The NCCHC Certified Correctional Health Professional (CCHP) certification examination assesses knowledge of nationally recognized standards and guidelines for correctional health care. Certified by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, the assessment covers seven distinct domains including governance, patient care, medical-legal issues, and specialized health services within correctional facilities across the nation. Candidates have 120 minutes to complete the evaluation consisting of 80 to 100 multiple-choice questions.
Correctional health professionals from various disciplines seeking to validate their knowledge of nationally recognized standards. Candidates must hold appropriate credentials and meet character and fitness requirements established by the CCHP Board of Trustees.
Review the official content outline and study materials provided by NCCHC to ensure complete preparation. Focus your study efforts on the seven major knowledge areas, ensuring absolute familiarity with administrative policies, infection control, patient safety protocols, and medical-legal guidelines relevant to correctional environments during your preparation.
This specific domain covers administrative structures, access to care, medical autonomy, policies and procedures, continuous quality improvement programs, health records, grievance processes, and organizational responsibilities within correctional facilities for every candidate.
This specific domain focuses on healthy lifestyle promotion, infection prevention and control, clinical preventive services, medical surveillance, suicide prevention, contraception, patient safety, and staff safety protocols across all correctional settings.
This specific segment addresses staff credentials, clinical peer review, professional development, health training for custody staff, medication administration training, and orientation procedures for newly hired health staff members in correctional facilities.
This specific area examines pharmaceutical operations, medication administration services, clinic space, equipment, supplies, on-site diagnostic services, nutrition services, emergency medical services, and specialized hospital care to ensure proper correctional facility functioning.
This specific section explores patient intake and processing, receiving and transfer screening, initial health assessments, mental health screening, oral care, nonemergency services, nurse-initiated protocols, and discharge planning for incarcerated individuals.
This domain highlights chronic disease management, specialized mental health services, substance use disorder treatment, response to sexual assault, care for pregnant patients, infirmary care, and terminally ill patient care.
This specific final domain details medical-legal principles involving restraint and seclusion, restrictive housing, emergency psychotropic medication, forensic information, informed consent, the right to refuse care, and facility executions.
Report to your designated test center or join the online proctored session with your admission notice and a valid state photo ID or driver's license. Arrive on time as late arrivals receive no extra time.
The proctored examination typically consists of 80 to 100 multiple-choice, objective questions carefully developed by the expert CCHP Board of Trustees to test your knowledge.
Candidates receive email results indicating only a pass or fail status within approximately two weeks following their test date. Be sure to check with NCCHC for specific scoring threshold details.
Candidates are given a total duration of 120 minutes to complete the proctored multiple-choice examination within the allotted test window period without receiving any extra time extensions.
Applicants must hold appropriate credentials and a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration from a state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, or Canada, along with good character and fitness.
Verified 2026-09-13
This overview was built using verified facts from official NCCHC guides, candidate handbooks, and documentation regarding correctional health care standards and exam structures.