Certified Professional Guardianship and Conservatorship Program

What qualifications are needed to become a Certified Professional Guardian?

To qualify to become a certified professional guardian one must:

• be at least 21 years of age; and
• be of sound mind; and
• have no convictions of a crime, or court or administrative proceeding findings, involving dishonesty, neglect, abuse, or use of physical force; and
• have no convictions of a crime, or court or administrative proceeding findings, relevant to the functions the individual would assume as a guardian or conservator; and
• possess a high school degree or GED equivalent and at least five full years' experience working in a discipline pertinent to the provision of guardianship and conservatorship services; or
• possess an associate's degree from an accredited institution and at least four full years' experience working in a discipline pertinent to the provision of guardianship and conservatorship services; or
• possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and at least two full years' experience working in a discipline pertinent to the provision of guardianship and conservatorship services; or
• possess a masters, J.D., Ph.D., or equivalent advanced degree from an accredited institution and at least one years' experience working in a discipline pertinent to the provision of guardianship and conservatorship services; and
• demonstrate financial responsibility by having a FICO credit score of 700 or higher (FICO scores between 650 and 699 require review of applicant's credit report and credit explanation to determine if the financial responsibility requirement is met; applications with a FICO score below 650 will be denied.); and
• have completed the mandatory certification training.

GR 23(d)(1)(vi) provides "The experience required by this rule is experience in which the applicant has developed skills that are transferable to the provision of guardianship and conservatorship services and must include decision-making or the use of independent judgment for the benefit of others, not limited to individuals subject to guardianship or conservatorship, in the area of legal, financial, social services or healthcare, or other disciplines pertinent to the provision of guardianship and conservatorship services"; and

GR 23(d)(1)(viii) provides "An individual certified under this General Rule prior to January 1, 2022 and in good standing under all Board regulations will automatically continue to be certified as a Certified Professional Guardian and Conservator (CPGC) as of January 1, 2022." The individual must be at least 21 years of age.

Application Regulation 100 defines volunteer experience in the following manner:

• "Experience working in a discipline pertinent to the provision of guardianship and conservatorship services" in GR 23(d)(1)(v) includes volunteer work experience that is "supervised, verifiable, and based on actual hours worked, except as otherwise set forth in these regulations".
• "Experience working in a discipline pertinent to the provision of guardianship and conservatorship services" in GR 23(d)(1)(v) does not include "providing services for a family member."