What Florida Certification Board does

The Florida Certification Board (FCB), founded in 1994 and headquartered at 1715 South Gadsden Street in Tallahassee, Florida, is a non-profit organization that designs, develops, and administers professional certification programs for health and human services practitioners. FCB certifies more than 20,000 professionals statewide across over 30 credential types spanning child welfare, addiction, mental health, peer recovery, prevention, and physical health. Its credentials are statutorily mandated under multiple Florida Statutes (Chapters 397, 394, 39, and 402), making FCB the de facto gatekeeper for regulated practice in these fields, and enabling Medicaid billing eligibility for credentialed professionals.

FCB's core products are professional certifications validated through education, experience, training, and proctored computer-based examination. The technology stack consists of an online certification tracking portal (transitioning to a new CAVU system with go-live on August 4, 2026), a Learning Management System (LearningPool) for continuing education, and proctored exam sites operated through partner colleges across Florida, Vermont, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The wholly-owned subsidiary Comprehensive Examination Services, Inc. handles exam development and grading. FCB also maintains IC&RC reciprocity membership, enabling credential portability across 73 member jurisdictions.

Revenue is generated through certification application fees ($50-$150), examination fees ($65-$185), recurring renewal fees ($50-$250 across annual or biennial cycles), study guide sales ($99-$189.99), and supplemental training courses (e.g., CRPS prep at $40). Distribution is primarily through FCB's website and the CAVU portal, with scholarships administered in partnership with the Florida Department of Children and Families. Neal A. McGarry has served as President and CEO for the past 25 years, and Amy Farrington (VP/COO, joined 2006) leads certification program development. Customer segments are individual practitioners, though FCB's funding and statutory authority are heavily anchored to the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Name

Florida Certification Board

Legal name

Florida Certification Board

Website

https://flcertificationboard.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Florida Certification Board is a Tallahassee-based non-profit that certifies over 20,000 health and human services professionals statewide across 30+ credentials in child welfare, addiction, mental health, peer recovery, prevention, and physical health, with statutorily mandated Florida credentials and IC&RC reciprocity across 73 jurisdictions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Assessment, Certification & Qualifications Frameworks (BPADAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Credentialing, Certification Prep & Exam Training (BPACANAJ)

Keywords

• Professional certification services
• Behavioral health credentials
• Child welfare certification
• Addiction counselor certification
• Health human services certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallahassee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Certification Application Fees: One-time fees charged to applicants when submitting their initial certification application, ranging from $50 to $150 depending on credential type.
2. Examination Fees: Fees charged for proctored computer-based certification exams, ranging from $65 to $185 depending on the exam.
3. Renewal Fees: Annual or biennial renewal fees charged to maintain credentials in good standing, ranging from $50 to $250 depending on credential type.
4. Study Guide Sales: Sale of exam preparation study guides through the FCB storefront, priced at $189.99 or $99.00 depending on the credential.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

FCB designs, develops, and manages professional certification programs for health and human services professionals in Florida, administering over 30 credentials across child welfare, addiction, mental health, peer recovery, prevention, resiliency, and physical health fields. Core activities include processing certification applications, administering proctored computer-based exams, providing renewal and continuing education services, and maintaining reciprocity via IC&RC membership across 73 jurisdictions.

