Overview
Upon completion of registration, you will receive an email confirming your registration. If you do not receive this within 24 hours, please email NDEP@mayo.edu.
What to Expect:
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5-weeks prior to the training date, you will receive an email containing steps on how to access the 11required modules. These must be completed the Friday before the training.
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Virtual Training: There will be a required pre-course meeting the week before the training to test connectivity and technology.
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Pre-Course Meeting: Tuesday, October 28th, 2025 @ 12:00-12:30 PM (CDT)
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The 3-day live/live-streamed training will take place from 8 am – 5 pm (Central/MN time).
Overview
Since 2005, The Mayo Clinic Tobacco Treatment Specialist Certification Training has trained over 4,000 professionals to treat tobacco dependence. This training is an accredited program that includes online learning, and a three-day livestream training focused on the skills needed to treat tobacco dependence effectively. The course accommodates different learning styles and offers a flexible schedule during the online component. This training prepares learners for national certification if they choose to pursue it. Learners who complete the training and complete 240 practice hours receive the Mayo Clinic Tobacco Treatment Specialist Certification.
Accreditation
The training is accredited by the Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development and the Council for Tobacco Treatment Training Programs (CTTTP). The course has been approved for 29 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits for 2025. Additional credit types available include AMA, APA, ANCC, and ACPE.
Prerequisites
To take this training, learners must be at least 6 months smoke-free and have an associate’s degree. Some exceptions to the academic requirement are:
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High School diploma plus 4,000 hours (2 years full-time) of human services or health care work experience.
Registration Fee:
The cost of the training is $1,250. The registration fee covers the cost of the training and all course materials. The Mayo Clinic Certification examination is also included in the course fee. Upon passing the exam you will receive a Certificate of Completion that is required to pursue National Certification.
Cancellation Policy
Registration Cancellations must be received in writing and sent to NDEP@Mayo.edu. Participants who cancel registration 21 days or more before the start date will receive a full refund (minus a $100 administrative fee). No refunds are granted for cancellations received within 21 days prior to the training start date.
Training Curriculum
Live Program Schedule
(subject to change)
Step 1: Online Training – 11 modules (approximately 1 hour per module)
Must complete the online training prior to attending the onsite training. Modules available 5 weeks before training.
- Chronic Disease
- Neurobiology of Addiction
- Non-cigarette Tobacco Products
- Pharmacotherapy
- E-cigarettes
- Electronic Nicotine Delivery Devices
- Second-hand Smoke
- Motivational Interviewing
- Evidence-based Practice
- Building and Sustaining Tobacco Treatment Services
- Ethics
Step 2: Livestream Training
This component of the training is highly interactive with participants learning how to assess and treat patients with tobacco use disorders including topics on:
- Motivational Interviewing - The Basic Language of Behavior Change
- Behavior Change Counseling and Group Counseling
- Assessment and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence
- Interactive Small Group Sessions
- Interventions - Working With Challenging Patients
- Current Trends and Challenges in Tobacco Dependence
- How to Work With Special Populations Including Pregnancy, Adolescents, and Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
Mayo Clinic faculty educators are selected for their commitment to teaching as well as clinical practice and research. Our team consists of physicians, master-level counselors who are Mayo Clinic Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialists, and other Mayo faculty.
Accreditation
Accreditation Statement:
In support of improving patient care, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
AMA - Other (Live/Livestream and Online Content)
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science designates this live activity for a maximum of 29.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nurses:
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science designates this activity for a maximum of 29.0 ANCC contact hours. Nurses should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Psychologists:
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
This activity is approved for a maximum of 29.0 credits. Credit is awarded only for actual instructional time.
Pharmacists:
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science designates this educational activity for a maximum of 29.0 ACPE Knowledge based contact hours. Participants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
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Course Start Date |
Pharmacy UAN |
Pharmacy Tech UAN |
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11/4/25 |
JA0000238-0000-25-005-H99-P |
JA0000238-0000-25-005-H99-T |
Mayo Certification
Certification
Below is a list of four mandatory requirements to become a Mayo Clinic Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist:
- Minimum academic requirement: Associate degree in any field.
- Completion of both the online and the live training
- Pass the Mayo Clinic Certification Examination
- Must score at least an 80%.
- Participants must take the certification exam within 14 days after the last day of the live training.
- Upon successfully passing the exam, a Certificate of Completion will be provided to the participant. This document is available on the Mayo Certification website.
- Submit 240 practice hours. These are hours that must be acquired within 2 years after participants have successfully completed the course.
NAT'L Certification
National Certification
Individuals who complete the Mayo Tobacco Treatment Specialist training have the option to pursue national certification. For more information, please visit their website below:
- Tobacco Treatment Certified Professional by the American Heart Association (CPAHA)
- National Certification in Nicotine and Tobacco Treatment (NCNTT) – NAADAC
FAQ
How do I get on the waitlist? Please email us at ndep@mayo.edu or call 507-266-1093 to ask for waitlist availability.
