Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS)

Core Trainings

The TTS Core Training is an intensive three-day, evidence-based hybrid training program for persons who want to work with tobacco dependent clients.  Initially designed in 1999, by the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMass), the training curriculum addresses a set of core competencies for tobacco treatment specialists as defined by the Association for the Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence (ATTUD).

The TTS Core Training includes two components: TTS Part 1 (online) and TTS Part 2 (in-person or virtual).

TTS Part 1 – This is a 10 hour online training that must be completed before attending the live three-day Part 2 training. Part 1 covers the determinants of tobacco use disorder, including biological, psychological, and social aspects; physical and behavioral health impact of tobacco use; and best practices for systems to support treatment of tobacco use disorder.

TTS Part 2 – This is an intensive 3-day, in-person or virtual, evidence-based training program. This part will cover pharmacotherapy; counseling skills; cognitive and behavioral strategies to assist tobacco users in quitting; and intake, assessment, and treatment planning.

The University of Massachusetts Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) Training Program is accredited by Council for Tobacco Treatment Training Programs (CTTTP). The UMass TTS training program provides equal opportunity and access to all applicants, regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability and veteran’s status. 

Research studies have identified providers, including psychiatrists, have limited or no formal education and training for addressing tobacco use and cessation among their patients.  Without proper training, providers may lack the knowledge, skills, and confidence to routinely screen patients for tobacco use, advise patients to quit using tobacco products, and assist patients in making a quit attempt.
What is a Tobacco Treatment Specialist?

» A Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) is a professional who is specially trained to possess the skills and knowledge to provide effective, evidence-based interventions for tobacco dependence for all forms of tobacco and nicotine use.

» Tobacco Treatment Specialists understand the science behind tobacco addiction, nicotine withdrawal symptoms, and effective treatments for tobacco cessation.  They can develop individualized treatment plans using comprehensive, evidence-based assessments and treatment strategies.

Who should attend the TTS Core Training?

» The training is designed for persons who want to work with tobacco dependent clients or deliver treatment services within a healthcare or community setting; however, anyone who is interested is welcome to attend!

» Target audiences for the training can include the following: physicians, advanced practice providers, mental health counselors, addiction counselors, social workers, nurses, pharmacists, peer recovery coaches, health educators, and respiratory therapists.

What are the requirements to attend the training?

» Prior to attending the TTS Core Training, participants must successfully complete the “TTS Core Training Part 1” online course offered through UMass. This is a 10 hour online training that must be completed before attending the live three-day Part 2 training.

» Participants must be tobacco-free (including E-cigarettes) for six months prior to the training.

» There is no minimum education level and no license/certification requirements to attend the TTS Core Training.

Will this training provide me with a Certification?

» Successful completion of  the TTS Core Training qualifies as the training requirement to apply for the National Certificate in Tobacco Treatment Practice (NCTTP).

» This national certificate program was created to standardize and unify tobacco competencies, knowledge, and skills on a national level and provides national, unified recognition of professionals who obtain this prestigious certificate.

» By obtaining the NCTTP,  Tobacco Treatment Specialists are demonstrating to employers, third-party payers, and clients their advanced education in evidence-based tobacco treatment competencies, skills, and practice.

Upcoming Trainings

TTS Core Trainings

October 13 – 15, 2020 (virtual) – Registration now open to the first 24 participants

Where Our TTS Participants Are From

Map of where TTS Participants are from

Scholarship Opportunity

Rethink Tobacco Indiana seeks to increase the number of Indiana health professionals who are trained to provide evidence-based tobacco treatment interventions.  In an effort to improve the health and quality of life for all Hoosiers, Rethink Tobacco Indiana is offering a scholarship to help offset registration costs for the four-day TTS Core Training.

Apply Today

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