Who has to be certified?
- Anyone employed by a local government or state agency whose job duties include providing mandated victim services (Article 15 of SC Code of Laws); or
- Anyone employed by a SC victim assistance organization (as defined by the agency’s mission) whose job duties include providing direct victim services.
Who has to be certified as a Notifier/Support Staff?
Anyone employed by a summary court or detention center whose job duties include providing notification to crime victims.
Even if providing victim services is not the employee’s main job, the employee must be certified if he or she provides direct victim services (e.g., victim notification of hearings, assistance with compensation claims, counseling assistance). This requirement is for full and part-time employees.
Do volunteers have to be certified as VSPs or Notifiers/Support Staff?
VSP certification is recommended, but not required for volunteers who provide direct victim services to crime victims. All volunteers should adhere to their agency’s training policies and procedures. If a volunteer VSP or Notifier/Support Staff becomes employed to provide direct victim services they should inform CVST immediately.
What are the requirements for certification?
To become VSP certified, new employees must complete the 15-hour "Basic Core" training within their first year of employment. Once the "Basic Core" has been completed, VSPs are required to complete 12 hours of CVST-approved trainings every calendar year thereafter to maintain VSP certification. Notifiers/Support Staff have a 2-hour training track that they must complete every other calendar year. Specific hourly requirements can be found on the CVST Training Requirements page.
If I am new to victim services, how long do I have to get certified?
VSPs employed in a SC public agency or private nonprofit program after January 1, 2009, are required to complete the certification requirements within one year from the date of employment. They also must meet annual continuing education requirements to maintain certification throughout their employment.
Who provides the training?
- VSPs are able to obtain training from a variety of approved sources, including organizational, local, state, regional, and national trainings.
- Notifiers/Support Staff are able to obtain training from organizational, local, state and regional trainings as long as they follow the Notifier/Support Staff training track and have been submitted to CVST for approval.
If my organization is hosting a victim service related training, how can we get the training approved by CVST?
For a training to be accredited by CVST, it will need to comply with CVST's Standards of Accreditation. In addition, an Accreditation Application, must be submitted to CVST at least 30 days prior to the training. The application must include all required documents, including a course description, a detailed agenda, and presenter biographies.
How do I get credit for attending a CVST accredited training?
For in-person trainings: The only way a VSP or Notifier/Support Staff can get credit for attending a CVST accredited training is by signing CVST's official VSP, Notifier/Support Staff Training Sign-Out Sheets. CVST will not accept a certificate of attendance as proof of attendance for accredited trainings. In addition, a VSP or Notifier/Support Staff must attend the entire training in order to receive CVST credit. The only exception for this requirement is that you are attending a multi-day training, or the training has simultaneous workshops, with sign-out sheets provided for each day and/or session. Your VSP number must be provided on the sign-out sheet to ensure that you receive continuing education credit.
For virtual trainings: A report/log that tracks attendees, obtained from the training platform, will be provided to CVST by the training sponsor. The only thing you must do is provide your VSP number when registering for the training to ensure that you receive continuing education credit.
Can I get credit for attending a training that was not accredited by CVST?
A VSP who attends a training that was not accredited by CVST, but would like the training to be considered for possible VSP continuing education credits, must submit a completed Non-Accredited Certification Request (NACR) through our website. This application must be submitted within 30 days of attending said training and include all required documents printed on the NACR application.
Can I get credit for presenting at a CVST accredited training?
VSPs can receive up to 6.0 hours of credit each calendar year for presenting at CVST accredited trainings only. CVST cannot issue credit for presenting at non-accredited trainings. Presenters cannot receive credit for the same course presented more than once a year. VSPs who present at a CVST accredited training, and wish to receive credit, must sign the CVST Presenter Sign-Out Sheets. If a presenter attends the remainder of the training, and would like VSP credit, they must also sign the regular VSP, Notifiers/Support Staff Training Sign-Out Sheets.
What if I am unable to complete my required hours due to a medical condition?
The Department of Crime Victim Services Training, Provider Certification, and Statistical Analysis (CVST) may waive the training and certification requirements when the applicant’s failure to meet such requirements was the result of a medical condition. The decision to grant a waiver shall be made by the Deputy Director on a case-by-case basis that considers the relevant factors, including, the severity, duration and timing of the medical condition, and presentation of a medical excuse with the treating doctor’s name and the dates that you were excused. If the Director denies a request for a waiver, the applicant may appeal to the Victim Services Coordinating Council.