Product overview

Florida Certification Board (FCB) is a non-profit certification organization that designs, develops, and manages professional certification programs for over 30 health and human services credentials, certifying more than 20,000 professionals statewide. The core offering consists of professional certification credentials validated through education, training, experience, and examination requirements. The product portfolio includes Behavioral Health credentials (addiction, mental health, prevention, recovery support), Child Welfare credentials (protective investigators, case managers, licensing counselors, supervisors), Physical Health credentials (community health workers, denial recovery specialists), and National/Partner credentials (IC&RC, NCPS, CTP). Supporting products include exam study guides sold through the National Certification Board storefront, the FCB Online Training Learning Management System for continuing education, and the online Certification Tracking System (transitioning to CAVU in 2026) for applications, exam registration, credential management, and renewal. The organization also provides policy guidance, ethics complaint processing, and maintains a network of approved continuing education providers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Behavioral Health Certifications Certification programs for behavioral health professionals including addiction counselors (MCAP, CAP, CAC), behavioral health case managers and supervisors (CBHCM, CBHCMS), behavioral health technicians (CBHT), mental health professionals (CMHP), prevention specialists (CPP, CPS), recovery peer specialists (CRPS), recovery support specialists (CRSS), recovery residence administrators (CRRA), gambling addiction counselors (CGAC), and tobacco treatment specialists (CTTS). Credentials validate competency for practice in licensed treatment agencies and community mental health centers and enable Medicaid billing eligibility.
• Child Welfare Certifications Certification programs for child welfare professionals including Child Welfare Protective Investigator (CWPI), Case Manager (CWCM), Licensing Counselor (CWLC), Supervisor (CCWS), and Guardian Ad Litem Certified Child Advocate Manager (CCAM). Includes provisional and full certification pathways aligned with Florida Department of Children and Families' Florida Academy pre-service training model.
• Physical Health Certifications Certification programs for physical health and community health roles including Certified Community Health Worker (CCHW) for professionals connecting people to health and social services, Certified Denial Recovery Specialist (CDRS) for patient financial services professionals resolving denied insurance claims, and Child Protection Team Medical Provider (CPTMP) for specialized medical billing competencies in child protection.
• Resiliency Advocate Certifications Resiliency-building credentials for professionals and community members including parents, caregivers, teachers, coaches, and health and human service workers who support child and youth resiliency. Includes Registered Resiliency Advocate (RRA) and Certified Resiliency Advocate (CRA) designations validating competency in trauma-informed practices and positive youth development.
• National and Partner Credentials National and partner-managed credentials including International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) and Prevention Specialist (PS) credentials enabling reciprocity across 73 member jurisdictions, National Certified Peer Specialist (NCPS) for peer specialists supporting recovery from mental health conditions, and Certified Telehealth Practitioner (CTP) for behavioral health professionals delivering services via telehealth technologies. NCPS and CTP are now administered through the National Certification Board for Behavioral Health Professionals.
• Study Guides and Exam Preparation Materials Exam preparation study guides sold through the National Certification Board storefront covering Florida MCAP/CAP certification exams, IC&RC ADC exam, and behavioral health case manager/supervisor exams. Priced at $99.00 to $189.99 per guide.
• FCB Online Training and Learning Management System Online continuing education and training platform delivered through the LearningPool LMS. Offers FCB Online Training courses including the CRPS Exam Preparation Course ($40.00), exam proctor training, item writer training, and supervision key documents for workplace reinforcement of certification competencies.
• FCB Certification Tracking System (CAVU) Online certification management platform enabling applicants to create accounts, submit applications, pay fees, schedule exams, check credential status, renew certifications, and print wallet cards. Features SMS notification capabilities for certification updates. The new CAVU system launching August 4, 2026 is replacing the legacy online certification tracking system.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20,000 professionals certified statewide
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCB is a member of the IC&RC, a not-for-profit voluntary membership organization comprising certifying agencies for addiction, prevention, and behavioral health professionals. IC&RC promotes minimum standards for reciprocity, enabling FCB-certified professionals to transfer credentials to any of IC&RC's 73 member organizations. FCB incorporates IC&RC ADC and PS certification requirements into its MCAP, CAP, CAC, CPP, and CPS programs.
• Northwest Florida Health NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCB collaborated with Northwest Florida Health Network to develop the Certified Resiliency Advocate (CRA) and Registered Resiliency Advocate (RRA) credentials. The network worked alongside an advisory panel of more than 30 early childhood education experts, teachers, school and behavioral health counselors, behavior analysts, coaches, parents, and faith-based individuals to develop the credential structure and requirements, in direct response to Florida's First Lady Casey DeSantis's resiliency initiative.
• Florida Association of Recovery Residences (FARR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRRA credential holders are responsible for oversight of staff, volunteers, and residents in recovery residences according to standards established by FARR. The credential meets individual certification requirements of s. 397.4871, F.S.
• Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) / Office of Substance Abuse and Mental HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCB administers scholarship programs funded through the Florida Department of Children and Families, Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, open annually from July 1 through June 30. Scholarships cover applications, exams, upgrades, renewals, and reinstatements for CAP, CRPS, and CRSS credentials. FCB also requires DCF Clearinghouse Level 2 background screening approval as part of its certification requirements.
• Florida Academy (Department of Children and Families)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCB is working in partnership with the Department of Children and Families as it transitions to the new Florida Academy model for pre-service child welfare training. CWPI applicants are required to complete the Florida Academy. CWCM and CWLC applicants follow the training model designated by their employer.
• National Certification Board for Behavioral Health ProfessionalsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Certified Peer Specialist (NCPS) and Certified Telehealth Practitioner (CTP) credentials have been relocated to the National Certification Board for Behavioral Health Professionals website. FCB continues to offer these credentials but administration has been transferred to this partner organization.
• School District of Palm Beach County / BeWellPBCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCB partnered with the School District of Palm Beach County and BeWellPBC to develop a Behavioral Health Technician curriculum for high school students, approved by the Florida State Board of Education as a statewide offering in April 2022, creating a pathway to profession for students.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• PsychArmor Institute: Provides certifications and training for veteran and military family-serving professionals. Comparable as a niche credentialing organization addressing a specific underserved population of practice with competency-based credentials.

