CREDENTIALING
Please verify you have the most current application manual and application documents prior to submission.
Purpose for Certification
The Prevention Credentialing Consortium of Georgia, Inc. (PCCG) works to advance prevention as a viable and effective professional discipline to benefit Georgia communities. It is the mission of PCCG to establish and promote the credentialing standards of excellence in the field of prevention. The purpose of the certification in prevention is to:
- Establish and recognize basic standards for professional competence in the prevention field and,
- Establish and confirm the credibility of the prevention profession with consumers, employers and funders.
Certification as a Preventionist is based on experience and competencies as set by the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC). All applicants are required to demonstrate their competency defined in this manual.
Is Certification portable? Reciprocity is available for Internationally Certified Prevention Specialist (ICPS) who have met the criteria for the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC & RC), that includes a computer-based examination about prevention. For more information, visit the IC & RC website at https://internationalcredentialing.org/reciprocity. Individuals moving to Georgia who have met the prevention certification requirements of an IC&RC Member Board in another state may become a Internationally Certified Prevention Specialist (ICPS) in Georgia. More information about reciprocity is found in the PCCG Application Manual.
Core Prevention Training
Every candidate must complete the following four core courses as part of the required training for each level of credential.
- Fundamentals of Prevention (12 contact hours) – This class covers basic prevention concepts, theories, strategies and the history of prevention.
- Ethics in the Prevention Field (6 contact hours) – This course covers ethical practices in relation to the field of prevention.
- Cultural Competency for the Prevention Professional (6 contact hours) – Course will cover the topics of cultural differences and how it relates to the field of prevention.
- Communications Skills for the Prevention Professional (6 contact hours) – Course will cover communication competence with various audiences, effective listening and public speaking, public awareness campaigns, facilitation and marketing.
Core classes must have been taken within two (2) years of the date of application.
The above training courses must have been approved by PCCG through the training provider successfully completing PCCG’s Training Approval Process. Applicants should look for references on course brochures, flyers, and announcements that the class has been approved by PCCG to insure receiving core prevention training credit.
Criteria Prevention Apprentice (PA)
This is an entry level/ pre-certification. The PA is not eligible for reciprocity with IC&RC states. Certificate is issued for a two-year period and is eligible for one additional two-year recertification. PA will need to apply for CP or ICPS to remain certified in Georgia. Those applying for a second two-year certificate must show progress toward applying for CP or ICPS either through additional training hours, or work experience, or both. PA recertification is primarily reserved for students in an academic environment whose access to additional training or work experience is limited. PA recertification applications must document attempts at additional training and work experience.
- Work/Volunteer Experience –There is no minimum requirement for initial certification at this level. At least 100 hours of paid or volunteer experience in planning or delivering prevention services is required for recertification at this level.
- Formal Education – There is no educational requirement for this level of certification.
- Education/Training – Thirty (30) contact hours of the Core Prevention Training Curriculum approved by PCCG is required for initial certification. Core classes must have been taken within two (2) years of the date of application. At least 18 additional contact hours of prevention-specific training is required for recertification.
- Supervised Practical Experience – There is no practicum required for this level of certification.
- References – A letter of recommendation from an instructor, a supervisor or volunteer coordinator must be sent with the application. This letter should document the character, professionalism and competency of the applicant.
- Code of Ethics – The applicant must read and sign the PCCG Code of Ethical Conduct included in the application packet.
- Interview/Testing – There are no interview or testing requirements for at this level.
Certification at Prevention Apprentice (PA) level:
$75 non-refundable processing fee due with application
Criteria Certified Preventionist (CP)
This certification is not eligible for reciprocity with IC&RC states.
- Work/Volunteer Experience – At least 1 year (2000 hours) of paid or volunteer experience in planning or delivering prevention services.
- Formal Education – Applicant must have attained a High School diploma or equivalent (ex. GED). This requirement will be waived if the applicant has previously been certified at the CPA level.
- Education/Training – At least 120 contact hours of prevention-specific training. Thirty (30) of those training hours must include the Core Prevention Training Curriculum approved by PCCG. Core classes must have been taken within two (2) years of the date of application. Twenty-four (24) hours must specifically relate to substance abuse prevention topics. At least ten (10) hours of training must be aligned to each of the six performance domains (for a minimum of sixty hours). Non-core hours must have been taken in the previous five(5) years. Applicants may take unlimited online courses.
