GRIEF SUPPORT PRACTITIONER CERTIFICATION


“Dedicated to Continued Learning, Growth, and Achievement in Health Care Practice”

GRIEF SUPPORT PRACTITIONER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

Woman standing in a cemetery holding an umbrella grieving a loss.

The American Academy of Grief Counseling offers an advanced program in Grief Support. Candidates who successfully complete the program achieve certification as a Grief Support Practitioner. This program is an advanced program and requires specific prerequisites for entry. Candidates must successfully complete the comprehensive education program in order to qualify for certification.

Grief Support Practitioners are those practicing at an advanced level with a primary focus on patient care, as well as research and implementation of advanced theories and interventions. Candidates complete the advanced continuing education curriculum to full fill the education component of the program. The advanced education program consists of 360 contact hours of continuing education courses. The program can be taken over a two (2) year period of time.

 

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE AAGC ARE:

  • Provide high quality programs of Certification and Fellowship for professionals practicing grief/bereavement counseling.
  • Develop and support high standards of education and practice requirements for the attainment of certification, fellowship status, and recertification.
  • Provide a mechanism for the ongoing involvement of a peer advisory board of qualified professionals to oversee program development and requirements for certification and fellowship in the AAGC.
  • Provide society with a mechanism to ascertain the appropriate education, skills, knowledge and experience required by professionals who offer such services.
  • Establish quality standards and requirements for the recertification and re-fellowship of its credentialed members, attesting to ongoing education and skill attainment in the practice specialty of grief/bereavement counseling.
  • Provide a comprehensive program of approvals for continuing education, seminars, offerings, independent study, and other related educational activities, to ensure high quality standards are met and that such programs are of value to professionals practicing grief and bereavement counseling.

Certified Grief Support Practitioner- requires attainment and verification of all of the following certification criteria:

  1. Candidates must hold current Certification as a Certified Grief Counselor by the American Academy of Grief Counseling.
  2. Candidates must successfully complete the Grief Support Practitioner continuing education courses/curriculum as offered by the American Academy of Grief Counseling. Education Courses/Program: click here
  3. Candidates must hold a graduate level degree in order to be certified as a Grief Support Practitioner. This is an advanced level of grief support practice and an earned graduate degree is mandatory for conferral of this certification. Once Certified, members must commit to adherence to the Code of Ethics for Certified Grief Counselors and adhere to their specific profession’s Standards of Practice.

Requires attainment of one of the following criteria:

  • The American Academy of Grief Counseling offers a full Continuing Education program of online courses for those seeking to receive the advanced practice level Certification in Grief Counseling as a Certified Grief Support Practitioner. Upon completion of the eight (8) courses detailed below, applicants are eligible to apply for and receive Certification as a Certified Grief Support Practitioner in the American Academy of Grief Counseling. Each course is provided for in a dedicated online classroom. The courses are designed as independent study/continuing education courses, with one-to-one faculty mentoring. There is open enrollment and students may register and begin the education program at anytime.

Identification & Credentials

Those applicants who become certified by the AAGC- shall be deemed “certified” and may use the initials/credential GSP-C, after their names: “Certified Grief Support Practitioner”

Timeline

All certifications shall be for a period of 4 years from the date that the initial certification by the AAGC is granted.

KEY FAQSphoto a man in a suite with his hand on a touch screen touching a large icon with the word FAQ on it

What are the key benefits of achieving a Certification in this health care specialty practice?

Response: Some of the key benefits of receiving a Certification in Grief Support Practitioner includes increasing your marketability in the work place, enhancing your knowledge and skills base in this specialty practice, increasing your earnings potential, commitment to ongoing professional development and continuing education, achieving recognition for accomplishments attained, networking with peers in the same practice specialty, and much more.

Must I take the continuing education courses/program to achieve my certification?

Response: Yes, our model for certification is designed so that our certified members have accomplished the same educational achievements and have consistency in knowledge and skills attainment. Many have experiences in many types of specialties practices, but are varied. Our model focuses on core and solid, comprehensive knowledge and skills that have been determined to practice the specialty at a higher level of quality practice. There are instances where past education may be used to waive some of the courses required. This is evaluated on an individual basis and more information may be found in our more comprehensive FAQS section: Access here

Do you offer a curriculum of continuing education courses that meet the requirements for your Certification standards?