Broad incumbents

• National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC): Certifies Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES/MCHES). Comparable as a competency-based credentialing body for health and human services professionals, though with a national rather than state-specific scope.
• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP): National accreditor of allied health education programs. Comparable as an established standards and competency validation body for health-related human services professions, though it accredits programs rather than certifying individual practitioners.
• National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Credentialing Center: Issues social work credentials relevant to child welfare and behavioral health practitioners. Comparable as a peer credentialing authority serving overlapping professional segments in child welfare and mental health practice.
• National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): The largest U.S. certification body for professional counselors, including the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential. It is comparable as a behavioral and mental health certification authority but operates nationally across many counseling disciplines rather than Florida-specific human services credentials.

Direct peers

• Florida Association of Recovery Residences (FARR): Florida-based organization that sets standards for recovery residences and works directly with FCB on the CRRA credential. Comparable as a Florida-specific peer credentialing/standards body in the addiction recovery space.
• International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC): IC&RC is the umbrella consortium of which FCB is a member, governing reciprocity standards for addiction, prevention, and behavioral health credentials across 73 jurisdictions. FCB issues IC&RC-aligned ADC and PS credentials and operates within IC&RC's standards framework, making it the closest peer and governance body.
• National Certification Board for Behavioral Health Professionals: Operates the storefront through which FCB study guides are sold and now administers FCB's NCPS and CTP credentials. It is a direct peer in behavioral health credentialing and a partner/competitor at the credential level for peer specialist and telehealth practitioner certifications.

Others

• Council on Credentialing and Quality Assurance (CCQA): National quality assurance body supporting credentialing for addiction professionals. Comparable as an enabling/ecosystem peer in the addiction professional credentialing standards space, though not a direct certifying competitor.

Regional players

• Addiction Counselor Certification Board of Florida (ACCBO): Florida-based certification body for addiction counselors; an adjacent credentialing organization operating in the same regulatory space. Comparable as a state-level certification peer for behavioral health professionals practicing under Florida statute.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FloridaCertBrd
• Facebookfacebook.com/FLCertificationBoard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Florida Certification Board