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OVERVIEW AND POLICY
The DoD is committed to providing a high-quality response to sexual assault survivors. The DoD Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP) was established in accordance with Sec. 584 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Public Law 112-81) to standardize sexual assault response to victims and professionalize victim advocacy roles within the Sexual Assault Response Workforce (SARW). Information about D-SAACP goals, outcomes, structure, and benefits of the certification process is available in the program overview. Additionally, DoD Instruction (DoDI) 6495.03 establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures for the oversight, management, and implementation of the D-SAACP.
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DD FORMS 2950 AND 2950-1
All SARW personnel who provide direct victim assistance or have access to the Defense Sexual Assault Incident Database (DSAID) must certify through the D-SAACP to provide sexual assault victim advocacy services. DD Form 2950 is the official application form for initial certifications and DD Form 2950-1 is for all renewal certifications. Applicant instructions are available within DD Forms 2950/2950-1, which outline the D-SAACP application process, review eligibility requirements for the four levels of certification, offer guidance for submitting applications, and provide the timeline with the application review process.
Based on requests and feedback from the field, NOVA and DoD SAPRO have incorporated more review boards for faster credentialing of the field.
The 2025 submission deadlines for the eight boards are:
January 10, 2025 • February 21, 2025 • April 4, 2025 • May 16, 2025
June 27, 2025 • August 8, 2025 • September 19, 2025 • November 7, 2025
The 2026 submission deadlines for the eight boards are:
January 9, 2026 • February 20, 2026 • April 3, 2026 • May 15, 2026
June 26, 2026 • August 7, 2026 • September 18, 2026 • November 6, 2026
The 2027 submission deadlines for the eight boards are:
January 8, 2027 • February 19, 2027 • April 2, 2027 • May 14, 2027
June 25, 2027 • August 6, 2027 • September 24, 2027 • November 5, 2027 |
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WHAT DOES EIGHT BOARDS PER YEAR MEAN FOR CREDENTIAL HOLDERS?
Eight boards a year means quicker credentialing times for advocates.
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WHAT IS THE REVIEW PROCESS WITH EIGHT BOARDS PER YEAR?
The D-SAACP board will meet every six weeks to accommodate eight boards per year. Boards will review a maximum of 1,625 applications per board, which credentials 13,000 advocates annually. With limited time between boards, requests for ad hoc boards will not be accepted.
The boards will not review renewal applications early. The boards are designed to review and approve renewal applications during their renewal window. Renewal applications will have precedence of being reviewed first should the board reach the 1,625-application maximum.
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WHAT IS THE EXPIRATION POLICY?
The Expiration Policy states that if an applicant has missed eight or more deadlines, they will need to submit a renewal application and their Service’s initial SAPR VA training taken within the last year. The DoDI 6495.03 will include this update in a future iteration.
Please reference the applicant instruction found in each of the DD Forms or in the FAQs document below for information about filling out and submitting DD Form 2950 (first-time applicant) or DD Form 2950-1 (renewal applicant)
DD Form 2950 • DD Form 2950-1
Submit completed application forms to: dsaacp@trynova.org
CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR D-SAACP CERTIFICATION INITIATION AND RENEWAL
Continuing education opportunities ensure that SARW personnel 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 approved by the D-SAACP Review Committee.
Additional requirements and guidance for D-SAACP certification renewal is available 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 NOVA based on the number of hours of actual classwork time.
Applicants should keep the following key factors in mind:
- All SARW personnel must complete 32 CEUs every two years following D-SAACP approval 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, including one hour of Safe Helpline 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
The VALIANT Community of Practice is available to help identify DoD-approved training opportunities.
FAQS
FAQs about the D-SAACP application and review process are below. For a printout version of the FAQs, please click here. |
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How will I know if NOVA received my application?
NOVA will send you email notifications at each step of the process, including when your application has been received, when your application has been screened and deemed complete or incomplete, and when you have been approved. If you do not receive an email confirming receipt of your application within five (5) business days of being submitted to NOVA, please contact dsaacp-followup@trynova.org.
How and when will I be notified whether I become certified?
NOVA will notify you of your certification status via email and mail within six weeks of submitting your application.
What if I missed my renewal deadline and my certification expires?
If you have been D-SAACP certified at any time in the past, you are considered a renewal applicant. You must stop working directly with victims until your certification is renewed. If you missed fewer than seven application deadlines, submit the DD Form 2950-1 and 32 hours of continuing education completed within the last two years. If you missed eight or more deadlines, submit the DD Form 2950-1 and the initial training certificate completed within the last year.
Can my D-SAACP certification be revoked?
Yes. D-SAACP certification can be revoked for several reasons, including violation of the D-SAACP Code of Professional Ethics.
Can I get my certification reinstated if it has been revoked?
It depends on the reason for revocation. Please contact your Service SAPR Program Manager for more information.
I have more questions not answered on this page. Who should I contact?
For questions about your certification status or if you have questions about the application process, please contact NOVA at dsaacp-followup@trynova.org.
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