What is CHPA?

CHPA stands for Certified HealthCare Protection Administrator and it refers to a person who is considered certified in the area of healthcare security and management. For people in this area of business, the CHPA is the highest form of certification and only a few hundred people in the US are given this particular title and distinction. This certification is provided by the International Association of HealthCare Security and Safety.

Individuals that have extensive experience in healthcare security and management fields may take the eligibility test and become CHPAs. But even if one already has rendered several years or decades of healthcare security administration experience, he/she still needs to pass the exam in order to become certified. The process involving the eligibility exam involves a credit or point system in which 10 credit scores is required from either Experience, Education, Specialized forms of Training, and Membership. With several other criteria involved, high school graduates are still eligible to take the exam and become certified through credit points from other sources like training and experience for example. High school graduates will be able to get 1 credit score, bachelor’s degree holders will get 3 credits, while graduate studies will earn 4 credits. Individuals with associate degrees get an automatic 2 credits.

In terms of the other criteria, credit points will also be given to IAHSS membership per given year, and for trainings attended on a per program basis. Training programs may either be on security issues, safety concerns, risk management, and/or emergency preparedness modules. Experiences in a variety of fields that relate to healthcare security and administration will also earn credit scores for the individual who wants to be a CHPA. A two (2)-year minimum work duration for an organization or healthcare facility will earn 1 credit and another single credit for each additional year of experience.