Certified
Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training
Although
the Tobacco Dependence Program has been training
Tobacco Dependence Treatment Specialists since
2000, we are proud to now offer certification
for this training via the The
Certification Board, Inc.
This
5-day, intensive (42-hour) curriculum prepares
health care professionals to become tobacco dependence
treatment specialists. This curriculum is offered
three times per year, typically in the Spring,
Summer and Fall.
Overview
The
Tobacco Dependence Program of the University of
Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, School of
Public Health has developed this training to prepare
professionals to provide intensive specialist treatment
for tobacco dependence. The 5-Day Core Training
will provide health professionals with an in-depth
understanding of Tobacco Dependence, as well as
the essential science-based treatment tools necessary
to help their client’s achieve freedom from
tobacco use. The nationally recognized faculty brings
to this training a wealth of expertise in tobacco
control, nicotine addiction, medical consequences
of tobacco use, treatment of tobacco dependence,
program development and evaluation, and treating
tobacco addiction with special populations such
as those with mental illness and other addictions
or young people. The training format allows for
an interactive and comprehensive educational experience.
Participants can expect to leave the
training competent to effectively treat patients
for tobacco dependence and to provide other services
that will help organizations to address tobacco
use.
The
curriculum provides knowledge of evidence-based
treatment methods and provides participants with
necessary skills and tools needed to assess and
treat smokers in multiple settings. The CTTS training
meets all of the requirements set forth in the US
Pubic Health Guidelines as well as
the proposed standards for competencies for tobacco
treatment specialists developed by the Association
for the Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence
(ATTUD).
Who
Should Take This Training?
Tobacco use remains the chief preventable cause
of death in the United States. Health care clinicians
working in various settings routinely have opportunities
to treat people for tobacco dependence. The Tobacco
Dependence Treatment Specialist training is relevant
to any health professional who provides clinical
care to people who use tobacco. This includes nurses
and nurse practitioners, doctors, dentists, psychiatrists,
psychologists, physician assistants, respiratory
therapists, mental health professionals, addiction
professionals and social workers. The training will
prepare health professionals to provide their patients/clients
with effective evidenced-based interventions for
tobacco dependence. Professionals such as health
academics, health policy experts, health educators
and health officers, or others with an interest
in tobacco and health can also benefit from the
training in that it will present up-to-date research
on topics such as public health and tobacco, group
therapy, behavior change methods, and program evaluation.
Prerequisites
The criteria for becoming a CTTS were initially
developed collaboratively by the New Jersey Department
of Health and Senior Services, national expert reviewers,
tobacco treatment professionals and the University
of Medicine and Dentistry School of Public Health
Tobacco Dependence Program, which are described
in the New
Jersey Guidelines for Tobacco Treatment.
The New Jersey guidelines outline prerequisites
and training objectives that must be met before
a health-care provider is considered a tobacco dependence
treatment specialist. These include evidence-based
tobacco specific assessment, counseling, and treatment
knowledge and skills. These guidelines have in part
been integrated into the new standards for competencies
being developed by the Association
for the Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence.
Participants
must have a Masters or above in the Human Services
field with one year of full-time counseling or health
care experience, OR, a Bachelors in Human Services
with two years of full-time counseling or health
care experience, OR a CADC/LCADC/ nursing OR other
recognized health related qualification, with four
years of full time counseling or health care experience.
The CTTS is not an independent clinical practice
credential and should only be used for work within
health care or counseling settings. Private practice
counselors should have a license approved by the
appropriate Division of Consumer Affairs to provide
independent counseling.
Certification
Process
The
following steps are required for Certification as
a Tobacco Dependence Treatment Specialist:
Continuing
Education Credits
This course has been approved by The
Certification Board, Inc.,
the New Jersey State Board of Social Workers and
for New Jersey Department of Education Professional
Development Hours.
