Frequently Asked Questions
NCCDP Body of Knowledge, and Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQs
Certification FAQs
Who can apply for the CDP Certification?
CDP® certification is open to healthcare professionals and other qualifying staff who work directly with individuals living with dementia across a range of settings, including private practice, nursing homes, assisted living communities, home care agencies, hospice care agencies, medical adult day care, hospitals, associations, and government agencies, among others.
To qualify, you must have at least one year of paid, full-time experience with a qualifying organization and complete the ADDC Seminar with a certified NCCDP trainer or NCCDP corporate staff.
We respect all professions. All staff should complete the NCCDP Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Curriculum but the following professions will not be considered for CDP® certification: Bus Drivers, Security Guards, Maintenance Workers, House Keepers, Laundry Workers, Bed Makers, Unit Ward Clerks, Business Office Staff, Human Resources Staff, Schedulers, Receptionist, Secretaries, Administrative Assistants, Dietary Aides, Kitchen Staff, Transporters, Medical Records Staff, Central Supply Staff and others.
This certification is open to healthcare professionals, including nurses, social workers, activity staff, care managers, and other care team members working with individuals living with dementia. Applicants must have at least one full year of paid experience in geriatric healthcare.
If you are unsure that your position qualifies you for the CDP Certification, please email us at nccdpoffice@nccdp.org.
What steps do I take to become a CDP?
The first step in the process is to take our ADDC, or Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Seminar. There are several dates and times to choose from.
Find an Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Seminar that works best for you. Simply click on the class that you are interested in, and the information (times, dates, trainer info, and registration info) will all come up in a pop-up on your screen.
Please be aware of time zones as they may be different from your own. The pricing can vary. Our corporate trainers are $195, but our certified trainers are free to set their own price.
After you take the seminar, you will go to our website, create a login, and start an application. You will need to upload any documentation needed as well as the Certificate of Attendance from the ADDC seminar (provided by your NCCDP trainer).
Am I eligible to become a CDP?
How Do I Find the CDCM application?
How Do I apply for CDSGF?
How Do I apply for CMDCP?
How do I create a corporate group?
- To apply, the group administrator will go to https://nccdp.users.membersuite.com/auth/portal-login
- Select CORPORATE GROUP APPLICATION (FEE is $68.00 per person, a minimum of 10 members)
- Create an account (entering Company Name, Address, Phone, Email, and Group Administrator)
- Enter each staff name and email address
- Submit payment
- Each group member will receive an email with instructions to individually apply for the Certified Dementia Practitioner© certification
- The group member will go to the NCCDP Member Login
- The group member enters the Username and creates a Password to access the application
- The group member completes the online application and submits the application for review. Each employee will upload a copy of their Certificate of Attendance from the Alzheimer’s seminar they attended and any licensure they have for their position. If they aren’t required to have a license, they will provide a letter on Company letterhead from their employer/supervisor stating that fact.
** Please be advised that there are NO refunds, substitutions, or exchanges for group members.
How long does it take to process my application?
Your CDP application will be reviewed within 48-72 business hours on average. We will email you regarding approval, denial, or if we have more questions, so please be sure you are using an email address that you check frequently.
How do I find my certification number?
Your certification number is emailed to you via the online renewal reminder and the renewal card that was mailed to you. It is also listed on your certification. You can also login to your account, where your certification(s) and number(s) will be listed.
How can I get a copy of my certification?
Log into your account and go to the Member Portal. Under Certifications, you will see a menu option that says RENEW or View my Certification. Click on this option. Then, select the circle to the left of whichever certification you are needing. You will see a button that says PRINT appear.
I have started the online application form. Can I return to it and complete it later?
Yes, press the SAVE button, and you will be able to return to it at a later date. However, your incomplete application will be available for only 21 days. After 21 days, your incomplete and unpaid application will be automatically deleted.
How often is the curriculum updated?
Every two years or as needed.
I can't find my name on the REGISTRY.
The name that is shown on the registry is the name on your certification. If you have a suffix, a hyphenated name, or you have changed your name since you were certified, please use the name that is on your most recent certification to find yourself.
I have misplaced or lost my certification. How can I get a replacement?
Log into your account and download a copy. Or, have one mailed to you for a $40.00 fee. A hard copy of the certification can be purchased in our marketplace.
My certification expired. Can I renew it, or do I have to retake the seminar?
