The Benefits of Health Certification

  • Competence:

    ACA’s certification program pairs world-class scholarship with engaging texts which convey practical knowledge while emphasizing the importance of critical thinking when approaching current correctional health care issues.

    Our certified health care professionals set themselves apart.

  • Character:

    ACA’s certification program also certifies an employer’s piece of mind. Every one of our certified health care professionals has both the knowledge and skills necessary to provide the very best possible health care to offenders.

    Our certified corrections health care professionals are the professionals you deserve.

  • Performance:

    ACA’s certification program produces health care professionals with real world competences in:

    • Leadership
    • Health Care Standards
    • Performance Management
    • Security
    • Legal Issues
    • Health Care Delivery
    • Current Trends In Correctional Health Care

    Our certified health care professionals deliver performance you can rely on.

Click to access the Healthcare Application, Declaration Form, and Payment Information.

Why Certification?

Proven Excellence

  • ACA’s certification program pairs world-class scholarship with engaging texts
  • Certification curriculum emphasizes the importance of critical thinking when approaching current correctional health care issues
  • Once certified, our health care professionals possess both knowledge and skill necessary to provide the very best health care to offender


Test Preparation: ACA will Help

Your Success Is Our Priority

Where do I start?
  • ACA webinars help guide you through the certification process - from application and administration to recertification. We walk you through it step by step.
  • Need help with study skills? We’ve got you covered!
  • Attend the Study Skills workshop at an ACA winter conference or summer congress.
  • Consult ACA’s courtesy Study Guide for study tips and skills specifically related to our Certification examinations

Test Administration: Choice and Convenience!

Three Opportunities to Become Certified


ACA’s on-site test administration
  • We come to you! ACA will take care of everything: setup, administration and cleanup
  • ACA conference and congress administrations
  • At every conference, we’ll be there administering a certification examination
  • Self-proctored test administration
  • Your training director or local certified professional can proctor the exam.
  • You set up a location, time, and date. ACA will send the testing materials to your proctor.

Recertification: Always learning. Always Prepared

Supporting Your Professional Growth

  • Certified health care professional must apply for recertification every three years
  • Certified corrections nurses are required to obtain 60 recertification credits to be eligible for recertification
  • Certified corrections nurse managers are required to obtain 80 recertification credits to be eligible for recertification

There are many ways to earn recertification credits:
  • Participate in training educational courses;
  • Attend workshops at ACA conferences;
  • Be a part of a corrections or health care related committee or task force
  • Publish a corrections
  • or health care-related article; and  
  • Individualization: Other activities may earn recertification credits.

For more information on health certifications, contact the Office of Correctional Health at [email protected] or 703.224.0048