Response: Yes, for each of our certification programs we offer full continuing education curriculums that are designed to meet full requirements for certification. Click on the link above (Ce courses and prices) for this program. All of our CE courses are authored and mentored by highly qualified faculty with graduate degrees.

Do your continuing education courses have any Board approvals?

Response: Yes, most all of our continuing education courses do have some or many Board approvals, depending on types of professional boards.  Please access more information: Access here

Does Society Expect Health Care Professionals to be “Certified” in specialty practices?

Response: It is safe to say that today our society expects health care professionals to be highly knowledgeable and to practice their professions as well as their specialty practices at high levels of safe care, quality standards, and to maintain a high level of ethical practice. One way in which our health care professionals may demonstrate this level of achievement is by attaining a recognized professional certification from an organization that has developed and upholds all of these important indicators of high- quality professional specialty practices. Certification in a specialty practice demonstrates the professionals commit to achievements in core defined domains of practice allowing more confidence by society as a whole.

Once I am certified by your organization, am I certified “for life?”

Response: You can be if you chose to be. We have a program of Recertification for all of our specialty practices. Initial certifications are for a four-year period. All those obtaining certification may re-certify upon meeting the specific requirements for recertification every four years. Certified members may recertify every four years indefinitely as long as they meet the recertification requirements for their practice specialty. We hold strongly to the belief that professional Certification requires that one commits to and maintains ongoing education, skills attainment and practice in their specialty practice. Our recertification process allows for the verification of these verifications of our members. We offer a large curriculum of continuing education courses for our certified members if they would like to meet continuing education hours of recertification. You may learn more about our recertification requirements: Access here

After reviewing all of the information on this page, I may have more questions, who may I contact?

Response: We are here to help and assist you in all ways possible. We have Live Chat online during normal business hours and you may access the Live Chat link above on this page. Also, please access our Contact Us Page

Please view more FAQS for this Practice Specialty. 

a young couple in grief counselingThe Certification Process

We have a dedicated page that provides a quick over-view of our certification process. It will provide you with good information about the process/phases of both the education courses and application for certification. Click here to access.

Certificate

Those applicants who have successfully achieved certification, or recertification by the AAGC will receive a large size official Certificate attesting to certification, as well as an official letter of notification. The certificate is suitable for framing and details the official professional certification title, initials that may be used, and time frames for certification. Those recertifying receive a new, updated certificate.

Standards & Code of Ethics

The Code of Ethics for Certified Grief Counselors and Fellows of the American Academy of Grief Counseling may be viewed online by clicking here. The Code of Ethics is approved by the Governing Board and the Advisory Board of the American Academy of Grief Counseling.

Fee Schedule

  • The certification fee for Grief Support Practitioner is $220.00, plus shipping and handling, for the four year term of certification. All Certification packets, which include the official certificate, wallet ID card, and other related documents are shipped with tracking. Payment in full is due at the time of application. If an applicant does not meet certification criteria, the application fee is refunded. A completed application must be submitted with full payment to be considered for certification. The application form is available Here.
  • Application for re-certification is $220.00, plus shipping and handling, for the next four year period. This is a one time payment and is required in full at the time of application for re-certification. A completed application must accompany the payment.
  • Major credit cards are accepted. Check and money orders are to be payable to: The American Institute of Healthcare Professionals.

GRIEF COUNSELING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

For those who are interested in the Grief Support Practitioner program and are not currently certified by the American Academy of Grief Counseling, you may obtain full information on the Certification program leading to Grief Counseling certification on our website: click here

Disclaimer: The American Academy of Grief Counseling is not affiliated with any other programs or credential evaluation or other certifications. The AAGC is not affiliated in any way with any other professional organization related to grief counseling education or practice.

Grief Support Practitioner Online Application

Click here for the online application.

Additional Resources

Click here for the Online CE Continuing Education for Re-Certification.
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