We retain records for 4 years. If your certification expired more than 4 years ago, you will need to retake the seminar and reapply for your CDP. If it has been under 4 years, you are welcome to renew online. However, you will be charged a late fee if your CDP certification has expired.
Renewal FAQs
How long is the certification good for and do I have to renew?
Our certifications are good for two years. You will receive a reminder notice to renew via email and via USPS mail.
How do I renew my certification?
To renew your certification, log in at https://nccdp.users.membersuite.com/auth/portal-login and go to the Member Portal. Click on Certifications, then select RENEW or View my Certifications. You will see a list of the certifications that you have. Click on the one you want to renew, and follow the prompts.
Do I have to submit additional CEU’s when I renew my certification in two years?
We require 10 CEUs in anything healthcare related, including staff in-services, for most of our certification renewals. However, we do not require you to provide documentation of these CEUs at the time of renewal. We ask that you hold onto your documentation in case of audit. You will sign off on having these completed in your renewal application.
I am unable to renew online either because I do not have a computer or experience technical difficulties. What should I do?
Call us at 973-729-6601 and select the menu option for renewal. We will be able to assist you in our office.
When I renew my CADDCT certification, is CDP certification included?
Yes, your CDP certification is included when you renew your CADDCT certification.
Seminar FAQs
I recently took a seminar, and the instructor is not listed as an approved instructor. Can I still submit the application?
No. To apply for the CDP certification for those who qualify for the CDP certification, the applicant must complete the ADDC seminar by a certified CADDCT trainer.
My Dementia seminar did not include an exam. Can I still submit my seminar as part of the requirements for obtaining certification?
NCCDP does not require an exam as part of the CDP application process. However, in the state in which you work, the state regulations may require a pretest or posttest to indicate your understanding of the ADDC seminar. You will need to check with your instructor and verify if there will be a test.
Can I take any other seminar to become certified?
No. You must take the ADDC seminar to qualify for the CDP Certification, and you must take the MCDC seminar to qualify for the CMDCP Certification. NCCDP will not approve any applications with any other certificates of attendance from outside seminars.
How do I find the ADDC Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care seminar?
For seminars presented by NCCDP corporate trainers or seminars presented by certified CADDCT trainers, please see the seminar calendar posted on the NCCDP website. This is updated daily.
NCCDP can also provide private seminars to your association conference or corporation. Please contact NCCDP for rates. Certified trainers also provide seminars, and you can reach out to a CADDCT trainer near you. Only the NCCDP corporate staff can provide the CADDCT Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer seminar.
If you are searching for the CADDCT seminar dates and locations, please see the calendar.
How do I find a seminar in my area?
Go to www.nccdp.org, click on SEMINARS, then select ALL UPCOMING SEMINARS. New seminar dates and times are added daily by our trainers.
If you do not see a seminar in your state, you may either contact the trainer listed for your state and inquire about upcoming seminars or contact the NCCDP corporate office and inquire about the NCCDP bringing a seminar to you.
Most of the CADDCT trainers present the seminars online. You can sort the calendar by time zone instead of location to find a seminar that works best for you.
When a seminar is presented virtually, it is still live. Please check with the trainer regarding which platform they are using. You will need a laptop with speakers and a microphone. The ADDC and MCDC seminars are interactive.
What happens before, during, and after the seminar?
Before the seminar, your trainer or NCCDP’s corporate office will provide you with the link to the seminar (if virtual) and information on how to access your student notebook. The notebook can be a digital version, similar to an e-book, or physical, which can be either mailed to you or provided on location. If you have any questions pertaining to the seminar, you need to reach out to your trainer directly, or email the NCCDP corporate office at nccdpoffice@nccdp.org.
During the seminar, you will be lead through the ADDC or MCDC seminar by your trainer. These seminars are interactive, so be ready to discuss and participate during the seminar, both with other students and your trainer. Recording is not allowed, but you can take notes.
After the seminar has concluded, you will send your trainer an evaluation. They will provide you with a Certificate of Completion. This does NOT mean you are certified- this is just a document showing that you attended the full seminar. If you are choosing to move on to certification, you will use that document in your application.
Does the ADDC seminar count towards CEUs?
On the seminar certificate you received after the seminar, if your trainer submitted the seminar for CEU approval at a Credentialing body, that would be noted on your seminar certificate. If the Credentialing body is not listed on the seminar certificate, then the ADDC seminar is not CEU approved and the trainer did not present the ADDC curriculum to your credentialing body to get CEU approval.
