Certification
The Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® Credential
Compliance Information
Earning the Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® certification requires individuals to uphold the highest ethical standards for the benefit and protection of the health and welfare of seniors. In order to obtain/maintain certification and earn the right to use the Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® designation, individuals must meet the requirements for certification/recertification, and agree to the high ethical and professional standards in the CSA Code of Professional Responsibility.
As part of the process, applicants must complete and sign a Disclosure Questionnaire and Attestation statement every year, which asks about any involvement in any criminal, civil, governmental, regulatory or administrative body proceedings or investigations. In addition, applicants must pass a background check prior to initial certification and every three years thereafter.
Information flagged on the Disclosure Questionnaire and/or Background Check will be reviewed in accordance with the following guidelines to help determine eligibility and to ensure conduct does not reflect adversely upon the Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® standards and marks. Any conduct deemed ineligible will be handled in accordance with Adverse Action notification requirements. Note: matters not within the purview of SCSA will not preclude an applicant from eligibility. Residents for certain states (NY, CA, HI) to be classified as decisional and reviewed in accordance with specific state laws.
| Conduct | Within 7 Years | Over 7 Years Ago |
|---|---|---|
| Felony conviction for any crime against a senior | Ineligible | Ineligible |
| Misdemeanor conviction for any crime against a senior | Presumed Ineligible* | Presumed Ineligible* |
| Felony conviction for murder, attempted murder, rape, kidnapping | Ineligible | Ineligible |
| Felony conviction for any other violent crime | Ineligible | Presumed Ineligible* |
| Felony conviction for theft, identity theft, embezzlement, fraud, or forgery | Ineligible | Presumed Ineligible* |
| Felony conviction for any other non-violent crime (including perjury) | Presumed Ineligible* | Presumed Ineligible* |
| Any sex offense | Presumed Ineligible* | Presumed Ineligible* |
| Traffic violations, including DUI | Eligible | Eligible |
| Providing false information on CSA Disclosure Questionnaire | Presumed Ineligible* | Presumed Ineligible* |
* Presumed ineligible conduct to be reviewed by the Certification Department and/or the Ethics & Disciplinary Council and Certification Council to determine eligibility based on specifics of the case.
Other matters that may reflect adversely upon the CSA certification marks will be reviewed by the Certification Department under the procedures outlined in CSA Policies to determine their effect on eligibility.
SCSA Disclosure Policy
Society of Certified Senior Advisors® (SCSA) treats as confidential a CSA’s personal information. At its discretion, however, and in accordance with policy, the CSA Certification Department may release to certain federal and state licensing and credentialing bodies and governmental regulatory agencies, or may publish on its website, details of a current or former CSA’s disciplinary history. Similarly, SCSA reserves the right to divulge to such bodies or agencies, or to publish on its website, information in connection with wrongful use or other actions taken by SCSA, or on its behalf, against certain individuals or entities.
SCSA Statement on Business Relationships and Commercial Neutrality
The Society of Certified Senior Advisors® is an education and credentialing organization serving multidisciplinary members who often offer competing services in the marketplace. For this reason, it is important for us to maintain a position of commercial neutrality with our community. In keeping with that position, we do not promote or endorse any particular member’s or vendor’s services, company, or organization, nor do we earn revenue on sales to our members in partnership with any member or vendor.
Members or vendors interested in promoting their own expertise, products, or services to SCSA membership may do so through articles, conference presentations, paid advertising in our CSA Journal, exhibiting at our annual trade conference, or offering direct discounts to SCSA members.
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