In the past, those facing trauma were faced with the question of “What is wrong with you” but through the study of trauma, professionals have learned that the better question to ask is “What happened to you?”. While bad things happen to people everyday, not everyone experiences PTSD or trauma disorders following a traumatic event. While this is true, there are always objective and subjective factors associated with individual case that can lead to trauma disorders. Abuse, rape, war and genocide can all lead to trauma disorders but how the person is able to process the trauma is key to a person’s post responses to the those events.
What is clear is that traumatic events awaken survival responses within the body to react to life or death situations. These responses tied closely to the autonomous nervous system and its two branches of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems dictate in the moment reactions of fight, flight, freeze, fawn or fade. This responses are key to human survival but when they remain on well after the event and become the default setting of a person’s everyday reactions to life, then PTSD or other trauma disorders manifest.
Healthcare and Behavioral Healthcare professionals trained in Trauma Informed Care help individuals process trauma, regulate emotions, utilize techniques to find grounding, and help individuals heal and find post traumatic growth. Trauma Informed Care Specialists are not just healers but they are also whistle blowers and safe guarders for the abused, helping them find not only healing but also justice and protection.
The Trauma Informed Care Specialist Certification from AIHCP opens the door for healthcare and behavioral healthcare professionals to expand their skills and knowledge in the aid of helping those in trauma. Completing our certification also puts you in our health care fellowship program, which awards you the certification in addition to fellowship status, showcasing your specialized training and commitment to the program.
Trauma Informed Care Specialist Course Requirements & Prices
Before joining our Trauma Informed Care Specialist program, interested professionals need to have at least one of the following prerequisites for entry:
- A registered nurse currently licensed to practice nursing
- A licensed social worker
- A licensed counselor
- A licensed physician
- A licensed psychologist
- A licensed psychiatrist
- A licensed marriage and family therapist
- Other licensed health care professionals in a human behavior clinical practice with a minimum of a bachelors degree in a related field may be considered on a case by case basis.
A Trauma Informed Care Certification from AIHCP is active for four years, with an option to renew through our health care recertification courses. This involves participation in our courses designed for continuing education for healthcare professionals. Once completed, the candidate can add the “TIC-CSp” credentials to their name which stands for “Certified Trauma Informed Care Specialist” .
The program itself consists of two required CE courses costing a total of $400 and includes the courses below. After completing the courses there is a certification fee of $220, plus shipping and handling, which includes the official certificate, ID card, and other related documents.
- CI 620 – Trauma Informed Care
- CI 625 – Understanding Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma in Helping Professionals
Please note that the costs listed above do not include the pricing of additional textbooks and learning materials required for the course. To see if you qualify for our trauma informed care certification courses, please fill out our qualification review form. If accepted, we will provide you with details for the next steps.
How to Renew Your Trauma Informed Care Specialist Certification
Trauma Informed Care Certification status from AIHCP expire after four years, and you can become recertified through AIHCP. You will need to obtain 50 or more continuing education hours and submit a minimum of 500 hours of practice with your current certification. You will also need to pay $220, plus shipping and handling, to submit your application for recertification.
You can learn more about the full requirements for renewal on our Trauma Informed Care Specialist recertification page.
Trauma Informed Care Certification Testimonials
The success of AIHCP’s certifications is thanks to the many professionals who continue to thrive in their careers with our programs. You can read more about the experiences of other healthcare professionals with AIHCP on our Testimonials page.
The Importance of Trauma Informed Care Certification
Trauma Informed Care Specialists provide a special service to those suffering from PTSD, trauma disorders and abuse. They can help individuals not only process and heal from trauma, but they also serve a special role in protecting vulnerable populations from abuse. A certification in Trauma Informed Care enhances any healthcare or behavioral healthcare professional’s resume with added training, knowledge and commitment to healing and protecting the most marginalized. The role of a Trauma Informed Care Specialist encompasses multiple components of empathetic care, listening, patience, counseling, healing and protecting of others.
The Certification in Trauma Informed Care from AIHCP can help professionals better provide the care that abused and trauma inflicted individuals need to find wholeness again.
FAQs on Trauma Informed Care Certification
What are the key benefits of having a Trauma Informed Care Certification?
Earning a Trauma Informed Care certification opens multiple opportunities for you and your career. The lessons learned during the program can be passed on to patients and colleagues alike, increasing awareness of new techniques and bolstering your knowledge within the field. The certification also allows for new opportunities in both networking and career advancement, giving you access to higher contacts and better pay.
Do I need to take the continuing education courses or program to achieve my certification?
Yes, our model for certification is designed so that certified members obtain the same educational achievements and have consistency in the knowledge and skills attained. This is because our model focuses on core, comprehensive knowledge and skills that have been determined to practice the specialty at a higher level of quality. There are instances where past education may be used to waive some of the courses required, but this is evaluated on an individual basis.
Do you offer a curriculum of continuing education courses that meet the requirements for your certification standards?
Each of our certification programs includes continuing education curricula that are designed to meet the full requirements for certification.
Do your continuing education courses have any Board approvals?
Most of our continuing education courses include multiple board approvals. However, the type of approval depends on the professional boards associated with that specialty. You can see the full list on our healthcare CE approvals page.
Is a certification necessary for trauma informed care?
Patients and peers alike expect healthcare professionals to stay knowledgeable and proficient in the field. Attaining a certification shows that you’ve taken considerable time and resources to stay current on new advancements in the industry and pass on that knowledge in your work. In other words, the certification is a sign of commitment to the profession, and it displays your confidence in achieving the best results for your patients. You can view more information on what is certification at this link.
Does attaining the trauma informed care certification mean that I’m certified for life?
Initial certifications are for a four-year period, and you would need to be recertified every four years after that. We strongly believe that professional certification requires you to commit and maintain efforts for ongoing education, learning new skills attainment and constantly practicing in your specialty practice. With each recertification, the goal is for you to learn about new advancements in the field and gain new knowledge that translates to more efficient work that satisfies patients and puts them on a track for long-term well-being.
What is the process for your Certification programs? How do I enter and complete a the certification program?
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.