Behavioral Health Specialists play a key role in the medical field. Their main responsibilities include assessing patients’ mental health, implementing crisis intervention strategies, and coordinating therapeutic care to support emotional and behavioral well-being. Here we will outline the entire process of becoming a Certified Behavioral Health Specialist (CBHS).
The first step to your career as a Certified Behavioral Health Specialist (CBHS) is enrolling in a state-approved training program. Elizabethport, New Jersey offers numerous accredited courses designed to prepare you for this role. These programs generally include 40–80 hours of classroom instruction. Class sizes typically range from 10 to 30 students, ensuring focused support and hands-on learning.
When evaluating a behavioral health specialist training program, it’s important to be thorough and well-prepared. There are thousands of programs across the country, but not 100% provide the vital training and practical experience opportunities needed for a career in behavioral health. In fact, some programs fail to provide supervised practicum hours, which are fundamental for gaining practical experience in patient assessment, crisis intervention, and therapeutic communication. Without these practicum hours, you will not meet the required requirements for national CBHS certification — even if you complete the course.
One of the most crucial factors to consider when evaluating a program is its accreditation and adherence to quality benchmarks. Accreditation is a quality assurance granted to schools or programs that meet established national standards of education, hands-on training, and educational rigor. In behavioral health, attending an recognized training program ensures that you receive proper education and clinical experience aligned with healthcare best practices.
After finishing a behavioral health specialist training program, you will receive a certificate of completion, which is often confused. This document does not make you nationally certified. It simply verifies that you’ve finished training and allows you to take the national certification exam — especially important for those with zero experience.
To become certified, students must pass an exam from a recognized agency such as National Performance Specialists (NPS). NPS helps define national standards, develops the certification exams, and maintains a registry of certified professionals.
Certification must be updated every two years, and completing continuing education is a mandatory requirement for renewal if the a certification holder does not wish to take an additional exam. This ensures that Certified Behavioral Health Specialist remain current with the latest industry standards, procedures, and guidelines. Most certifying agencies provide well-defined guidelines on the total and type of continuing education hours required, making it simple for professionals to maintain their credentials.
If you are planning to attend a behavioral health specialist training program and would like an NPS adviser to double check that the program is legit, contact us today.
Upon gainful completion of a behavioral health training school, you will earn a Certificate of Completion. Your Certificate of Completion does not make you ‘Certified’. This is a extremely common misunderstanding. A Certificate of Completion is used as proof of your successful completion of a behavioral health training school and is required to attempt the national certification exam for individuals possessing no experience in the field.
To get certified, a behavioral health specialist must have their competency put to the test by a third-party authorizing agency, like NPS. Once certified, a behavioral health specialist must update their certification each two years by completing Continuing Education. Continuing education can be completed in several ways, such as on-the-job workshops, online courses, webinars, or specialized training modules. These programs often include the latest best practices, safety protocols, and technological advancements in behavioral health. Many professional credentialing bodies and certification agencies provide regularly updated continuing education resources to help behavioral health specialist maintain and advance their skills.
There are a variety of certification agencies that behavioral health specialist can choose to become certified with, but selecting the best one can positively influence your career.
Pursuing behavioral health specialist certification not only proves your expertise and commitment to quality care, but also opens doors to ongoing professional development. By regularly engaging in continuing education and professional growth opportunities, behavioral health specialist can sharpen their capabilities, grow their professional network, and set themselves up for advancement within the healthcare field.
Many healthcare employers prefer certified candidates, making certification an important step toward becoming a strong applicant in the field.
The cost to become NPS Certified is $200.00 and includes a comprehensive study guide, unlimited practice exams, three final certification exam attempts, a professional resume revision, and job placement assistance. The entire process can be completed 100% online through the NPS learning management system, and is mobile friendly, allowing you to prepare on your schedule and from the comfort of home. Be sure to explore whether your certifying agency provides included study tools or if there are separate charges for premium materials.
Click to learn more about becoming a Certified Behavioral Health Specialists (CBHS).
Once you have registered for the competency exam, take advantage of a wide range of study resources to boost your readiness. Many credentialing agencies offer resources such as thorough study guides, digital flashcards, practice questions, and interactive review platforms. When choosing prep tools, look for materials that match the exam’s content outline and focus on both academic material and practical skills.
Consider following a study schedule that incorporates consistent study sessions, targeted practice in weaker areas, and regular use of complete practice exams to replicate the real test environment. This approach will help increase your confidence and ensure you’re well prepared for exam day.
In addition, mock exams are invaluable for mirroring the real test environment and pinpointing areas where you need further review. Some agencies, like NPS, offer unlimited practice exams, while others charge extra for practice attempts.
After you have passed the certification exam, your credentials are inputted in the national registry and a digital copy of your official certification is downloadable in your account. Your digital copy, and your NPS transcripts, should be downloaded and printed for use as proof of certification.
Now that you’re a Certified Behavioral Health Specialists (CBHS), you’re ready to start your medical career in Elizabethport, New Jersey. The field of behavioral health is an excellent entry point into the medical industry, commonly pursued by aspiring nurses, nurse aides, medical assistants, and medical laboratory technicians. Certified behavioral health specialists are in great demand across the healthcare industry due to increased access to healthcare, a rise in senior patients, and a rise in lab testing. This rising demand supports a steady job market, making behavioral health a reliable and worthwhile career choice.
Behavioral Health Specialists typically are scheduled for a standard 40-hour week and earn an average annual salary of approximately $42,590, though wages can differ depending on region and experience. With increasing5 prospects and a brief training period, behavioral health is a smart way to begin a meaningful healthcare career.
NPS works with multiple staffing agencies to help our members find a career in the behavioral health field.
Certified Behavioral Health Specialists will have to renew their CBHS Certification after two years. A behavioral health specialist should start the process at least 30 days prior to the week their certification expires. This will allow the behavioral health specialist satisfactory time to attend their continuing education hours and take their renewal assessment. You will not have to go back to a behavioral health specialist course or attend a class to renew your certification.
The renewal process can be completed from start to finish online in the NPS learning management system. The cost to renew your certification for the new two year time period is $200.00. Renewing ensures your employer that you are dedicated to updating your knowledge in the behavioral health specialist field.
If your certification expires, many certifying agencies offer reinstatement options. The process typically involves fulfilling any outstanding continuing education requirements, filing a renewal application, and covering a reinstatement fee. It’s important to check with your certifying body for specific procedures and timeframes to restore your active status.
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A Certified Behavioral Health Specialist Instructor (CBHSI) is a highly gifted Behavioral Health Specialist with more than 5 years of experience in the field. Certified Behavioral Health Specialist Instructors can work for or own their own school. They’re responsible for ensuring that students in their class are retaining the instruction provided by their curriculum. Every class in Elizabethport, New Jersey should provide students details about the instructors background and credentials.
If a behavioral health specialist meets the requirements and wishes to become a Certified Behavioral Health Specialist Instructor (CBHSI) they can finalize the entire process online. If you would like to talk with someone regarding the process, contact us today.
Click to learn more about becoming a Certified Behavioral Health Specialist Instructor (CBHSI)).
National Performance Specialists is also partnered with the American Red Cross to provide job placement assistance to NPS Members and to assist the American Red Cross in recruiting quality candidates across the United States.
All NPS certification programs are proudly listed within the Certification Finder by CareerOneStop. CareerOneStop is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration and is a proud partner of the AmericanJobCenter network.
