Welcome to Georgia Access! Certified Application Counselors (CACs) play an important role in assisting uninsured residents across the state, particularly in underserved communities.
To assist Georgia consumers on the Exchange for 2025, you must be an employee or volunteer with one of the approved Georgia Access Certified Application Counselor Designated Organizations (CDOs), hold a Georgia Access Specialist License, and complete the Georgia Access certification training and final assessment.
Certified Application Counselor Designated Organizations (CDOs)
Partnerships with community organizations are vital to reaching uninsured residents across the state, especially in underserved communities. The Georgia Access CAC Program is run by Georgia Access, a division within Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire (OCI). Organizations must apply and be selected to become a Georgia Access CDO. Certified CDOs do not receive grant funding.
Certified CDOs are responsible for overseeing the work of affiliated CACs, including training, day-to-day management, and monitoring certified CAC activities. Certified CACs are individuals who are certified and licensed by the state to support consumers with applying for health coverage.
The twenty-seven Georgia Access CDOs for Plan Year (PY) 2025 are:
- Athens Neighborhood Health Center
- Birth Defects Research & Education Foundation
- Center for Pan Asian Community Services
- Community Scape Services
- Crisp Regional Hospital
- Curtis V. Cooper Primary Health Care
- Disability Link
- Diversity Health Center
- Effingham Health System
- Eligibility Screening Services
- First Choice Primary Care
- Georgia Highlands Medical Services
- Georgia Mountains Health Services
- Good Samaritan Health & Wellness Center
- HealthFund Solutions
- JC Lewis Primary Health Care Center
- McKinney Medical Center
- MedCura Health
- MedLink Georgia
- Palmetto Health Council
- Power Atlanta
- Primary Care of Southwest Georgia
- Ser Familia
- South Central Primary Care Center
- St. Joseph’s Candler Health Systems
- The Family Health Centers of Georgia
- The Medical Center of Central Georgia
Certified Application Counselors (CACs)
Certified CACs are individuals who are certified and licensed by the state to support consumers with applying for health coverage on Georgia Access.
CAC certification training for PY 2025 is now available at certification.georgiaaccess.gov. All CACs must complete certification and secure licensure by November 1, 2024, to be ready to support consumers on November 1, 2024, for Open Enrollment.
To learn more about CAC licensure, visit Navigators and Georgia Access Specialists (CACs) | Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Certified Application Counselor Designated Organization (CDO)?
A certified CDO is an organization selected by the State of Georgia to support CAC activities. Certified CDOs have three main roles:
- Supervise CACs.
- Provide quarterly performance metrics to the state.
- Receive marketing toolkits and information for consumers.
How can an organization become a certified CDO?
Organizations must apply annually to become a Georgia Access CDO. For PY 2025, CDO applications were closed on September 24, 2024. CDO applications for PY 2026 will be posted in summer of 2025.
Who is a certified CAC?
A certified CAC is an individual who is certified and licensed by the State of Georgia to support consumers with applying for health coverage. Certified CACs are also referred to as assisters. Certified CACs are required to be affiliated with a certified CDO, either as an employee or volunteer. Certified CACs provide unbiased support and educate consumers on healthcare options. Like certified Navigators, certified CACs are not permitted to advise consumers on which health plan is best.
What are the requirements for CACs to participate in Georgia Access?
To assist Georgia consumers as a certified CAC on Georgia Access, individuals must be an employee or volunteer with one of the approved Georgia Access CDOs, hold a Georgia Access Specialist License (more information on the OCI website here), and complete the Georgia Access certification training and final assessment.
The Georgia Access Specialist licensing requirements are similar to the Navigator licensing requirements. The State of Georgia created a separate license for PY 2024 to better track licenses between CACs and Navigators. CACs can begin the licensure/renewal process at any time, but they must complete certification training before obtaining a license.
How do CACs obtain Georgia Access certification?
To obtain Georgia Access certification, the following steps must be taken:
- Begin the certification course, which is available at certification.georgiaaccess.gov.
- Set aside approximately three hours to complete the course.
- Achieve a minimum score of 80% to pass the final assessment; a maximum of three attempts will be permitted.
- Download and save a PDF copy of the certification certificate.
Resources
- For questions about the Georgia Access CDO Program, reach out to CDOs@georgiaaccess.ga.gov.
- Georgia Access Contact Center for Partners 1-888-312-4237 (TTY Line 711)