New research published in Corrections: Policy, Practice, and Research examines the personal and professional value that the Certified Correctional Health Professional (CCHP) certification offers to members of the field. Based on interviews with 33 CCHPs, the article, “A Little More Gravitas: Why Correctional Health Care Workers Value Third-Party Certifications,” identifies two main benefits: external legitimacy and workplace credibility. Certification helps correctional health care professionals counteract the perceived stigma of working in corrections, affirming their professional status to external audiences, including other health care professionals and the general public. It also offers tangible career benefits, such as increased credibility and the ability to navigate workplace conflicts and systemic challenges effectively.
The research highlights the distinct environment of correctional health care, where practitioners may feel marginalized within the broader medical community. Certifications, such as those offered by NCCHC, help bridge these gaps by signaling expertise and dedication to evidence-based practices. The findings illustrate how these credentials enable correctional health professionals to advocate for patient care standards while fostering rapport with both colleagues and patients—crucial in navigating the dual imperatives of care and security.
The article emphasizes personal testimonials from CCHPs who attribute significant workplace and professional advantages to certification:
- Donna explained how certification enhances perceived credibility, stating that having a credential “beside your name” signifies expertise and commitment, which strengthens one’s voice in professional settings.
- Jake highlighted that certification provides leverage in workplace conflicts, allowing health care staff to cite national standards as an independent authority when faced with opposition from security personnel.
- Carol noted that certification gave her “a little more oomph” in challenging outdated or incorrect practices, empowering her to advocate effectively for patients.
- Hattie recounted how certification enabled her to step into administrative roles typically reserved for registered nurses during a staffing crisis, showcasing how the credential’s recognition of specialized knowledge opens up new opportunities.
Other participants noted that specialty certification (CCHP-MH, -RN, -CP, -A) distinguishes someone as an expert and demonstrates that they, like other health care workers, have the kind of mastery over specialized knowledge that defines professionals.
Collectively, these accounts illustrate that certification not only validates expertise but also bolsters confidence, credibility, and advocacy in the uniquely challenging environment of correctional health care.
NCCHC assisted the authors Spencer Headworth, PhD, Rachel Chen, Callie Zaborenko, PhD, and Elle Rochford, PhD, with data collection for this article. Thank you to all of the CCHP participants. Learn more about becoming a CCHP at ncchc.org/cchp.
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