ACA Designations: Earn Credentials Representing Excellence as a Credit and Collection Professional
ACA offers eight professional designations that are highly recognized and regarded in the accounts receivable management industry. Start with the fundamentals by earning a Professional Collection Specialist designation, then build your expertise by pursuing credentials specific to collector, compliance, operations, leadership, health care, attorney, and other industry roles.
ACA Designation Options
Professional Collection Specialist® (PCS)
Learn essential compliance requirements and negotiation skills to show consumers, clients, and colleagues your dedication to collecting effectively and respectfully in compliance with the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act (FDCPA).
This essential designation is suitable for onboarding new staff, as well as updating experienced collection professionals with these must-have skills.
Target Audience
- Collectors
- Anyone with consumer interactions
- Anyone new to the collection industry
Difficulty Level
- No previous collection experience required
- Complete two required courses:
- FDCPA Essentials for the ARM Industry (version 10, Copyright 2019 or later)
- Essential Collection Skills and Techniques (version 10, Copyright 2019 or later)
- Submit application with fee to obtain exam access.
- ACA will verify your application and course completions, then deliver your exam.
- Complete and pass the exam with 85% or better in the allotted time.
- ACA will verify the exam score and award your designation digital badge.
- Display your digital badge as desired on your social media or other communications. Directions for linking to the badge will be supplied by ACA.
- The PCS Designation renews every two years. Designations that are allowed to expire may require the holder to start over with required courses and assessments. ACA will send renewal reminders in advance.
- Submit renewal application with renewal fee to obtain exam access.
- Complete and pass the exam with 85% or better in the allotted time.
- ACA will verify the exam score and renew your designation and digital badge for another cycle.
Trainer Specialist® (TS)
Calling all trainers! Unlock your training superpowers with ACA’s exclusive training kit for onboarding or continuing collector education. Become an ACA Trainer Specialist and teach ACA’s FDCPA Essentials for the ARM Industry and Essential Collection Skills and Techniques courses in your own company to prepare your collectors for ACA’s Professional Collection Specialist (PCS) designation examination.
Target Audience
- Anyone responsible for training new hires who will have consumer interactions
Difficulty Level
- Specialty; Experience in training, HR, and the collection industry beneficial
- Active ACA membership required.
- Obtain and/or maintain the ACA Professional Collection Specialist (PCS) designation.
- Complete the ACA Trainer Specialist Workshop.
- Submit application and fee to obtain the TS capstone assignment.
- ACA will verify your membership, application, and course completions, then deliver your capstone assignment.
- Complete, submit, and pass the capstone assignment.
- ACA will verify the assignment score and award your designation digital badge.
- Display your digital badge as desired on your social media or other communications. Directions for linking to the badge will be supplied by ACA.
- The TS designation renews every two years. Designations that are allowed to expire may require the holder to start over with required courses and assessments. ACA will send renewal reminders in advance.
- Submit TS renewal application with fee and:
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- Complete and pass the PCS exam with 85% or better in the allotted time.
- Achieve four Professional Development Unit (PDU) points earned during the current designation cycle. PDU points may be earned by participating in qualifying ACA education resources and events. PDU points are generally calculated one clock hour = one point. In-person meetings may vary.
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- ACA will verify your requirements and renew your designation and digital badge for another cycle.
Collection Industry Professional® (CIP)
This management designation teaches leaders the fundamentals of regulatory compliance, team building, and business management.
Target Audience
- Team leaders, supervisors, and managers
Difficulty Level
- Intermediate; Some collection industry experience beneficial
ACA Professional Collection Specialist (PCS) designation is required for this designation.
- Obtain and/or maintain the ACA Professional Collection Specialist (PCS) designation.
- Complete five required courses:
- Submit application and fee to obtain the CIP capstone assignment.
- ACA will verify requirements then deliver your capstone assignment.
- Complete, submit, and pass the capstone assignment.
- ACA will verify the assignment score and award your designation digital badge.
- Display your digital badge as desired on your social media or other communications. Directions for linking to the badge will be supplied by ACA.
- The CIP designation renews every two years. Designations that are allowed to expire may require the holder to start over with required courses and assessments. ACA will send renewal reminders in advance.
- Submit CIP renewal application with fee and documentation of an active PCS designation plus eight Professional Development Unit (PDU) points earned during the current designation cycle. PDU points may be earned by participating in qualifying ACA education resources and events. PDU points are generally calculated one clock hour = one point. In-person meetings may vary.
- ACA will verify your requirements and renew your designation and digital badge for another cycle.
Professional Collection Manager® (PCM)
Level up from the Collection Industry Professional (CIP) designation by adding skills in collection floor management and key performance indicators to drive the business.
Target Audience
- Team leaders, supervisors, and managers
Difficulty Level
- Intermediate; Some collection industry experience beneficial
ACA Professional Collection Specialist (PCS) designation is required for this designation. This designation is also closely tied to the Collection Industry Professional (CIP) designation. If you have earned the CIP, only one additional course (Managing the Collection Floor) is needed to level up to the PCM—complete both simultaneously if desired!
- Obtain and/or maintain the ACA Professional Collection Specialist (PCS) designation.
