Maine Tobacco Treatment Specialist Certification Program

The certification of trained Tobacco Treatment Specialists in Maine is a program of the American Lung Association in Maine (ALA). 

The certification program uses the Clinical Practice Guideline: Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence (U.S. Public Health Service, June 2008 as its framework).  The Guideline contains strategies and recommendations to assist tobacco treatment specialists and clinicians to deliver effective, evidence-based treatment for tobacco use and dependence.

Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS-C)

• Is a trained health professional who specializes in the treatment of tobacco dependence as part of his or her professional role
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills to provide current and effective treatment for tobacco dependence
• Serves as a resource and consultant to other healthcare professionals
• Can provide the most effective and appropriate treatment to special populations, e.g. patients with a variety of co-morbidities, chemical dependency, or pregnancy.

Commission

ALA has organized a commission of professionals with expertise and experience in addiction and substance abuse; counseling and intensive tobacco treatment to oversee the certification of qualified individuals as certified tobacco treatment specialists in Maine.

Purpose of Certification

• Provide quality assurance to clients, third party payers, employers, and referring health care providers
• Ensure best practice performance standards

Eligibility Criteria

• There is an expectation that a candidate will have been tobacco free for a minimum of one year.
• Minimum of a 4-year degree in a health-related field such as, but not limited to, mental health or nursing or a 2-year degree in nursing or respiratory therapy
• Graduate of the 4-day Intensive Tobacco Treatment Training and Conference conducted by the Center for Tobacco Independence within two years of application for certification

  Trainings - sponsored by the Center for Tobacco Independence

  The Basic Skills Trainingteaches professionals how to incorporate tobacco treatment messages into their professional practices. The course is conducted in two parts: An online training and an in-person group training and is a pre-requisite for the Intensive Tobacco Treatment Training offered each spring. The total cost for the program is $50.00.

  Download the most recent Basic Skills Training brochure. 
  Registration information for the Tobacco Intervention Basic Skills Training is in the brochure.

  
  Intensive Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training

  For more information, please contact the Center For Tobacco Independence at (208) 662-7154 or email tobaccotrng@mmc.org.  

Download the most recent Basic Skills Training brochure.   

Certification Process

**  Each step must be completed in this sequence within two years of attending the Intensive Tobacco Treatment Training and Conference.

Within two years of the Intensive Training complete the following steps:

1.  Register for the TTS-C written certification exam, submit postmarked August 15th

2.  Complete and pass TTS-C certification exam (during months of September-October) Minimum passing grade of 70%

     --Once notified of passing the exam; complete case study application, include documentation of experience, 240 hours must be accrued by March 1st.

3.  If able to accrue hours, complete and submit application (postmarked March 1st) to the Tobacco Treatment Certification Commission for review and acceptance

    a.  The application requires the documentation of 240 hours of intensive tobacco treatment within the last three years

    b.  Hours may continue to be accrued up until your case study is submitted for review. Please note that on your application

    c.  Include payment of $150 (one time fee)

    d.  It is suggested that you begin considering potential cases for your case study

4.  Once notified of acceptance for the certification process, begin preparing case study using the rubric provided

5.  Postmarked by May 1st, submit case study of an intensive tobacco treatment intervention to the Commission for review and acceptance

6.  Candidates will be notified of the acceptance of their case study meeting the identified criteria

7.  At a date to be determined in June, demonstrate application of the Core Competencies of a Tobacco Treatment Specialist by presenting your case study before the Commission, the final step in the process for TTS-C Certification.

Certification Fee - $150 (one time fee)

Certification Examination

The exam consists of multiple choice and essay questions. It is based on the Clinical Practice Guideline, and on core competencies: Biology of Nicotine Dependence, Patient/Client Intake and Assessment, Counseling, Pharmacology of Tobacco Treatment, Treatment of Special Populations, Relapse Prevention, Organizational Needs. 

Re-Certification Maine Tobacco Treatment Specialist

The Commission for Tobacco Treatment Certification has determined that all certified tobacco treatment specialists are required to earn 12 hours of continuing education within their two-year certification period. The certification period will run from June to June for all specialists. It is the responsibility of the TTS-C to keep track of all continuing education hours through documentation.

12 continuing education hours may be earned through a combination of any of the following activities:

Up to 12 hours through attendance at tobacco treatment related conferences, workshops and seminars sponsored by professional organizations and agencies

Up to 4 hours as faculty for tobacco treatment training session or workshop

Up to 6 hours reading and critical review of journal articles from current peer-reviewed journals (within the last 24 months) such as Tobacco Control, Nicotine and Tobacco Research, American Journal of Public Health, Journal of the American Medical Association, British Medical Journal, American Nurses Association, Clinical Review and journals for Nurse Practitioners, Women's Health and Family Practice.

For more information contact lgilman@lungne.org

The American Lung Association in Maine, with oversight from the commission, will be responsible for developing and implementing the process for re-certification including the monitoring of continuing education hours. A notice will be sent to all specialists approximately six months prior to the end of the certification period to begin the re-certification process.