The CADDCT trainers are not required to submit a seminar for CEU approval. There are hundreds of credentialing bodies, and it is up to the trainer to pick which credentialing bodies to apply for CEU approval, should they choose to do so.
If you do not see your credentialing body on the seminar certificate, we recommend that you contact your credentialing body to ask if they will accept the 7 hours towards the required CEUs you need to renew your license or certification.
Once I complete the seminar, am I certified?
No. The instructor will hand you a document that is called a seminar certificate of completion. This is proof that you were in the ADDC seminar. Not everyone qualifies for CDP certification. If you qualify, you will upload a copy of the seminar certificate of attendance along with other supporting documents when you complete your CDP application.
Is the seminar fee the only fee?
No. If you are looking to be certified as a CDP or CMDCP, there is a separate application fee that you will pay at the time of application submission. The seminar fee is only for the seminar itself.
CADDCT FAQs
What is CADDCT (Certified Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care Trainer)?
NCCDP offers Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer (CADDCT) seminars for instructors and In-service directors who wish to present all-day seminars on dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
The seminar includes the curriculum, an instructor manual, a student notebook, textbooks, tests, sample brochures, sample evaluations, and eligibility to apply for certification as a CDP® and NCCDP instructor.
What steps do I need to take to become a CADDCT?
To apply for the CADDCT certification as a NEW member, log into our website. Click “Certifications,” then click “CADDCT”. Complete your application, including uploading your resume, a sample in-service or other material that you have presented, and your college degree/online transcripts. You can choose a seminar date under “select a seminar”. Once you complete your application and provide payment, you will receive a confirmation email with further instructions.
If you are an EXISTING member of NCCDP, log into your account and right above your current certification, click the tab that says “apply for another certification”. Choose “CADDCT” and follow the instructions above.
What is included in the Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer (CADDCT)?
The cost includes:
- The ADDC (Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care) PowerPoint curriculum on a memory stick
- Instructor manual
- Master student handout notebook
- Textbooks (subject to change) on environment, diagnosis, communication, and public speaking
- NCCDP video titled Aging and Intimacy: Staff Concerns Working in Home Care and Long-Term Care
- Pretest and posttest (not required by NCCDP, but your state may require one)
- Sample brochure
- Sample sign-in sheet
- Sample seminar certificate
- Information on marketing, applying for CEUs, and what to charge for your services
- Database access
- Eligibility to apply for certification as a CDP and CADDCT
Please select certification and CADDCT to download the registration form, which will list: price, dates, qualifications, product, times, locations, etc.
Do I need to be a CDP® first before becoming a Certified Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care Trainer?
You don’t need to be a CDP® nor complete the Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care seminar prior to enrolling in the CADDCT 12-hour seminar. The Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Seminar is presented in its entirety at the Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer seminar.
Upon completion of the Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer seminar, you will be an approved NCCDP Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer CADDCT and a CDP®.
Where do I order CADDCT materials?
To order notebooks, you have to create an account in the Mimeo marketplace. Here’s what you need to do.
- Log into the Instructor Only Section of the NCCDP website
- When you scroll down and click on “bulk orders”, you are now leaving NCCDP and entering the Mimeo marketplace.
- There is a box in the middle of the page which asks for your password, passcode, and email address. BUT… just below that there’s a prompt that asks if you need an account. You need to click on that first, as the system sees you as a new user in the Mimeo system. Click on that first. Fill in the required fields. WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU USE SOMETHING EASY TO REMEMBER LIKE “”NCCDPNOTEBOOKS””
- Once you have completed this section, you will now be able to enter the Mimeo marketplace.
- Try going into the Marketplace again, now using MakeMyDay as the passcode and use your created password and email address. You should have no problem.
Misc. Information
How do I reset my username or password?
To reset your username or password, please go to https://nccdp.users.membersuite.com/auth/portal-login. Under the login box, you will see an option to reset your username or password. If you are logged in and want to update your username or password, click on your current username in the top right corner of your Member Profile. Then select MY PROFILE. You can update your username and password, as well as your contact information here.
How do I change my name?
Email nccdpoffice@nccdp.org with your previous and current name for the change to be made.
How do I order a CDP pin?
To order a pin, log into your account at https://nccdp.users.membersuite.com/auth/portal-login and click on MARKETPLACE. If you are in good standing, you will be able to order a CDP or CMDCP Pin.
