credential granted by NACC.
Question 4: A chaplain seeking NACC certification must demonstrate endorsement from which type of authority?
- Their hospital administrator
- A Catholic ecclesiastical authority (Correct answer)
- The state chaplaincy licensing board
- An ACPE supervisor
Correct answer: A Catholic ecclesiastical authority
NACC requires candidates to hold current endorsement from a Catholic ecclesiastical authority, affirming their standing within the Church.
Question 5: Which of the following is NOT a recognized pathway to initial NACC board certification?
- Completing required CPE units
- Passing a written and oral interview process
- Earning a graduate theological degree
- Completing a two-year hospital residency program without CPE (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Completing a two-year hospital residency program without CPE
NACC certification requires accredited CPE units; a hospital residency alone without ACPE-accredited CPE does not satisfy this requirement.
Question 6: The NACC's Code of Ethics requires chaplains to maintain professional boundaries primarily to protect:
- The institution's liability
- The spiritual and emotional wellbeing of those they serve (Correct answer)
- Their personal reputation
- Denominational doctrine
Correct answer: The spiritual and emotional wellbeing of those they serve
Professional boundaries in the NACC Code of Ethics exist first and foremost to protect the vulnerability and dignity of care recipients.
Question 7: When a board certified NACC chaplain changes their primary ministry setting, what must they do regarding their certification?
- Immediately forfeit their BCC credential
- Notify NACC and confirm continued eligibility (Correct answer)
- Retake the full certification exam
- Request a new ecclesiastical endorsement automatically
Correct answer: Notify NACC and confirm continued eligibility
Chaplains must notify NACC of significant changes in ministry setting to ensure continued eligibility requirements are met.
NACC Certification and Professional Development 2
How many hours of continuing education are required for NACC board certified chaplains to renew their certification?