How do I secure a spot in the program? Register online and make a payment.
Payment: All major credit cards are accepted.
Is Mayo Clinic's TTS Certification training accredited? Yes, we are accredited by the Council for Tobacco Treatment Training Programs (CTTTP) and Mayo Clinic School of Professional Development.
What is the length of the on-site training and where is the training held? The training is a combination of online learning (10 approximate hours) along with a three-day on-site training (19 approximate hours) which is held at one of the Mayo Clinic's campuses in either Rochester, Minnesota, Jacksonville, Florida, Scottsdale, Arizona, or Phoenix, Arizona. Currently most courses are being held in a virtual setting.
Does the program offer TTS trainings elsewhere if requested? Yes, for those organizations wishing to have several staff trained, we can travel and bring our training to you. For further information, please contact the Nicotine Dependence Center (NDC) Education Program at 800-344-5984 or 507-266-1093 and please ask for the TTS Program Coordinator. You may also email us at ndep@mayo.edu.
What is a customized workshop? If you are not needing a full TTS training, we can do a customized 1-2 day workshop offerings on a variety of topics taken from our TTS training. We do many customized workshops focusing on Motivational Interviewing - Basic Coaching Skills, Facilitating Health Behavior Change, and Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. Please contact our Program Director, Tim Milbrandt, at 507-266-1093 to discuss your specific needs.
Testing/Retesting:
What is the passing rate? 80 percent passing rate is required.
How soon do I need to take the test after completing the training? Participants are allowed 2 attempts to pass the Certification exam. Both attempts must be completed within 14 days after the last day of the training.
Practice Hours:
The Practice Hours form requires the Tobacco Treatment Specialist to practice experiences that fall within the scope of the 11 core competencies developed by ATTUD. What kind of work counts toward the required 240 hours? What kind of work counts toward the required 240 hours?
How many practice hours are required to become certified? We require a minimum of 240 practice hours completed post-training. Hours acquired prior to attending the training are not acceptable. When 240 hours are acquired, fill out the practice hour form and submit for approval. Once the hours are approved, participants will be granted TTS Certification by Mayo Clinic.
What is the deadline for acquiring the minimum practice hours? Participants have two years post-training to acquire the minimum practice hours needed for certification.
What type of practice hours are not accepted? Classroom teaching, working at a health fair or exhibit booth, or working on public or organizational policy are not accepted.
Academic degree: Please indicate highest academic degree when completing online registration form. Although official transcripts are not required initially, we will conduct random audits so participants may be required to submit official transcripts if randomly selected.
What is the minimum educational requirement needed to acquire certification? Associate's degree or higher, in any field. LPNs without an Associate degree are also eligible. For participants that do not meet the minimum academic degree requirement, please contact us at ndep@mayo.edu to request an Educational Exception Agreement form to complete for consideration of an exception.
Recertify:
What does it cost to recertify? Current fee is $35.00.
How often do I need to apply for recertification? Every two years.
How many continuing education hours do I need to acquire to recertify? 18 continuing education hours (CEHs) every two years.
Continuing Education Hours are approved as follows:
Tobacco-focused courses: The program approves 100% credit for the following types of CEHs
- Tobacco-focused courses.
- Tobacco-related college course credits that fit our CEH guidelines; 1 credit = 12, 2 credit = 24, 3 credit = 36, 4 credit = 48
Non-tobacco courses: The program approves only 50% credit for the following types of CEHs
- General or specific addiction courses, training, or workshops
- Motivational interviewing courses/training or workshops
- Health behavior, wellness, prevention and public health courses/training or workshops.
If I attend a motivational interviewing (MI) course, will the continuing education hours be approved for 100 percent credit or 50 percent credit? The NDC program approves 100 percent credit for tobacco-focused MI courses. If it is not a tobacco-focused MI course, only 50 percent credit is approved. If the title of the course doesn't reflect that it's tobacco-focused, please submit learning objectives.
Can I recertify if my certification is expired? If a participant does not recertify within the two-year time frame, and certification expires; participants will have an additional 6 months to recertify at a higher fee of $100.00. After this six-month grace period, participants will need to retake and successfully complete both the online and the on-site components of the training. Participants will also need to pass the certification examination. If 240 practice hours were approved from the previous certification time frame, those hours will count toward certification status.
Cancellation/Refund:
Will I receive a full refund if I cancel a course in which I am already enrolled? If for any reason a participant is unable to participate in the course and needs to cancel registration, we will accept cancellations up until 21 days prior to the first day of the training. No refunds will be granted after that time. A full refund (minus $100 administrative fee) will be given. The cancellation request must be received in writing to the following email: ndep@mayo.edu. We reserve the right to cancel or postpone any course due to unforeseen circumstances. In the unlikely event that the Nicotine Dependence Center Education Program must cancel or postpone this course, we will fully refund the registration fee.
