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 2024, 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.
For Returning CACs
For CACs who previously assisted Georgia consumers on HealthCare.gov for 2023, please complete the steps below:
- Confirm that you are affiliated with a Georgia Access CDO, either as an employee or a volunteer.
- Complete the Georgia Access Certification Training and Final Assessment
- Begin the Certification Training, which is now available here.
- Download this quick reference guide in English or Spanish to learn how to set up an account on the state’s certification platform.
- Set aside three hours to complete the course.
- You must achieve a minimum score of 80% to pass the exam; a maximum of three attempts will be permitted.
- Download and save the Georgia Access Certificate verifying completion of your certification.
- Apply for a Georgia Access Specialist License
- Log in to Sircon to apply.
- If you previously held a Navigator License, your license information will be transferred over. You will not need to retake the licensing course or exam.
- Upload your Georgia Access Certificate to your application.
- Upload the form completed and signed by your CDO confirming your association.
For New CACs
- Become affiliated with a Georgia Access CDO, either as an employee or volunteer.
- Complete the Georgia Access Specialist Licensure Training and Exam.
- Complete the Georgia Access Certification Training and Final Assessment, which is now available here.
- Apply for a Georgia Access Specialist License in Sircon.
- Upload your Georgia Access Certificate to your application.
- Upload the form completed and signed by your CDO confirming your association.
Frequently Asked Questions from CACs
- What are a CAC’s responsibilities? Review this Georgia Access CAC Program Information Session Presentation to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of CACs.
- What are the Georgia Access Specialist licensing requirements? The Georgia Access Specialist licensing requirements are the same as the Navigator licensing requirements. The State of Georgia created a separate license for 2024 to better track licenses between CACs and Navigators. CACs must complete 10 hours of pre-licensing training, achieve a passing score of 70% on the pre-licensing exam, complete the Citizenship Affidavit, submit electronic fingerprints for a background check, provide proof of affiliation with a CDO, provide proof of completion of the certification training, and pay the $55 licensing fee.
- Do I need to complete the HealthCare.gov CAC Certification Training? No, to support Georgia consumers on Georgia Access for 2024, you only need to complete the Georgia Access Certification Training.
- If you are new to being a CAC and want to support Georgia consumers with applying for coverage through 2023, you will need to complete the CMS CAC Certification Training for 2023.
- Where do I go if I have more questions? This page will be updated with important information for CACs throughout the rollout of Georgia Access. We suggest you check this page regularly for more information.
- You can email questions about Georgia Access to CDOs@GeorgiaAccess.ga.gov.
Certified Application Counselor Designated Organizations (CDOs)
Partnerships with community organizations are vital to reaching uninsured populations within underserved communities across the state. The Georgia Access CAC program is based on the federal CAC program run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). An organization must apply and meet minimum requirements to be approved as a Certified Application CDO. CDOs do not receive grant funding. They oversee the activities of individual CACs. An organization may apply to be a CDO even if they do not have CACs.
For 2024, there are 36 Georgia Access CDOs:
- AIDS Healthcare Foundation
- Albany Area Primary Health Care
- Athens Neighborhood Health Center
- Birth Defects Research and Education Foundation
- CHRIS 180
- Christ Community Health Services Augusta
- CommunityScape Services
- Conifer Health Solutions
- Crisp Regional Health System
- Curtis V Cooper Primary Health Care
- DisabilityLink
- Diversity Health Care Center
- Effingham Hospital
- Eligibility Screening Services
- First Choice Primary Care
- Firstsource
- Georgia Highlands Medical Services
- Georgia Mountains Health Services
- Georgia Primary Care Association
- Good Samaritan Health & Wellness Center
- Grady Memorial Hospital
- Healthcare Receivable Specialist
- HealthFund Solutions
- J.C Lewis Primary Health Care Center
- Martin Luther King Senior Community Resources Collaborative
- McKinney Medical Center
- Palmetto Health Council, Inc.
- Parallon Revenue Cycle Services
- Positive Impact Health Centers
- Primary Care of Southwest Georgia
- Primary Health Care Center of Dade
- Resource Corporation of America, Augusta
- South Central Primary Care Center
- St. Joseph’s Candler Health Systems
- The Family Health Centers of Georgia
- The HOPE Center
2024 CDO Application Materials
Applications for 2024 were due July 7, 2023, by 5 p.m. EST. The state will release the CDO Application for 2025 in the spring of 2024. Below are the 2024 CDO application materials:
- Georgia Access CAC Program Information Session on June 1, 2023
- Georgia Access CDO Application
- Form A – CDO Application
- Application Questions and Answers
For questions about the Georgia Access CDO Program, reach out to CDOs@GeorgiaAccess.ga.gov.