The purpose of prevention certification is to recognize and ensure that substance misuse prevention practitioners meet competency standards established by the International Certification Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) and the Prevention Certification Board of NH.
Applications
The CPS Manual with Appendices contains the requirements, procedures, and application forms for the Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) certification. The manual and application forms are available for download as PDFs, along with a Quick Guide containing a summary of what is required to become a CPS.
The Certified Prevention Specialist certification is a beginning-level certification. Any advanced certifications adopted by the Prevention Certification Board of NH in the future will require candidates to possess a CPS certification.
The Prevention Certification Board of NH is now offering an advanced credential for certified prevention specialists “Advanced Certification for Prevention Specialists” or ACPS. This advanced credential is for those currently certified as Prevention Specialists (CPS) in NH and are seeking a more advanced certification that involves a focus on organizational leadership and management skills. There are two levels, for those who currently hold the CPS and are initially seeking the advanced credential, and for those who already have the advanced credential (ACPS) and are seeking recertification of their ACPS.
Download your application here:
Applications may be scanned and sent to us electronically. The notarized Code of Ethical Standards must be mailed directly to:
The Prevention Certification Board of NH
Attn: Hannah Owen
501 South St, 2nd Floor
Bow, NH 03304
To maintain CPS credentialing, recertification is required every two years and requires an additional forty hours of continuing education in the area of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) prevention. All information needed to apply for recertification can be found in the CPS Recertification Application.
CPS certification fees can be paid via PayPal using the appropriate link below:
- $350 CPS Initial Certification fee (includes IC&RC exam fee)
- $100 CPS Recertification fee
- $150 CPS Recertification with late fee ($100 recertification plus $50 late fee)
- $175 ACPS Initial Certification fee
- $100 ACPS Recertification fee
- $225 ACPS Initial Certification with late fee ($175 initial certification plus $50 late fee)
- $125 IC&RC Exam Retest fee
Questions about the certification process should be directed to the Prevention Certification Board of NH by calling the Board Administrator at 603-573-3356 or emailing [email protected].
Update regarding notarization: While the Prevention Certification Board of NH does require an original signed and notarized Code of Ethics for new certifications and recertifications. Local banks often provide notary service free of charge to their members and may even offer this service through a drive-thru. This will vary depending on individual bank policies, so we recommend checking with your bank. If you are still having difficulty accessing a notary, please reach out via email to the Board Administrator at [email protected].
Lapsed Certification Requirements
The Prevention Certification Board of New Hampshire approved the following requirements for reinstatement of certification for individuals whose Prevention Specialist Certification (CPS) lapsed:
- 20 CEUs per year since last certification/recertification across the 6 domains
- A minimum of 6 of the total CEUs must be in Prevention Ethics related
- No test requirement
- Narrative about the domains – to be judged using the same rubric as the narrative in initial application
- One letter of recommendation- (recommendation not required to be from a CPS, but encouraged)
- Fees for Reinstatement of Lapsed Certificate:
- Recertification: $100
- Reinstatement: $150
- Total Reinstatement Fee: $250
“Lapsed” is defined as an existing certification that was not renewed within the 6 month grace period after the expiration date on the certificate.
