Tobacco Treatment Training Program

About the program

The Certified Tobacco Treatment Training Program (CTTTP) fills a need in West Virginia, which has one of the highest tobacco use rates in the nation. The goal is to train healthcare providers to treat tobacco use disorder with evidence-based tobacco cessation strategies.

Tobacco Treatment Specialists work in a variety of settings including hospitals, community health centers, medical and dental practices, educational settings, social service agencies, treatment centers, quit lines, mental health centers. In addition to providing treatment, specialists educate others about tobacco dependence treatments.

The Council for Tobacco Treatment Training Programs  granted accreditation to West Virginia University's dental school where trainers began offering certification courses in 2018. Now, the CTTTP strategies are integrated within dental, dental hygiene, pharmacy and physician assistant curricula at West Virginia University. Members of the dental hygiene and physician assistant classes of 2022 were the first students to graduate as certified tobacco treatment specialists.

Continuing education courses and prerequisite

West Virginia University School of Dentistry’s Certified Tobacco Treatment Training Program is an online, self-paced course for professionals in the fields of education, dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and social work.  

Participants earn a Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) certificate to provide effective, evidence-based tobacco treatment interventions to assist with tobacco use disorder/vaping cessation. CTTTP consists of a minimum of 24 continuing education hours. Participants must have a minimum of an associate degree.

View the online brochure with registration information.

Tobacco Treatment Specialist Certification Renewal

Every two years, TTSs must upload 16 hours of motivational interviewing / tobacco related continuing education credit and provide a $25 renewal fee to maintain their certification.

16 CEU credit upload:

  • Log into the Certified Tobacco Treatment Training Program's SOLE site at https://sole.hsc.wvu.edu/   
    • For Sole Support: email SOLEsupport@hsc.wvu.edu or call 304 293-2491
  • Select the Assessment tab, select Assignment to upload your certificates/transcripts proving sixteen credit hours regarding tobacco-related/ motivational interviewing continuing education.
  • Select the link to pay the $25 certification renewal fee.

Once the sixteen CE hours are verified and your certification renewal fee payment is confirmed, your renewed TTS certificate will be emailed to you.

Training goals

Participants who successfully complete the WVU School of Dentistry’s Tobacco Training Program can:

  • understand the science behind tobacco addiction, and nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
  • inform clients/students about the consequences of tobacco use disorder.
  • develop effective, individualized tobacco use disorder treatment plans for all types of tobacco and nicotine use.
  • track abstinence progress and outcome measures
  • educate other providers and the public across a wide-range of settings.

Earning a badge

A square gray badge features a no-tobacco use image, a blue flying WVU and the words Tobacco Treatment Specialist

Pursue a micro-credential in treating tobacco-use addiction and be eligible for a WVU Badge. 

A micro-credential and WVU Tobacco Treatment Badge are components to show patients, employers, students and others you have invested additional time beyond your degree to learn specific skills in tobacco cessation and treatment of tobacco and nicotine addiction. 

Upon completing the required criteria, you can tout your tobacco-use treatment skills by displaying your badge on social media sites, performance evaluations and resumes. It is another element to set yourself apart from other job candidates or colleagues.

Required Criteria:

  • Full participation in the WVU School of Dentistry’s Certified Tobacco Treatment Program (24 hour course)
  • Achievement of a minimum score of 80% on the WVU Tobacco Treatment Specialist Certification Examination
  • Proclamation of a tobacco-free lifestyle

Learn more about course outcomes on the tobacco treatment specialist badge page. 

Learn more about the overall WVU badge program.