PREVENTION CERTIFICATION: WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL? Pam Rush, CSPP Axis I Center of Barnwell, SC IC&RC Products Chair

SO What’s The Big Deal WHY SHOULD I BECOME CERTIFIED? WHY IS CERTIFICATION IMPORTANT? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

SIMPLE ANSWER Provides Structure for Workforce Development Builds professionalism in the field.

Value of Certification Anyone holding themselves out to be a professional should be able to demonstrate that they have met the accepted criteria, to practice in that field. The prevention field should not be an exception. The value of any certification process is in the standardization of the process.

Value of Certification Certification is a global accepted means of establishing as well as assessing the essential set of credentials required for a job. They are evidence that you are competent enough to perform the tasks assigned to you or could be assigned to you in the future. Provide management with an internationally accepted benchmark against which your current and prospective employers can assess your competency.

Competency We cannot assume that someone has competency. It must be measured and monitored. Other professions measure and monitor: medicine, psychology, social work & law. So should we. Would you go to a doctor who did not have the appropriate training?

Importance of Certification Prevention certification is the hallmark of the prevention profession. Holding certification allows individuals working in the prevention field to qualify for and receive recognition for achieving a standard of professional education and experience necessary to provide quality prevention services.

Importance of Certification The importance that professions and companies attach to certification has increased so much that in some cases companies and agencies are specifically asking for certified people when they are hiring. Certification is an objective measure of skills and can be used to compare and contrast the talent pool. It can be the critical distinguishing factor when job candidates have similar skill sets and experience.

Importance of Certification CSAP has recognized the value and worth of IC&RC's prevention credential and has provided the Prevention Specialists who go through their Prevention Fellows program to become certified prevention specialists.

Credentialing is an Effective Means to: Assure that services will be provided by a qualified work force that has meet national certifying/accrediting body’s standards of ethics, education, skills, and knowledge. Increase feelings of professionalism, leading to greater job satisfaction, improved performance, and less staff turnover. Upgrade the substance abuse field in a society where credentials are viewed as equivalent to competency.

Means to: Provide recognition to substance abuse workers who have acquired valuable skills through nontraditional means and work experience. Increase career mobility through reciprocity. Establishes industry benchmarks and best practices enabling practitioners to be consistent in the delivery of services.

Benefits of Certification National and International recognition as a professional Reciprocity: If you move to another state and you are certified through an IC&RC Board, your certification moves with you. Certification verifies your expertise and qualifications. It provides your employer with an accurate and reliable standard for measuring expertise based on the knowledge and skills needed to obtain certification.

Benefits for Prevention Specialist Provides a quantifiable milestone of achievement. Establishes credibility and verifies mastery in the field. Enhances your reputation in the profession. Confirms your proficiency as a prevention specialist.

Benefits for Organization Increases internal and external customer satisfaction and provides more consistent service delivery. Provides a way to measure competency and skills. Enhances credibility with stakeholders and within the organization. Recognizes and rewards employees by validating their expertise. Identifies employees who are qualified to provide leadership to team members.

For the Human Resource Mgr Ensures that the organization is hiring top quality professionals. Provides a way to determine individual and organization training needs. Supports decisions to place new hires in the right position at the appropriate skill level. Helps to link competency to compensation--$. Provides reliable benchmarks for promoting employees.

International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium The International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) sets the international standards of practice in addiction counseling, prevention and clinical supervision through testing and credentialing of addiction professionals.

International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium Incorporated in 1981, and currently headquartered in Harrisburg, PA, IC&RC is a not-for-profit voluntary membership organization comprised of certifying agencies involved in credentialing or licensing alcohol and other drug abuse counselors, clinical supervisors, prevention specialists, co- occurring professionals and criminal justice professionals. IC&RC includes 73 agencies representing more than 37,000 certified professionals internationally. IC&RC and its members are committed to public protection through the establishment of quality, competency-based certification programs for professionals engaged in the prevention and treatment of addictions and related problems. The organization also promotes the establishment and recognition of minimum standards to provide reciprocity for certified professionals.

Credentials Offered Certified Prevention Specialist-CPS Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Counselor-AODA Advanced Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Counselor- AAODA Certified Clinical Supervisor-CCS Certified Criminal Justice Addictions Professional- CCJP Certified Co-Occurring Disorders Professional- CCDP Certified Co-Occurring Disorders Professional Diplomate-CCDP-D

Certified Prevention Specialist - a reciprocal credential for those professionals active in prevention. Requirements include, but are not limited to: Experience hours of Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) prevention work experience. Education hours of prevention specific education. Fifty hours of this education must be ATOD specific. Six hours must be specific to prevention ethics. One hour of education is equal to 50 minutes of continuous instruction. Supervision hours specific to the IC&RC prevention domains with a minimum of ten hours in each domain. Examination -- Applicants must pass the IC&RC International Written Prevention Specialist Examination. Code of Ethics -- Applicants must sign a prevention specific code of ethics statement or affirmation statement. Recertification hours of continuing education earned every two years.

Certification Matters Becoming certified means you are dedicated to providing exceptional patient care through a rigorous, voluntary commitment to lifelong learning through board certification. I CHALLENGE TENNESSEE TO ESTABLISH A CERTIFICATION BOARD AND I CHALLENGE YOU ALL TO SEEK CERTIFICATION.

International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium 298 S. Progress Avenue Harrisburg PA (fax)

Contact Information Pam Rush, IC&RC Products Chair (office) (cell)