This designation honors collectors who complete training on professional and ethical collection practices.

ACA’s Professional Collection Specialist (PCS) Designation was designed for collectors who complete training in professional and ethical collection practices. Show your clients that your collectors have what it takes to collect efficiently and effectively, while staying in compliance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. A PCS designation will help your agency:

• Decrease consumer complaints.
• Increase your collectors’ ability to overcome objections during collection calls.
• Increase the efficiency of the collection process.
• Improve employee recognition at your organization.

Attention Company Trainers- Make the switch to the new Essentials curriculum for 2020 PCS candidates.

December 6, 2019:

If you use the ACA Essentials courses to train your team and prepare staff for the PCS Exam, don’t forget to make the switch to the new curriculum in time for the new year. New versions of FDCPA Essentials for the ARM Industry and Essential Collection Skills and Techniques are fully launched in several delivery formats. All formats contain the same content and activities- choose which format fits your schedule and budget!  All previous versions delivered at the company level (CD-rom computer training and instructor-led courses) must be retired. Read our Quick Tips for this transition, follow the updated Steps to the PCS Designation below and contact Member Services for more information.

If you have an ACA Trainer Specialist on staff, follow the new procedure here. Train often? ACA Trainer Specialist participant workbooks, live webinars, and on-demand webinar recordings are included in your ACA Training Zone! This is an incredible savings- if you train a minimum of 25 people a year on Essentials alone, the Zone can pay for itself AND then train the rest of your staff all year on other ACA webinars and Hot Topics.Thank you for being Campus ACA partners in the field Helping Members Succeed.

Steps to the PCS Designation: New Candidates

1.  Complete the two required ACA Essentials courses.

• FDCPA Essentials for the ARM Industry (Update launched in Fall, 2019. Formerly titled FDCPA Essentials for Collectors in pre-2019 versions).
• Essential Collection Skills and Techniques (Update launched in Fall, 2019).

Each course is available in several deilvery formats: Instant self-paced e-course, live webinar, or an on-site class at your company led by your ACA Trainer Specialist. All formats contain the same content and activities- choose which format fits your schedule and budget! Visit with your compliance or training leader to find out which version is best for you. Coming soon in 2020- on-demand recorded webinars eligible for use with the ACA Training Zone. 

IMPORTANT: If you are an ACA Trainer Specialist conducting your own on-site training or supervising employee use of e-courses, please make sure each person completes ALL course requirements before purchasing PCS exams for your employees so that credit and exam scores may be properly documented per person. Thank you.

2.  Apply for the PCS exam.

• AFTER completing ALL required courses, submit your application with the testing fee.  All program requirements (required seminars and exam) must be completed within a two-year timeframe to receive your designation.
• IMPORTANT: When you apply for your test, please clearly indicate on your application form the date and type of class taken. ACA will confirm the course requirements and notify you when access to your online test is ready. 
  • If you are an ACA Trainer Specialist purchasing PCS exams for employees, please make sure they have taken the required courses before you purchase the exams so that credit and exam scores may be properly documented per person. Thank you.
• Ready for the exam? To purchase your exam application, complete and return the Professional Collection Specialist (PCS) Exam Application by faxing it to (952) 926-1624.
• Tip! You may save the application form and fill it out digitally.

3.  Pass the exam with an 85 percent or better.

• This is an online multiple-choice, true-false test. It must be completed within two hours and in one sitting. It cannot be paused. You will see your score immediately online. Fails / re-takes require additional testing fees. Please submit a new application for each re-test.
• ACA will also send you a confirmation of your new designation and it will update in your MyACA records and education transcript.

Renewal Requirements- Action Needed.

The PCS Designation requires a three-year renewal. Your designation does not renew automatically. Even if you have met the renewal requirements through courses or attendance at on-site events listed below, you must complete the Professional Collection Specials (PCS) Renewal Form and submit payment. Thanks!

Options for Renewal.  Choose ONE Option:

#1: Attend one of the following training events or seminars:

• ACA Annual Convention
• ACA Spring Forum
• ACA Fall Forum
• ACA’s FDCPA Essentials for the ARM Industry (new version ©2019)
• FDCPA-related seminar

OR #2: Obtain the ACA Trainer Specialist Designation

OR #3: Retake the PCS Exam.

Please note the curriculum update in late 2019 and subsequent update of the PCS exam. Content is substantially different from course/test versions ©2018 and earlier. All test versions prior to ©2018 and earlier will be RETIRED at the end of 2019. Beginning in 2020, the exam will cover the material in the ©2019 updates of the course. If you haven't yet taken the updated version of these courses, please consider that before taking the test. Thanks!

New Candidates

Required Courses (4):

Courses may be taken in any order; however, for the best experience, we recommend the following schedule:

• Ethical and Professional Collections
• Introduction to Collection Industry Compliance
• Advanced FDCPA Issues
• Writing Effective Policies and Procedures

For more information on each seminar, view our complete ACA Seminar list. Visit the ACA Event Calendar to register for the seminars. Coming Soon: Designations On-Demand. Obtain credentials on your own schedule with pre-recorded, on-demand video courses of our live, Certified Instructor-led webinars. Watch the ACA Top Headlines and Daily news for the launch.

