Basic Victim Advocate (BVA) Certification

What is the BVA Certification?

The Basic Victim Advocate (BVA) Certification is a voluntary entry-level credential for individuals who are new to the victim-services field, typically with 2–3 years of experience or less. This certification confirm that advocates have the foundational training, practical skills, and professional standards needed to support victims of crime in a trauma-informed, ethical, and effective manner.

Certification Requirements

Experience Requirement: Applicants must meet one of the following:

  • Two consecutive years of paid or volunteer experience in victim services (full-time or part-time), or 
  •  A minimum of 140 verified service hours 

Service hours must include direct victim services (phone or in-person) and may also include: Case reviews, shadowing, case management, and multidisciplinary team (MDT/MTT) meetings.

 

Training Requirements

Applicants must complete 60 hours of approved training, including:

  • 15 hours – Victimology 
  • 15 hours – Advocate Skills 
  • 15 hours – System/Agency Response 
  • 15 hours – Electives 

Training hours may be earned through:

  • Required or elective training sessions 
  •  Seminars, workshops, and conferences 
  • In-service trainings
  • Continuing education or community networking events 

All trainings must be supported by a certificate of completion.

 

How the Basic Academy Hours Count Toward Certification

Graduates of the 40-hour Basic Academy may apply all 40 hours toward the 60-hour training requirement for the BVA Certification.

  • Advocates have one year from the end of the academy to complete the remaining 20 hours and required 140 service hours.
  • Applications can be submitted here: CO-COVA
     

BVA Certification Bundle

Our BVA Certification Bundle offers a streamlined, cost-effective way to earn all training hours required for certification.

The Bundle Includes:

  • Required Victimology, Advocate Skills, and System/Agency Response sessions 
  • Necessary elective hours 
  • Certificate of completion after completing the Basic Victim Advocate Certification.

How It Works:

  1.  Register for the Academy and add on the certificate option 
  2.  Attend all Academy training sessions
  3.  Receive digital certificate of completion from the Basic Academy
  4.  Submit your BVA Certification application after completing 60 total training hours and 140 service hours