South Dakota

HHS Region: Region 8 - Mountain Plains 

Title: Certified Prevention Specialist

Examination: Certification is granted upon completion of the application process and successfully passing the IC&RC national written examination.

Educational / Training Requirements:

A minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited post secondary institution.

A minimum of three (3) semester hours and a grade of “C” or higher is required in each of the following specialized education courses:

  • Introduction to the Study of Alcohol Use and Abuse
  • Introduction to the Study of Drug Use and Abuse
  • Foundations of Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention
  • Theory and Practice of Alcohol and Drug Prevention
  • Ethics for the Alcohol & Drug Professional (Must include six (6) contact hours of ethics specific to prevention)

Prevention Experience:

The qualifying work experience requirement must include a minimum of 2,000 hours of supervised work experience specific to the prevention specialist domains.

Of the 2,000 required hours, applicants shall provide detailed documentation for a minimum of 750 hours of supervised practical training experience in the prevention specialist domains with a minimum of fifty (50) hours in each domain: 

  • Planning and Evaluation
  • Prevention Education and Service Delivery
  • Communication
  • Community Organization
  • Public Policy and Environmental Change
  • Professional Growth and Responsibility

Supervised Prevention Experience:

Of the 2,000 required hours, applicants shall provide detailed documentation for a minimum of 750 hours of supervised practical training experience in the prevention specialist domains with a minimum of fifty (50) hours in each domain: 

Planning and Evaluation
Prevention Education and Service Delivery
Communication
Community Organization
Public Policy and Environmental Change
Professional Growth and Responsibility

Code of Ethics: Certified Prevention Specialists are required to follow the BAPP Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice and the Professional Code of Ethical Conduct for Prevention Specialists.

Recertification Requirements:

  • Certification must be renewed annually during the practitioners birth month after issuance of the certificate.  
  • Certification expires on the last day of the month of the practitioner’s birth month.
  • Recertification requires forty (40) contact hours of Board approved Continuing Professional Training to be submitted in the practitioner’s birth month every two years, in even-numbered years.  
     

Certification & Licensing Board: South Dakota Board of Addiction and Prevention Professionals (BAPP) https://dss.sd.gov/licensingboards/bapp/bapp.aspx