About Crisis Specialist Training and Certification Course^©

The Crisis Specialist Training and Certification Course^© is designed for current and aspiring crisis specialists. The course begins by grounding learners in crisis theory. Building support skills along the way, learners will then be introduced to experiences callers may have, including suicidal thoughts, trauma, extreme states, altered realities, self-injury, and using substances. 

Participants 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.  

Learning Objectives:

• Learners will be able to articulate multiple frameworks for supporting people in crisis.  
• Learners will be able to assess clients for suicide risk.  
• Learners will be able to identify crisis specialist ethics.  

Training and Certification Course Pricing

This course is live in your on-demand classroom for 90 days and includes two test attempts. 

• AAS Members: $119  
• Non-Members: $179  
• AAS Members seeking CEs (APA): $139  
• Non-Members seeking CEs (APA): $199  
• Bulk Discount: 10+ participants 10% off   

If you would like to register a group of individuals for the Crisis Specialist Training and Certification Course©, complete a group request form. 

Certification

Participants will receive the Crisis Specialist Certification after passing the certification exam offered at the end of the training modules. A passing score on the exam requires correctly answering 80% of the questions, and participants are granted two attempts to achieve this. If certification exam is not passed within two attempts, a re-take of the course must be purchased for completion. Contact training@suicidology.org to coordinate.

Maintaining Your Certification

To maintain AAS Crisis Specialist Certification, recertification must take place every 3 years. At AAS, we are dedicated to upholding the highest standards for crisis specialists. To maintain your certification, you will be required to complete the training and pass the exam once every three years. We are committed to ensuring that our content and testing remain aligned with the latest research and best practices, evolving alongside the field. In keeping with our commitment, we will make revisions to the course and exam every few years to ensure its relevance and effectiveness. 

Continuing Education

CE credits may be earned for successful completion of the training component of the certification. Participants can earn 2.5 credits.  

APA:  The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. AAS maintains responsibility for the program and its content.

For additional information or questions email training@suicidology.org.