Senior Certified Prevention Specialist (SCPS)

Requirements
Applicant must live or work at least 51% of the time within the state of New Mexico.

Prerequisite
Applicant must hold and maintain in good standing the CPS credential at the IC&RC reciprocal level.  There is no exam required for this credential. 

Experience
Five (5) years/10,000 hours of prevention experience across the prevention domains.  All prevention specific trainings/workshops/education must be completed within 5 years of application submission

Education
A high school diploma or equivalent is required and verification must be submitted. 

• 120 contact hours of prevention specific education.
• Fifty (50) hours of this education must be Alcohol Tobacco & Other Drugs (ATOD) specific
• Six (6) hours must be in Prevention Ethics. 
• Remaining hours must be additional/other prevention trainings

College/University credits from an applicable ATOD prevention-related course may be applied for a maximum of 45 hours​

• ​One semester credit of relevant college course is equivalent to 15 contact hours
• Three semester credits are equivalent to 45 clock hours. 
• One quarter credit is equivalent to 10 clock hours. 
• An official transcript from the college/university is required.

Supervised Practical Experience
Verification of 144 hours of supervision specific to the prevention domains (a minimum of 10 hours in each of the six IC&RC domains) 

Domains are as follows:

• Planning and Evaluation
• Education and Skill Development
• Communications
• Community Organization
• Public Policy and Environmental Change
• Professional Growth and Responsibility

References
Applicant must provide three (3) letters of recommendation from a supervisor, peer, or an outside agency.  These letters must be sent with the application. The letter should document the character, professionalism, and competency of the applicant.

Fees
Certification Fee: $140.00

Senior Certified Prevention Specialist (SCPS):
Twenty-eight (28) hours must be in ATOD Prevention or General Prevention hours
Six (6) hours must be in Prevention Ethics and Responsibilities
Six (6) hours must be Leadership, Management, or Supervisor Skills related to the Behavioral Health Field