NARA National Regulatory Professional Credential (NRPC) Requirements

The National Association for Regulatory Administration (NARA) National Regulatory Professional Credential (NRPC) is designed to recognize the competencies required of a professional in the human care licensing field and is the only national certification for human care licensors.

NARA NRPC Requirements

1. Complete the following courses from the NARA Curriculum:

• Human Care Regulation and Licensing
  The goal of this course is to provide an introduction to the purpose and historical significance of human care regulation and how it has evolved over the years. The course includes an overview of the phases of licensure, defining regulatory administration, the evolution of human care regulation, and the legal and conceptual characteristics of licensing. Learners will review the rule making process and its importance to the licensing function and explore ethics in relation to the field.
  
  
• Complaint Investigations and Evidence 
  This course addresses the need of licensing agencies and licensees for accessible and available training regarding regulatory responsibilities and procedures. The course provides an understanding of when, why, and how our most vulnerable populations are protected when they are in care outside of their homes. A good licensor or surveyor plays many roles, including educator, consultant, facilitator, communicator, and enforcer, sometimes all at the same time.
  
  
• Balanced Use of Authority
  In this course, learners will learn and apply the skills used during each phase of the licensing process. Learners will also learn and apply the concepts and skills associated with identifying, collecting, and documenting evidence. The course reinforces the soft skills that enable professionals to serve the many roles they are called upon to use, including educator, consultant, trainer, facilitator, communicator, and enforcer, sometimes all at the same time.
  
  
• Ethics in Regulatory Licensing
  Learners will learn and apply the skills used during each phase of the licensing process and the concepts and skills associated with identifying, collecting, and documenting evidence of compliance or noncompliance with their jurisdiction's regulations. The course also reinforces the soft skills that enable professionals to serve the many roles they are called upon to use, including educator, consultant, trainer, facilitator, communicator, and enforcer, sometimes all at the same time.

Register HERE for any or all of the four NRPC or the full course NRPC training bundle .

Credential costs include:

• Each course is billed at $156.25/course for members; and $312.50/course for non-members.
  
  

• The initial exam fee is billed into the NRPC credential package and includes two
  NRPC exam attempts.

              ○ NARA Credential Exam 3rd Retake: A candidate must wait 30 days after the second attempt
              and will be charged $100 to take the exam a third, and final time.

             ○ If the candidate does not pass the comprehensive exam after the third attempt, they may
             petition for additional attempts.

             ○ Petitions to re-test must be submitted in writing explaining the extenuating circumstances of why an
             additional attempt should be granted, to the Executive Director of NARA, who will make the final
             decision.

            ○ A fee of $150 will be assessed for subsequent attempts.

• Total Credential costs for the NRPC training bundle are:

                         ○ $625 for members

                 ○ $1,250 for non-members

2. Pass the NARA comprehensive exam

All learners must pass the comprehensive exam with a minimum score of 75. Please email us at [email protected] if ADA accommodations will be required for testing. Candidates are expected to complete the NARA NRPC credential exam from their own knowledge.

3. Letter of recommendation from a supervisor

The final step in earning your NRPC certification is supervisor verification. Embedded within the courses is a form where you will provide the email address of your direct supervisor. Once you submit your supervisor’s email address, we will send them a brief verification form. Your supervisor only needs to complete and submit that form. No separate letter of recommendation is required. Once the supervisor submits the form, your NRPC certification requirements will be complete, and your certification can be processed.

*Optional Distinction

Optional Distinction: Experienced Human Care Licensing Distinction
Candidates who have at least two years of human care licensing experience may be eligible to receive the Experienced Human Care Licensing Distinction on their NRPC credential. 
As part of the supervisor verification process, the direct supervisor will be asked to indicate whether the candidate meets the requirements for this distinction. Applicable experience includes direct human care licensing, direct supervision of human care licensing staff, or legal staff responsible for regulations.
The supervisor can select “Yes” if the candidate meets the experience requirement. No additional documentation or separate recommendation letter is required.

4. Sign NARA code of Ethics

Submit a signed pledge to follow the NARA Code of Ethics.
*Violating the Honor Code is also a violation of the NARA Code of Ethics.

Submit and sign NARA Code of Ethics

I affirm that I will not give or receive any unauthorized help on this exam, and that all work will be my
own. This includes discussing or sharing information regarding the exam with students who have not yet taken and/or passed it. While this is an open book exam, I understand that cheating on this examination is a direct violation of the NARA Code of Ethics. I may only use my own notes and materials, as well as any information provided by NARA. Failure to abide by this Honor Code will result in a grade of zero on the voided exam, forfeiture of the National Regulatory Professional Credential (NRPC), as well as void any eligibility for refund or credit.

 Awarding the Credential

• All four NARA NRPC courses and the NRPC exam must be completed within one year of the NRPC training program access date.
• NARA will review all submitted items and notify the candidate of missing materials within 60 days of submission.
• The candidate has 30 days from notification to submit any missing items.
•  Credential will be awarded to all candidates who meet all of the listed requirements.
• Credential is valid for five years from the issuance date and then will need to be renewed to maintain a current credential.

Refund and Credit Policy
Please review our Refund and Credit policy carefully so you understand what you are entitled to when registering for a course or credential program.