The Tennessee Certification Board has announced the start of the statewide prevention credentialing process. June 1 will mark the start of a 90 day grandfathering period for acceptance. Professionals with a background have the opportunity to receive a Certified Prevention Specialist credential without examination if they meet training, working and supervision requirements. After Aug. 30, all applicants must meet credentialing requirements and take the statewide examination.
The TCB will be offering credentials via the International Credentialing & Reciprocity Consortium. Tennessee will join 47 U.S. states, five Native American Territories, 24 countries and all branches of the U.S. military in the credentialing process. “Our state is honored to be selected by the IC&RC to offer certification credentials,” states Bruce Newport, TCB state director. “Tennessee is now aligned with professionals internationally. Prevention professionals in our state are held to a higher standard based on IC&RC requirements and peer accountability.”
Prevention is defined as the process of helping individuals, families and communities to develop the resources needed to alleviate a wide range of at-risk behaviors for children, adolescents, and young adults. These behaviors include alcohol, tobacco, drug abuse, crime, delinquency, violence, vandalism, mental health, family conflict, abuse, learning deficiencies, teenage pregnancy, depression and suicide.
The Tennessee Certification Board is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that works closely with governmental agencies and community organizations throughout Tennessee to provide professionals credentials in areas related to prevention. The TCB is currently working with the IC&RC to provide future credentialing in areas of addiction, recovery, co-occurring disorders and criminal justice.
Founded in 1981, the IC&RC is the world’s largest credentialing agency in its field. Almost half of all substance abuse professionals in the U.S. hold IC&RC certificates. Internationally, over 45,000 professionals hold an IC&RC credential.
For more information about the Prevention Certification process visit www.tncertification.org. Interested parties can also contact the TCB at 615.927-1291 or bnewport@tncertification.org.