Required Capstone Assignment:

• Apply for and successfully pass the CCCP Capstone Assignment. To purchase your assignment, complete and return the Credit and Collection Compliance Profesional (CCCP) Capstone Assignment Application.

NEW designee candidates will be assessed using a comprehensive practical exam rather than a multiple-choice test. There is generally one question per each required course in the designation.Our goal is to see everyday application of the information. Capstone exams are graded by a set of senior Certified Instructors.

Renewal Requirements- Action Needed.

The CCCP requires an annual renewal. Your designation does not renew automatically. Even if you have met the renewal requirements through courses or attendance at on-site events listed below, you must complete the Credit and Collection Compliance Professional Renewal Form and submit payment. Thanks!

Option 1: Attend one of the following ACA Events:

• ACA Annual Convention
• ACA Spring Forum
• ACA Fall Forum
• Washington Insights

Option 2:Attend two ACA Compliance-Related Webinars

New Candidates

Required Courses (8):

Courses may be taken in any order; however, for the best experience, we recommend the following schedule:

• Ethical and Professional Collections
• Understanding and Responding to the CFPB's Expectations
• Advanced FDCPA Issues
• Duties of Data Furnishers Under the FCRA
• Data Security and Privacy I

The following courses are best taken in this sequence:

• Conducting a Risk Assessment
• Controls and Corrective Actions
• Writing Effective Policies and Procedures 

For more information on each seminar, view the ACA Seminar list. Attend a live Event or complete an on-demand recording of the course(s).

Required Capstone Assignment:

• Apply for and successfully pass the CCCO Capstone Assignment. To purchase your assignment, complete and return the Credit and Collection Compliance Officer (CCCO) Capstone Assignment Application.

NEW designee candidates will be assessed using a comprehensive practical exam rather than a multiple-choice test. There is generally one question per each required course in the designation.Our goal is to see everyday application of the information. Capstone exams are graded by a set of senior Certified Instructors.

Renewal Requirements- Action Needed.

The CCCO requires an annual renewal. Your designation does not renew automatically. Even if you have met the renewal requirements through courses or attendance at on-site events listed below, you must complete the Credit and Collection Compliance Officer Renewal Form and submit payment. Thanks!

Option 1: Attend one of the following ACA Events:

• ACA Annual Convention
• ACA Spring Forum
• ACA Fall Forum
• Washington Insights

Option 2: Attend four ACA Compliance-Related Webinars

New Candidates

If you are an attorney with a foundation in the various consumer financial protection laws (the “CFPLs”), this CCCA program will provide you with a unique opportunity to look at how those laws come together functionally and will explore strategies for building compliance programs around the CFPLs including meaningful training programs.

Required Courses

1. Keep Calm and Prevent UDAAP
2. Vendors and your Compliance Management System
3. Vetting Technology Vendors: 10 Essential Steps

AND

• Credit & Collections Compliance Attorney Workshop (full-day, in-person session offerred at ACA Spring and/or Fall Forums.) Advanced compliance is about threading the compliance needle: compliance artifacts, monitoring, incident and complaint handling and methods to track and evaluate performance while managing change and projects. Putting together the consumer financial protection legal pieces based upon oversight of the dynamic components of your CMS. Also, using your influence and feedback to impact your workforce and getting them on board with your “why?”

OR Individual Webinars (Coming soon in 2020)

The in-person workshop is being re-worked into live and on-demand recorded webinars. Once these products launch, you may pursue your designation online with the following courses:

4. Brand, Change & Project Management
5. Call Evaluations: A Tool for Achieving Compliance and Quality
6. Conversational Intelligence and the Credit and Collections Compliance Person
7. Threading the Compliance Needle: The Role and Responsibilities of the Credit and Collections Compliance Professional
8. Trust but Verify: Internal Investigations and Auditing

If you have ALREADY ATTENDED the CCCA In-Person Workshop, you DO NOT need to repeat these webinars. For more information on each seminar, view the ACA Seminar list. Attend a live Event or complete an on-demand recording of the course(s).

Required Capstone Assignment

• Apply for and successfully pass the CCCA Capstone Assignment. To purchase your assignment, complete and return the Credit and Collection Compliance Attorney (CCCA) Capstone Assignment Application.

NEW designee candidates will be assessed using a comprehensive practical exam rather than a multiple-choice test. There is generally one question per each required course in the designation. Our goal is to see everyday application of the information. Capstone exams are graded by a set of senior Certified Instructors.

Renewal Requirements: Action Needed.

The CCCA Designation requires an annual renewal.

Option 1

Attend one of the following ACA Events:

• ACA Annual Convention
• ACA Spring Forum
• ACA Fall Forum
• Washington Insights

Option 2

• Attend four ACA Compliance-Related Webinars

Download the Credit and Collection Compliance Attorney Renewal Form for more information.

