FAQs
THE CRITERIA:
Is TF-CBT Therapist Certification available to international applicants?
No. At present, only mental health professionals in the USA and Canada can become certified TF-CBT therapists. However, it does not mean that TF-CBT therapist certification won’t be available in other countries in the future.
Are graduate students eligible for TF-CBT certification?
No. Only mental health professionals with a master’s or doctoral degree who are licensed in their home state. However, graduate students or post-doctoral fellows who received two days of TF-CBT training and at least 12 TF-CBT consultation/supervision sessions from approved trainers/supervisors during their graduate training will be eligible for certification once they have completed the other requirements, including their degree, and are licensed in their state.
If I have lost my certificate of completion for TF-CBTWeb2.0, how can I obtain another copy?
The website for TF-CBTWeb2.0 is located at https://tfcbt2.musc.edu/. Please email their web administrator at [email protected] to inquire how to obtain another copy.
Where can I find out about upcoming two-day TF-CBT training events?
Upcoming trainings will be continuously listed in the “Training and Consultation” section of this website.
I have participated in a TF-CBT training but I don’t know if the trainer is a graduate of the TF-CBT Train-the-Trainer (TTT) Program. How can I find this out?
Please contact the TF-CBT Manager at [email protected] to obtain this information. Please note that if there is any question, it is recommended that the qualifications as an approved national trainer/consultant be confirmed with the TF-CBT manager prior to participating in training and consultation calls.
I have participated in a one-day, live TF-CBT training. Is that sufficient to meet the live TF-CBT training criterion?
No. The live clinical training must be at least two days.
I have attended a two-day TF-CBT training. How can I access consultation and/or join consultation group?
Please contact your TF-CBT trainer to inquire about the availability of a consultation call group to join. If they do not have an open consultation call group, please check for available consultation call groups listed on this website under Training & Consultation.
What happens if I miss a consultation call?
You are expected to attend all consultation calls, but 3 missed calls due to vacation, clinical emergency, or illness are acceptable.
If I do not complete at least 9 consultation calls with my original call group, can I make-up the remaining calls with another call group?
No, you can’t complete some calls in one consultation group and then complete the rest of the required calls with a different consultation group. If you do not complete at least 9 calls, you will need to start over with another consultation group.
How can I find out if the person who led my TF-CBT consultation calls is an approved TF-CBT consultant or an approved TF-CBT supervisor?
Please contact the TF-CBT Manager at [email protected] to obtain this information.
Is there a maximum amount of time allowed between the two day training and starting consultation calls in order to be eligible for certification?
The consultation call series must occur within 2 years of the dates of the training.
My consultation call series has not ended, but I have already completed the required 9 calls. Can I apply for certification now or do I have to wait until after the last scheduled consultation call?
No. The consultation call series must have ended prior to applying for certification. To be eligible for TF-CBT therapist certification the series of consultation calls must be over and you need to have participated in at least 9 of those calls.
After completing face-to-face training and consultation calls (or learning collaborative), is there a time limit for becoming certified?
No. You may apply to become certified at any time after completing all of the criteria listed on this website under “Certification Process”.
I am using TF-CBT in group format. Does this count toward TF-CBT certification?
Yes, you may count one TF-CBT treatment case provided in group format toward TF-CBT certification, provided that:
a) the trauma narration was done in individual “break out” sessions;
b) the parent was included in treatment and
c) the clinician applying for certification worked directly with one parent/child dyad.
I have completed TF-CBT with three children but in only two cases did the caretaker participate. Is that sufficient to meet the criterion related to number of cases?
Yes. We require completion of at least three cases with TF-CBT and the participation of caretakers in at least two of the cases.
I work in a residential treatment program and parents rarely participate in treatment. However, I often include direct care staff in TF-CBT treatment with youth. Is it acceptable to count these towards cases in which caregivers were included in treatment?
Yes. For therapists working in residential settings, including direct care staff can be counted as including caregivers.
I have completed all of the steps, how much does TF-CBT Therapist Certification cost?
