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Region: Region 9 - Mountain Plains
Title: Certified Prevention Specialists (CPS)
Examination: Applicants must receive a passing score on the IC&RC Prevention Specialist Exam.
Education: High school education or equivalence and attain the age of eighteen (18). Certified Prevention Specialist Candidates must have a total of 120 hours of documented education and training. A minimum of 60 hours of the 120 hours must be ATOD prevention. The remaining hours may be in other related prevention education and/or training.
Of the 60 hours of specific ATOD prevention education/training the following courses are required:
For more information regarding what counts as education and training see the full certification details here.
Prevention Experience: Certified Prevention Specialist candidates must have 2,000 documented hours (one year) of prevention-related experience in the Prevention Performance Domains. Of the 2,000 documented hours, a minimum of 120 hours of supervision** is required, with at least 10 hours in each domain. A minimum of 500 (25%) of the required 2,000 hours must be specific to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) prevention. Experience may come from internships/practicums and paid or voluntary work hours. Applicants must have gained experience and received supervision from a position in which the job description included prevention.
Supervised Prevention Experience: Of the 2,000 documented hours, a minimum of 120 hours of supervision** is required, with at least 10 hours in each domain.
Code of Ethics: To become a Certified Prevention Specialist, an applicant must sign an agreement to abide by the Code of Ethical Conduct.
Additional Requirements & Documentation: You must live or work at least 51% of the time in Montana when the application for Certification is submitted. Please follow the full detailed certification guidelines found at the Montana Prevention Certification Board.
Fee Structure:
Initial Application | $75 |
Initial 2-year Certification | $150 |
IC&RC Exam | $175 |
TOTAL | $400 |
Recertification Requirements: 40 hours of continuing education in prevention-specific trainings/workshops, etc. are required every two years. Hours should correspond to the IC&RC Domains. A maximum number of 12 hours for each domain will be accepted, except for the Professional Development domain. Professional Growth and Responsibility – only 4 hours will qualify in this category. This includes general, non-prevention-specific behavioral and public health trainings and/or conferences. Of the required 40 hours of continuing education, 6 hours of ethics training is required.
$175 Renewal Fee
Lapsed Certifications: All certified professionals should review the recertification application well in advance of the expiration date. A Reinstatement Fee of $150 is due after the 90-day grace period. After 12 months, recertification is not possible, and an applicant will have to reapply for the certification, meeting all current requirements.
Certification & Licensing Board: Montana Prevention Certification Board: https://mtpreventioncertificationboard.org