New Candidates

Required Courses (3):

Courses may be taken in any order; however, for the best experience, we recommend the following schedule:

• Ethical and Professional Collections
• Data Security and Privacy I
• Healthcare Collection Management: Advanced topics for the HCM designation.

For more information on each seminar, view the ACA Seminar list. Attend a live Event or complete an on-demand recording of the course(s).

Required Capstone Assignment:

• Apply for and successfully pass the HCM Capstone Assignment. To purchase your assignment, complete and return the  Healthcare Collection Management (HCM) Capstone Application.

NEW designee candidates will be assessed using a comprehensive practical exam rather than a multiple-choice test. There is generally one question per each required course in the designation. Our goal is to see everyday application of the information. Capstone exams are graded by a set of senior Certified Instructors.

Renewal Requirements- Action Needed.

The HCM Designation requires a three-year renewal. Your designation does not renew automatically. Even if you have met the renewal requirements through courses or attendance at on-site events listed below, you must complete the Healthcare Collection Management (HCM) Renewal Form and submit payment. Thanks!

Option 1: Attend one of the following ACA Events:

• ACA Spring Forum
• ACA Fall Forum

Option 2: Attend four ACA Healthcare-Related programs.

• Look in the ACA Hot Topic library for related courses.
• Consider on-site programs at Unit Meetings or ACA Convention.

Steps to the TSP Designation:

1. ACA membership required.
2. You must be an ACA Professional Collection Specialist (PCS). Don't have your PCS yet? Visit the PCS requirements page to view all requirements. 
3. Complete the ACA Trainer Specialist Workshop. This short-course is approximately 4.5 clock hours of instruction on adult learning and development, then training techniques on delivering the ACA Essentials courses led by ACA Certified Instructors.  This workshop is offered in live webinar format and occasionally at an on-site ACA event. Visit the ACA Event Calendar for our next date. On-demand recordings are not available.
4. Apply for and successfully pass the Trainer Specialist Capstone Assignment. This is a short-essay practical assessment of the TSP Workshop and your training experiences with the content in the ACA Essentials courses, such as FDCPA fundamentals and phone skills training. Ready for the Capstone Assignment? To purchase your assignment, complete and return the Trainer Specialist Program (TSP) Capstone Assignment Application.
5. All course and exam requirements must be completed within a two-year timeframe to receive your initial TSP designation.

Renew your TSP designation every 3 years by completing the following:

• Conduct the ACA Essentials courses in your office 3 times in the three year period. 
• Conducted internally developed or externally developed proprietary training in their office 3 number of times in the three year period and can provide documentation of such.
• Renewal fee of $69- no assignment is required. Download the Renewal Form

New Candidates

Pre-requisite:

• PCS Designation

Required Courses (6):

Courses may be taken in any order; however, for the best experience, we recommend the following schedule:

• Exceptional Leadership
• Building High Performing Teams
• Successful Hiring Strategies
• Introduction to Collection Industry Compliance
• Managing the Collection Floor
• Effective Performance Management

For more information on each seminar, view the ACA Seminar list. Attend a live Event or complete an on-demand recording of the course(s).

Required Capstone Assignment:

• Apply for and successfully pass the PCM Capstone Assignment. To purchase your assignment, complete and return the Professional Collection Manager (PCM) Capstone Assignment Application.

NEW designee candidates will be assessed using a comprehensive practical exam rather than a multiple-choice test. There is generally one question per each required course in the designation. Our goal is to see everyday application of the information. Capstone exams are graded by a set of senior Certified Instructors.

Renewal Requirements- Action Needed.

The PCM Designation requires a three-year renewal. Complete and report to ACA 4.5 PDUs  of advanced compliance courses from the Hot Topic library or Core Curriculum library in the three-year duration of your designation. A renewal fee is also required.

New Candidates

Pre-requisite:

• PCS Designation

Required Courses (5):

Courses may be taken in any order; however, for the best experience, we recommend the following schedule:

• Exceptional Leadership
• Building High Performing Teams
• Successful Hiring Strategies
• Introduction to Collection Industry Compliance
• Effective Performance Management

For more information on each seminar, view the ACA Seminar list. Attend a live Event or complete an on-demand recording of the course(s).

Required Capstone Assignment:

• Apply for and successfully pass the CIP Capstone Assignment. To purchase your assignment, complete and return the Collection Industry Professional (CIP) Capstone Assignment Application.

NEW designee candidates will be assessed using a comprehensive practical exam rather than a multiple-choice test. There is generally one question per each required course in the designation. Our goal is to see everyday application of the information. Capstone exams are graded by a set of senior Certified Instructors.

Renewal Requirements- Action Needed.

The CIP Designation requires a three-year renewal. Complete and report to ACA 4.5 PDUs  of advanced compliance courses from the ACA Hot Topic library or the Core Curriculum library in the three-year duration of your designation. A renewal fee is also required.