- Supervised Practical Experience – There is no practicum required for this level of certification.
- References – Two (2) letters of recommendation from supervisors or volunteer coordinators must be sent with the application. This letter should document the character, professionalism and competency of the applicant.
- Code of Ethics – The applicant must read and sign the PCCG Code of Ethical Conduct included in the application packet.
- Interview/Testing – Applicant will demonstrate knowledge and skills based on the domains and core functions of prevention in an oral interview. There is no test requirement for this level of certification. Oral interviews may be in-person or by using Zoom virtual meeting platform and are recorded.
Certification at Certified Preventionist (CP) level:
$225 non-refundable processing fee due with application (includes oral interview fee)
Criteria Internationally Certified Prevention Specialist (ICPS)
This certification is eligible for reciprocity with IC&RC states.
- Work/Volunteer Experience – At least 2 years (4000 hours) of paid and volunteer experience in planning or delivering prevention services. No more than 6 months (500 hours) may be volunteer experience.
- Formal Education – Applicant must have a minimum of a Bachelors Degree in human services, health science, education, health care, nursing, public administration, social science, or other fields related to prevention. All college/university degrees must be earned through an accredited college/university that is recognized through the American Council on Education. ICPS candidates without a college or graduate degree may qualify if they have a high school diploma or its equivalent (i.e., GED) and 8,000 hours (4 years) of paid work experience during the six years immediately preceding their applications.
- Education/Training – At least 150 contact hours of prevention-specific training (taken within the past 5 years). Thirty(30) of those training hours must include the Core Prevention Training Curriculum approved by PCCG. Core classes must have been taken within two (2) years of the date of application. Twenty four (24) hours must be ATOD prevention specific with a minimum of ten (10) hours in each Domain. Non-core hours must have been taken in the previous five(5) years. Applicants may take unlimited online courses. ICPS candidates without a college or graduate degree may qualify if they have a high school diploma or its equivalent (i.e., GED) and 8,000 hours (4 years) of paid work experience during the six years immediately preceding their applications.
Some college/university courses may count toward training hours.
- One quarter hour of relevant college course = 10 contact hours
- One semester hour of relevant college course = 15 contact hours
College classes must have been taken within five (5) years of date of application.
- Supervised Practical Experience – There are two options for verification of practical experience. The first option is documentation of 120 hours of practical experience under the guidance of a supervisor or approved mentor credentialed at the ICPS level. The second option requires candidates to put together a portfolio of prevention-related work products they completed themselves, had the lead on or substantially contributed to. Work products will be validated by supervisors before being submitted by applicants. Practical experience and work products must relate to the six prevention domains and their respective core functions. The Domains are:
o Planning and Evaluation
o Education and Skill Development
o Communications
o Community Organization
o Public Policy and Environmental Change
o Professional Growth and Responsibility
More information about these two options can be found in the PCCG Application Manual, the ICPS Application and the Mentor Handbook.
- References – Two (2) letters of recommendation from supervisors or volunteer coordinators must be sent with the application. This letter should document the character, professionalism and competency of the applicant.
- Code of Ethics – The applicant must read and sign the PCCG Code of Ethical Conduct included in the application packet.
- Prevention Specialist Exam – Applicants will demonstrate knowledge and skills based on the domains and core functions of prevention by passing the IC&RC Prevention Specialist computer-based exam. Testing sites are available throughout Georgia. PCCG will pre-register applicants with IC&RC after their applications are complete and fees are paid.
Certification at Internationally Certified Prevention Specialist (ICPS):
$325 non-refundable processing fee due with application (includes fee for IC&RC computer based Prevention exam). If a preventionist does not pass the exam on his/her first try, he/she must wait 60 days and pay a fee of $125 to retake the exam.
PCCG Application Manual
ICPS Application Information Sheet
ICPS Application
ICPS Reference Form
Mentor Handbook
About Us
The Prevention Credentialing Consortium of Georgia (PCCG) is a 501(c)6 organization with committees covering credentialing, recertification, training, public relations, resource development and prevention ethics. A Board of Directors represents both the private and public sectors (including grass roots representation) in Georgia.
Our Mission
It is the mission of PCCG, Inc. to establish, promote, and sustain standards of excellence in the field of prevention in GA.
PCCG is an affiliate of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC).