This Certification is intended for the professional who has an existing knowledge about trauma and an overview of trauma treatment modalities (CCTS-I Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist for individuals or the CCTS-F Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist for Family) or it’s equivalent. The Advanced certification builds from that foundation and adds skills and tools designed to promote trauma healing.
As in all education-based certifications, this certification does not convey that the certified person has more skill or greater capacity, it only warrants that the certified person has completed the educational requirements for this certification. This Certification is reflective of a recognition that complex trauma has different treatment demands than single-event trauma. Understanding the difference between complex and single-event trauma is essential for providing adequate care for the traumatized.
This certification addresses the educational information related to the therapeutic complexities that show up with clients who have experienced repeated relational violations, such as difficulty with trust, boundary violations and early attachment related issues.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS CERTIFICATION DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COURSE. YOU WILL NEED TO PURCHASE THE COURSE SEPARATELY.
The purpose
This Advanced Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist (ACCTS) is to demonstrate knowledge of the ability to assess, use effective treatment approaches, and address the therapeutic challenges of treating complex trauma (alternatively described as Complex PTSD “CPTSD”) and the special features of complex trauma.
Professional Standards
State or Nationally licensed as a (or equivalent if practicing outside of the United States):
- Psychologist
- Clinical Social Worker
- Licensed Professional Counselor
- Marriage and Family Therapist
- Licensed Masters level addiction counselor
- Psychiatrist
- Psychiatric Nurse
The applicant must:
- Be in good standing with the State Board that licenses him/her, including not being on probationary status for any reason.
- Not having been ethically or professionally denied application to or renewal of his/her professional membership in local, state, or national associations to which he/she is qualified within the past 5 years.
Educational Standards
Prerequisite for Certification:
- The candidate must evidence the completion of the CCTS-I Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist for Individuals training OR the CCTS-F Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist for Family training.
- The candidate must evidence the completion of the Advanced Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist (ACCTS) training COURSE MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF APPLYING FOR CERTIFICATION.
- A minimum of a Master’s degree in a mental health related field, medicine, addiction (or equivalent if practicing outside of the United States)
- A minimum of 5 years of clinical experience which is counted from the time of licensing (or equivalent if practicing outside of the United States).
Required Documentation for Certification Eligibility
- A copy of the candidate’s license (if in the United States)
- Copies of completion of training as outline in the Educational Standards
- Payment of certification application fee