The total cost for certification is $250.00 – You are asked to pay $125.00 when you submit your application and the other $125.00 is due when you take the exam for certification.
THE APPLICATION:
Where do I find the application?
You can access the online application after registering with a username and password on our website.
When do I submit my application?
Although you can register with a username and password on our website, please do not submit the application for TF-CBT therapist certification until all of the criteria for certification (including the training, consultation, and TF-CBT case completions) have been met.
On the application, what are you asking for under “name(s) of instruments?”
In regard to “instruments”, what we are looking for are the names of the standardized instruments that you have used to measure trauma symptoms pre- and post- treatment intervention (TF-CBT).
Do youth have to meet established clinical-cut off scores on standardized instruments in order for treatment cases to count?
No specific score is required on standardized instruments in order for a case to count towards TF-CBT certification, as long as the instrument was used to assess outcomes pre- and post-TF-CBT treatment.
How secure is your website regarding the transmission of payments (Security Policy)?
Your payment and personal information is always safe. Our Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) software is the industry standard and among the best software available today for secure commerce transactions. It encrypts all of your personal information, including credit card number, name, and address, so that it cannot be read over the internet.
What is your Refund Policy?
All payments are final. Accordingly, please verify that your TF-CBT trainer, consultant, and/or supervisor is approved. If you have any doubts, contact the TF-CBT Manager at [email protected]
How do I obtain a receipt for my payment?
Receipts are automatically sent to the email address provided at the time of payment. If you did not receive a receipt, please contact the TF-CBT Manager at [email protected].
Is there a time limit from when my application has been submitted and approved to when I have to take the exam?
No. Once your online application has been submitted and approved, you are able to log in to our website and take the exam at any time. However, we do recommend not waiting too long.
THE EXAM:
Is there any way I can prepare to take the TF-CBT certification test?
Some preparation for the certification test is a good idea. Reviewing the slides from the live training and the modules from the web-based training can be helpful as well as reviewing any notes you have from the consultation calls. Reviewing the TF-CBT treatment manual “Treating Trauma and Traumatic Grief in Children and Adolescents (2nd Ed.)” (Cohen, Mannarino, & Deblinger, 2017) prior to the test is also encouraged.
How much time will I have to take the TF-CBT Knowledge-Based Test?
You will have 2 hours. If you experience a power outage and are not able to complete the test, please contact the TF-CBT Manager at [email protected]. If you require accommodations for extended time to take the test, please contact the TF-CBT Manager at [email protected].
I just passed my exam but I’m not connected to a printer at this time. How do I get my certificate?
You can access your certificate at any time by logging into the website.
If I do not pass the TF-CBT Knowledge-Based Test, will I be permitted to take it again?
Yes. You will be permitted to take it again six months later but you will be required to pay a $50.00 retest fee to take it a second time.
Can I apply for recertification before my current certification expires?
Yes. Once you have become re-certified, the date of expiration of the new certificate will be five years from the date of the expiration of the old certificate.
Can I still apply for recertification if my TF-CBT therapist certification has expired?
Yes. Once you have completed the recertification modules, the date of expiration of the new certificate will be five years from when you have completed the required education.
Are CEUs required to maintain certification?
No. The TF-CBT therapist certification is good for 5 years, during which time there are no trainings or CEUs required to maintain certification
How do I update my contact information?
You are able to change your contact information by logging into the website https://tfcbt.org/ and clicking the link on your dashboard. Please contact the TF-CBT Manager at [email protected] if you have any difficulties making these changes
RECERTIFICATION:
How can I find out more about the recertification process?
Certified therapists can see information about the recertification process after logging into the website. Additionally, emails are sent out a few months prior to when a clinician’s certification expires that will also outline the recertification steps.
How long after my certification has expired do I have to apply for recertification?
There is no time limit. You can apply for recertification at any time.
Is there any other way to get re-certified other than taking the online education modules?
No. You must complete the recertification modules online in order to get re-certified.
Is there a test that needs to be completed for recertification?
No.
Is there a fee to become recertified?
Yes. The recertification fee is $100.00.