Certification Program

NAHO created its certification program in 1995 in order to develop uniform standards of excellence and professionalism for hearing officers and administrative law judges and to improve the administrative hearing process nationwide.  The curriculum of core courses and training that is needed to obtain and maintain certification promotes this goal by enhancing the education and experience of hearing officials who work to provide due process and a fair hearing process for the public and the agencies they serve.

Obtaining the credential of Certified Hearing Officer (CHO) or Certified Administrative Law Judge (CALJ) is proof of commitment to the profession and the completion of hours of specialized training and experience in the administrative hearing process.  In addition to the personal achievement of attaining the credential of being a certified hearing official, certification is recognized by some states with salary or other career incentives.  

For complete information, please see Certification Requirements.

Completed applications may be emailed to the Certification Chair at jstokes@gael.org.

When submitting your application, please also contact Mary Long at  mary.long@naho.org for an invoice.