NCTTP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Eligibility criteria are listed on the NCTTP webpage and Section III Eligibility/Application Requirements on page 2 of the NCTTP application.  Please look closely at instructions provided for each section of the application.  They were designed to make completing your application easier and faster.    

Any tobacco treatment practice experiences that fall within the scope of the 11 Core Competencies developed by ATTUD can be counted. The 11 Core Competencies are listed in Section VII. Documentation of Tobacco Treatment Practice Experience, page 9 of the application.  There is no required distribution of hours across these competencies, and all competencies are not required to be represented in the total 240 hours of post-TTS training.

Yes. If you are in the process of acquiring hours of practice, Section VII should be completed as much as possible, including a description of tobacco treatment activities. Once practice hours are completed Section I and Section VII must be re-submitted by e-mail to ykouassi@naadac.org. If the application is not complete with the 240 practice hours within two years from initial application, the applicant will need to resubmit a new application and fee of $150. 

No. As stated in this section, “Human Services is broadly defined as interpersonal work involved with meeting objectives associated with human needs. These needs can be focused on the prevention as well as the remediation of problems, or improving the overall quality of life of service populations.”

Any work that adheres to this definition can and should be described in this section – only if your highest educational level is less than a Bachelor’s Degree.

No. You must request the new Document of Completion from the training program you attended and meet all other criteria as listed on the application. Be aware that having received a past certification from your training program has no bearing on your eligibility for the new NCTTP, and only means that you completed the training program.

This new certificate was designed to ensure that all applicants are providing consistent documentation. All CTTTP-accredited programs have agreed to provide a Document of Completion that includes standardized language.

You should check with the program that issued your original CTTS credential. Most programs have discontinued issuing and renewing certifications in favor of the new national process. Currently, there is no universal or formal recognition of CTTS as a credential.

The new certificate is not yet the same as a certification, but you may use NCTTP to note that you have been awarded the certificate. Once the next phase is launched, which is estimated to be early in 2020, a new credential will be created.

No. This is a one-time certificate that provides national recognition of your training and experience. It does not require renewal. The NCTTP is the first step of the process created by ATTUD and NAADAC in partnership with the Council for Tobacco Treatment Training Programs (CTTTP) to create formal, national recognition for tobacco treatment specialists. The next phase of this initiative is estimated to launch early in 2020. You are encouraged to monitor the NAADAC and ATTUD websites, as well as the ATTUD listserv for information, announcements, and next steps.

The fee supports the staff time required to review applications, maintain accurate records and ensure the integrity of this process.

NAADAC automatically sends a receipt for all payments received. If you have not received a receipt for your application fee, please check your email spam folder. If it is not in your spam folder, please email dratanavong@naadac.org to receive a duplicate copy of your receipt.

You must pass the NCTTP examination within one year of the date of your NCTTP application approval to receive your certificate.

Yes. The $150 examination fee must be paid directly to the testing company. This is a separate fee from the $150 application fee, which is paid to NAADAC.

Once your NCTTP application has been approved, NAADAC will email you a code and link to schedule a time specific to take the NCTTP examination. You may choose to take your test at home or in your office with a computer that meets the requirements for online testing.

To take the NCTTP examination on a computer of your choice, the computer must have a camera, a microphone, and be running on a minimum of Windows 8. For full requirements, click here.

You will receive the results of your exam within two weeks.  The certificate will be awarded upon completion of the required clinical hours.

Candidates may take the examination up to three times in one year, with a minimum of one month between examination dates.

NAADAC will keep your application open for a period of one year from the date of your NCTTP application approval. During that time, you may re-take the examination two additional times at a cost of $150 per second and third examination. If a passing score is not achieved within one year from the date of your NCTTP application approval, you will need to submit a new application for approval and pay a new $150 application fee.

All test exemption applications received by May 15, 2018 are now processed and in the mail. If you submitted by May 15, 2018, were approved, and have not received your certificate, please contact Yao Kouassi at ykouassi@naadac.org. Thank you for your patience.

The Standards Committee, comprised of the ATTUD Ad Hoc Credentialing Development Committee, the directors of all CTTTP-accredited training programs, and the CTTTP Councilors, developed and vetted the Tobacco Treatment Specialist Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics was derived from the one used by the UMass Medical School Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program. Committee members spent a good deal of time thinking through ramifications of each of the principles. All revisions were made and approved by this committee. It is anticipated these will be reviewed periodically to assure they remain current.