Overview and Policy
The Department of Defense (DoD) is committed to providing a high quality response to sexual assault survivors. The DoD Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP) was established to standardize sexual assault response to victims and professionalize victim advocacy roles of Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARC) and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Victim Advocates (VA). Information about D-SAACP goals, outcomes, structure, and benefits of the certification process can be found in the program overview. Additionally, the Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 6495.03 establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures for the oversight, management, and implementation of the D-SAACP.
Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program: Overview
DD Forms 2950 and 2950-1
All SARCs and SAPR VAs must be certified through the D-SAACP to provide sexual assault victim advocacy services. DD Form 2950 is the official application form for initial certifications and 2950-1 should be utilized for all renewal certifications. Applicant instructions can be found within DD Forms 2950/2950-1, and outline the D-SAACP Application process, review eligibility requirements for the four levels of certification, offer guidance for submitting DD forms 2950/2950-1, and provide the timeline with the application review process. The quarterly deadlines for submitting an initial or renewal application are:
- January 31
- April 30
- July 31
- October 31
Beginning in August 2023, there will be eight deadlines for submitting an initial or renewal application.
Please reference the applicant instruction found in each of the DD Form documents or in the FAQs document below for questions about filling out and submitting DD Form 2950 (first-time applicant) or 2950-1 (renewal applicant).
DD Form 2950 (initial applications) (Right Click, Save Link/Target As)
DD Form 2950-1 (renewal applications) (Right Click, Save Link/Target As)
Completed application forms should be submitted to: DSAACP@TRYNOVA.org
Continuing Education for D-SAACP Certification Initiation and Renewal
Continuing education opportunities ensure that the military's SAPR professionals are receiving the tools they need to prevent and respond to sexual assault. It is our aim to field innovative prevention strategies, new training approaches, and the incorporation of best practices for SAPR training to instill an environment that provides dignity and respect for all. Each military Service and the DoD has Victim Advocate (VA) continuing education training that has been approved by the D-SAACP Review Committee.
Additional requirements and guidance for D-SAACP certification renewal can be found in the Continuing Education for D-SAACP Certification Renewal Information Sheet.
The actual number of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for a given training is determined by the number of hours of actual classwork time. For example: a SAPR VA takes a two-day course. After subtracting eight 15-minute breaks, 2 one-hour lunches, and 2 one-and-a-half-hour sessions allotted for physical fitness, the SAPR VA only had 10 hours of actual training. The SAPR VA receives 10 CEUs for the course.
SAPR VAs should consult with their Service SAPR Program Manager and/or SARC for ideas to fulfill their semi-annual training requirement, and keep the following key factors in mind:
- All Department SARCs and SAPR VAs must complete 32 CEUs every two years following D-SAACP approval in order to renew certification
- Two of the 32 CEUs must be Victim Advocacy Ethics training and the remaining 30 CEUs are to be Advocacy / Prevention training
- Training need not be Service-specific
- A combination of online training sessions and/or in-person certified training courses offered by the military Services can help to satisfy the semi-annual requirement
Below are online continuing education opportunities that meet Victim Advocacy Ethics or Advocacy / Prevention requirements to maintain D-SAACP certification. Each of the options provided meets a portion of that requirement; check with the provider to learn what portion of the total each training option fulfills.
Victim Advocacy Ethics Training
Semi-Annual Requirement: 2 of 32 CEUs
Civilian Options:
- Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) & National Sexual Violence Resource Center
- 1-hour training session: "Ethical Practice: Sexual Assault Victim Counselor Training"
- Sign up for this one-hour, online session here.
- Texas Victim Assistance Ethics Training Online
- Learn more and sign up for this online ethics training here.
- Note: Certificates of completion may take up to two weeks to receive.
Advocacy / Prevention Training
Semi-Annual Requirement: 30 of 32 CEUs
- Advanced Military Sexual Assault Advocate Training (AMSAAT)
- AMSAAT is an optional course developed in collaboration with the Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crimes (OVC) that fulfills 20 hours of the annual D-SAACP renewal advocacy/prevention certification requirement.
- For information regarding enrollment in AMSAAT, certified SARCs and SAPR VAs should follow instructions found here.
- Any questions about enrollment should be directed to AMSAAT@ovcttac.org.
- Find additional training opportunities on SPARX Connection
- SPARX Connection is an online community of practice managed by SAPRO to collaborate and share ideas to enhance sexual assault prevention and response programs across the DoD. SPARX Connection often posts continuing education opportunities for D-SAACP renewal certification. Refer to the site for more information on upcoming trainings here.
FAQs
This list of FAQs supplements the Applicant Instruction found on DD Form 2950 and pertains to the D-SAACP application process and the certification program in general. If an applicant has a question not addressed by the DD Form 2950 video or this list of FAQs, please contact DSAACP-Followup@trynova.org for assistance.