Certification

CWIC and Community Partner Initial Training and Certification

Because of the complexity of work incentives, disability support, and poverty reduction programs, Social Security requires WIPA staff to participate in intensive initial training and pass a rigorous initial certification process prior to working with beneficiaries. Community partners who are interested in and register for an Initial Training session must also commit to full participation in the certification process.

The competency assessment and certification process is directly linked to the CWIC and Community Partner initial training program. CWICs and community partners receive training on each of the core competencies during the initial training program and participate in the assessment activities to certify their competence in each of these main competency areas.

The assessment and certification process consists of two parts:

• Part I: Part I of the certification process takes place over the nine-week period immediately following the 10th webinar day and involves completing a series of eleven online competency-based assessments. Successful completion of the assessments results in provisional certification and authorization to continue on to Part II of the certification process. The Part I assessment process takes, on average, 25-45 hours over the nine-week period.
  
• Part II: Part II of the certification process takes the assessment process to the next level by evaluating participants' ability to apply the concepts in developing BS&A reports for actual Social Security beneficiaries they are serving. Part II of the process requires submission and successful review of three BS&A reports during the 10-month period immediately following successful completion of Part I.

For more detailed information on the assessment and certification process, please see the following:

2024 Part I Assessment and Certification Instructions: Word Version   PDF Version

2024 Part II Assessment and Certification Instructions: Word Version   PDF Version

CWICs who successfully complete the two-part assessment and certification process will have CWIC Certification.

Community Partner staff who successfully complete the two-part assessment and certification process will have Community Partner Work Incentives Counseling (CPWIC) Certification.