- Complete six required courses:
- Submit application and fee to obtain the PCM capstone assignment.
- ACA will verify requirements then deliver your capstone assignment.
- Complete, submit, and pass the capstone assignment.
- ACA will verify the assignment score and award your designation digital badge.
- Display your digital badge as desired on your social media or other communications. Directions for linking to the badge will be supplied by ACA.
- The PCM designation renews every two years. Designations that are allowed to expire may require the holder to start over with required courses and assessments. ACA will send renewal reminders in advance.
- Submit PCM renewal application with fee and documentation of an active PCS designation plus 12 Professional Development Unit (PDU) points earned during the current designation cycle. PDU points may be earned by participating in qualifying ACA education resources and events. PDU points are generally calculated one clock hour = one point. In-person meetings may vary.
- ACA will verify your requirements and renew your designation and digital badge for another cycle.
Credit and Collection Compliance Professional® (CCCP)
Perfect for the junior compliance officer or people new to compliance responsibilities, this designation offers fundamentals of regulatory compliance, risk management, and designing policies and procedures.
Target Audience
- Anyone with a leadership role in compliance or risk management
Difficulty Level
- Intermediate; Some collection industry experience beneficial
- Complete four required courses:
- Submit application and fee to obtain the CCCP capstone assignment.
- ACA will verify requirements then deliver your capstone assignment.
- Complete, submit, and pass the capstone assignment.
- ACA will verify the assignment score and award your designation digital badge.
- Display your digital badge as desired on your social media or other communications. Directions for linking to the badge will be supplied by ACA.
- The CCCP designation renews every two years. Designations that are allowed to expire may require the holder to start over with required courses and assessments. ACA will send renewal reminders in advance.
- Submit CCCP renewal application with fee and documentation of eight Professional Development Unit (PDU) points earned during the current designation cycle. PDU points may be earned by participating in qualifying ACA education resources and events. PDU points are generally calculated one clock hour = one point. In-person meetings may vary.
- ACA will verify your requirements and renew your designation and digital badge for another cycle.
Credit and Collection Compliance Officer® (CCCO)
Designed for the advanced professional—typically a chief compliance officer—the CCCO designation lets your colleagues and clients know that you have the advanced, in-depth compliance strategy knowledge necessary to thrive in the industry.
Target Audience
- Anyone performing senior compliance officer or executive risk management duties
Difficulty Level
- Advanced; Collection industry experience beneficial
- Complete eight required courses:
- Submit application and fee to obtain the CCCO capstone assignment.
- ACA will verify requirements then deliver your capstone assignment.
- Complete, submit, and pass the capstone assignment.
- ACA will verify the assignment score and award your designation digital badge.
- Display your digital badge as desired on your social media or other communications. Directions for linking to the badge will be supplied by ACA.
- The CCCO designation renews every two years. Designations that are allowed to expire may require the holder to start over with required courses and assessments. ACA will send renewal reminders in advance.
- Submit CCCO renewal application with fee and documentation of 12 Professional Development Unit (PDU) points earned during the current designation cycle. PDU points may be earned by participating in qualifying ACA education resources and events. PDU points are generally calculated one clock hour = one point. In-person meetings may vary.
- ACA will verify your requirements and renew your designation and digital badge for another cycle.
Healthcare Collection Manager® (HCM)
Health care collection is complex and this designation spells out critical requirements and special circumstances for working with consumers and clients in the healthcare space. Topics include working with third-party payers related to charitable care, 501(r), insurance, and building strong relationships with your medical clients.
Target Audience
- Team leaders, supervisors, and managers in the medical debt collection space
Difficulty Level
- Advanced; Health care or medical collections experience beneficial
- Complete three required courses:
- Ethical and Professional Collections
- Data Security and Privacy 1
- Healthcare Collection Management: Advanced Topics for the HCM Designation
- Submit application and fee to obtain the HCM capstone assignment.
- ACA will verify requirements then deliver your capstone assignment.
- Complete, submit, and pass the capstone assignment.
- ACA will verify the assignment score and award your designation digital badge.
- Display your digital badge as desired on your social media or other communications. Directions for linking to the badge will be supplied by ACA.
- The HCM designation renews every two years. Designations that are allowed to expire may require the holder to start over with required courses and assessments. ACA will send renewal reminders in advance.
- Submit HCM renewal application with fee and documentation of 12 Professional Development Unit (PDU) points earned during the current designation cycle. PDU points may be earned by participating in qualifying ACA education resources and events. PDU points are generally calculated one clock hour = one point. In-person meetings may vary.
- ACA will verify your requirements and renew your designation and digital badge for another cycle.
Digital Badges
Each ACA designation is represented by a custom graphic.
With a passing assignment/test score, ACA will send you an award letter that includes how to access your designation digital badge. If you already have a designation and need your designation digital badge, go to https://me.acainternational.org/MyACA. Log in and click on the transcript button, you will see your digital badge at the bottom of the page.
Training Zone: All-Access Training Resources for Members
Did you know you can access all online webinars and webinar recordings for one low price? ACA’s All-Access Training Zone is a one-stop-shop, giving users full access to ACA’s education library.
