NCJ Number
228185
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 71 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2009 Pages: 52-55
Date Published
April 2009
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article examines the American Correctional Association's (ACA's) Correctional Certification Program for corrections personnel.
Abstract
ACA created the Correctional Certification Program to fill the gap left by local agency training, and to provide skills to represent themselves as professionals. The goal of the certification program is to increase the level of professionalism in the field of corrections through ongoing professional development. Professionalism is necessary in many occupations, but especially in the field of corrections. All correctional staff should strive to be professionals, and to be recognized as such. This certification program allows corrections employees to not only better perform their jobs, but also to better represent their agencies and themselves in public. Encouraging professionalism through certification enables agencies to seek out and retain the best possible employees. Although some degree of professionalism can be obtained and reflected on the job, only through ACA's Correctional Certification Program can nationally recognized professional correctional certification be achieved. Every correctional employee should consider professional certification through ACA. ACA's certification program is a user-friendly and easily accessible program, and it allows any correctional staff member to potentially become a certified corrections professional. The Correctional Certification Program was designed to advance the overall knowledge level of practitioners in the corrections personnel and aid in the recruitment of new, talented staff members; certification must be re-earned every 3 years or advanced with promotional opportunities.