Overview:
Since our inception in the 1960s the American Assocation of Suicidology is the premier standards and accreditation body for crisis response and suicide prevention organizations. This curriculum provides an evidenced-based, standardized set of skills to help the individual crisis interventionists ensure their competency in crisis response. The course work includes best practices gained from AAS’s subject matter experts’ decades of experience in crisis response and helps certified crisis specialists be among the most effective and knowledgeable in the field.
Training Options:
Crisis Specialist Training & Certification
Member: $119
Non-member: $179
Crisis Specialist Training ONLY
Member: $79
Non-member: $129
Crisis Specialist Certification Exam ONLY
Member: $79
Non-member: $129
Crisis Specialist Exam Re-Take
Member: $99
Non-member: $99
Crisis Specialist Recertification
Member: $79
Non-member: $99
AAS Accredited Centers
5-10 applicants: $109/person
10+ applicants: $104/person
Crisis Specialist Training ONLY and Crisis Specialist Exam Re-Take are available for purchase in our store.
For all others please see our brochure and information below for additional details.
Eligibility & Requirements:
Crisis Specialist Exam Re-Take
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- Candidates must be 21 or older.
- Candidates must have completed the training and did not have a passing score on the prior two exam attempts.
Crisis Specialist Training ONLY (No Certification)
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- Candidates must be 21 or older.
- Candidates will have 12 months after completing this training to complete the exam if they desire to obtain certification.
Crisis Specialist Training & Certification
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- Candidates must be 21 or older.
- Candidates must have a minimum of 3 months full-time, or 6 months part-time, experience in crisis services.
- Candidates must have a satisfactory evaluation of crisis specialist training and experience as outlined in the completed application.
- Candidates must have completed their organization’s crisis training and submit the training program as proof.
- Candidates must have a letter of support from someone directly acquainted with the applicant’s work, accompanying the applications. The letter should specifically address the applicant’s knowledge and skills as a crisis interventionist, as well as other professional strengths.
- Candidates must complete the AAS Crisis Specialist Training
- Candidates must provide evidence of completing a minimum of 40 hours of training in Crisis Intervention, Suicide Prevention, rapport building, and safety planning. Experience may not be substituted for this training. Approved training includes the following:
- College-based courses at an accredited college (transcripts must be provided; classes within the past 3 years will be accepted)
- Crisis intervention training program provided by an AAS-Accredited center, or a center whose training is similar in scope or content but not limited to the following:
- Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk (RRSR).
- Firearms, Means Safety, and Suicide Prevention: A Clinical Workshop.
- ASIST, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training.
- Continuing Education training(s) offered through your organization, professional institutes, or conferences.
NOTE: Applications will be reviewed, and candidates will be notified of approval within 21 days. Applicants for certification must be actively engaged in providing direct service to people in crisis at least part-time. Staff who exclusively serve as trainers and/or supervisors are eligible for certification provided they have completed the required direct service experience.
All questions regarding applications should be directed to ATC@suicidology.org
If you would like to register a group of individuals for a Crisis Specialist Course, please contact ATC@suicidology.org for more information.
Crisis Specialist Certification Exam ONLY*
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- Completed Crisis Specialist Training within 12 months
- Uploaded Crisis Specialist Training certificate of attendance to exam application
- Meet all requirements for Crisis Specialist Training & Certification below
*The Training Only option must have been completed within the last 12 months
Maintaining the Certification
To maintain AAS crisis specialist certification, renewal must take place every 5 years. It is the responsibility of the crisis specialist to renew, keep track of their certificates, and are aware that no reminders will be sent. Certification will be renewed when documentation of the following is received:
- Completion of at least 40 hours of continuing education, since initial certification, within the crisis intervention field.
- Continued active work in the crisis field, including supervising and/or training crisis specialists. If there is a change in the certificate holder’s work status or location, AAS must be notified to assure continued certification.
- Payment of the recertification fee of $49 for AAS members, $79 for nonmembers.
- Completion of the recertification form which is found here.
Continuing Education:
CE credits may be earned for successful completion of the workshop component of the certification. Participants can earn 2.5 credits.
Nationally Certified Counselors: American Association of Suicidology has been approved by NBCC as an
Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5607. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. AAS is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Psychologists: The American Association of Suicidology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. AAS maintains responsibility for the program and its content.
Social worker credits: This program is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886455354-9770).
All questions regarding applications should be directed to ATC@suicidology.org
About CSC:
This course is designed for current and aspiring crisis specialists. The course begins by grounding crisis specialists in crisis theory. Building support skills along the way, candidates will be introduced to experiences callers may have, including suicidal thoughts, trauma, extreme states, altered realities, self-injury, and using substances. Candidates will learn screening and assessment strategies for substance use, suicide, and harm to others. These skills are foundational to crisis work and good decision-making in crisis situations. A thorough understanding of suicide, suicide assessment, and safety planning are central to the course, and candidates will leave with multiple assessment methods and a nuanced understanding of state and static risk for suicide. Following skill development, the certification course focuses on ethical and legal issues in crisis services, including perspectives that reframe burnout, respect autonomy, dignity, voice, and choice, and place people we serve at the center of our work.
- Candidates will be able to articulate multiple frameworks for supporting people in crisis.
- Candidates will be able to assess clients for suicide risk.
- Candidates will be able to identify crisis specialist ethics.