CCHP-MH - Certified Correctional Health Professional - Mental Health

Certified Correctional Health Professional Mental Health certification (CCHP-MH) validates the knowledge and skills of mental health professionals who have experience and demonstrated a passion for working with the incarcerated population. The National Commision on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) offers the CCHP exam and certification.

Eligibility Requirements

Mental health professionals must have a minimum of 3 years of full-time experience or equivalent to apply for CCHP-MH certification.

Completion Time: Candidates have 2 hours to complete the CCHP-MH exam

Cost:

• Application fee: $320

  • $15 surcharge for mailing or faxing paper applications

• Testing fee

  • NCCHC site or affiliate: Free

  • Prometric Center: $50

  • Remote: $50

Exam Format

The CCHP-MH certification exam consists of 80 to 100 questions. Candidates have 2 hours to complete the exam with the passing score determined by the CCHP Board of Trustees. They receive their Pass/Fail results by mail within 2 weeks of completing the exam. CCHP-MH exam topics include: 

• Patient Care and Treatment (12-18%)

• Special Needs and Services (12-18%)

• Personnel and Training (7-12%)

• Governance and Administration (5-10%)

• Mental health Care Services and Support (5-10%)

• Medical-Legal Issues (5-10%)

• Correctional Mental Health: Past and Future (5-10%)

• Juveniles (5-10%)

• Clinical Record (4-8%)

• Safety (3-7%)

• Health Promotion (3-7%)

Steps to certification:

• Go to the CCHC Application

• Click “Apply Now”

• Create an account

• Complete application

• Pay application fee

• Submit documentation to the NCCHC within three month of initial application

  • Professional license or proof of licensure eligibility

  • Completed application in 3-ring binder with appropriately labeled tabs

  • Three letters of recommendation sent directly to the CCHP Board of Trustees 

  • $320 application fee

CCHP-MH credentials are valid for one year. To be eligible for renewal the CCHP-MH must:

• Maintain a professional license with good standing

• Complete 18 contact hours of mental health continuing education

  • 6 contact hours specific to correctional health care

  • 12 additional hours of mental health continuing education

• Complete a Renewal Application

• Pay recertification fees

Cost

• Online renewal $100 / Faxed or mailed renewal $115

• Late fee: $25

Part of the renewal process requires 18 contact hours. All contact hours must be related to mental health contact and at least 6 must be related to correctional health.

Approved correctional health continuing education can be found at:

• NCCHC Events

• NCCHC Recorded Webinars

• NCCHC On Demand Courses

The NCCHC doesn’t specify approved providers for mental health continuing education but it’s recognized as an approved provider of mental health continuing education by the American Psychological Association.

The NCCHC has resources available to help candidates prepare for the CCHP-MH exam, including:  

• CCHP-MH Candidate Handbook.

• On Demand Online Review Course

• Events and Conferences

• Recorded Webinars

The NCCHC recommends the following books to candidates prepare for the CCHP-MH exam:

• How to Identify Suicidal People—A Systematic Approach (Cost: Varies)

• Correctional Mental Health: From Theory to Best Practice (Cost: $80.80-$151)

• Standards for Mental Health Services in Correctional Facilities ($79.95)

• Certified Correctional Health Professional - Registered Nurse (CCHP-RN) credentials are ideal for registered nurses working in correctional health

• Certified Correctional Health Professional (CCHP) credentials are ideal for healthcare professional working in correctional health

• Certified Correctional Health Professional Advanced (CCHP-A) credentials are ideal for healthcare professionals who have maintained CCHP certification for three years