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).
Training is one way to qualify for certification, but it is not the only option. Depending on your background and the certification you are pursuing, you may also qualify through an employer-based program, military medical training, or relevant work experience. Some certifications may require additional hands-on experience or documentation.
Not sure which pathway applies to you? An NPS Advisor can help you understand your options and next steps.
Eligibility requirements vary by certification. State, employer, and facility requirements may also apply. NPS provides certification testing and credential issuance. NPS does not provide or supervise the independent training programs listed on this page. Certification does not guarantee employment, licensure, or employer acceptance. Read the NPS Candidate Handbook
The first step toward becoming a Certified Behavioral Health Specialist (CBHS) is to make sure you meet the applicable NPS eligibility requirements. NPS is not a school or training program; NPS is an examination provider and national certification agency. Candidates may qualify through an applicable education, training, or experience pathway described in the NPS Candidate Handbook. Candidates in Jackson, Mississippi should confirm the details of any education or training provider directly with that provider.
When choosing education or training related to behavioral health, review the provider’s curriculum, hands-on requirements, schedule, policies, and any other details that matter to your preparation. NPS is not a school or training program; NPS is an examination provider and national certification agency. Eligibility for NPS certification is determined by the applicable requirements and pathways in the NPS Candidate Handbook, which may include qualifying education, training, or experience. Completing a training program or receiving a Certificate of Completion does not by itself make a candidate NPS certified. An eligible candidate must satisfy the applicable NPS requirements and successfully pass the certification exam. Certification through National Performance Specialists (NPS) is separate from the candidate’s independent training provider.
If you are planning to attend a behavioral health specialist training program and would like an NPS advisor to double check that the program is legit, contact us today.
Upon your successful completion of a behavioral health training class, you will get a Certificate of Completion. Your Certificate of Completion does not make you ‘Certified’. This is a unconditionally common misunderstanding. A Certificate of Completion is used as proof of successful completion of a behavioral health training school and is required to sit for the national certification exam for individuals possessing no experience in the field.
NPS is not a school or training program. NPS is an examination provider and national certification agency.
Receive your NPS national certification, with online verification available within one hour of passing the exam.
Meet the baseline requirements, then follow an eligibility pathway that applies to you.
High school diploma or equivalent.
Under 18? An age waiver may be required.
EDUCATION / PROGRAM
A qualifying education, employer, apprenticeship, or military training pathway may meet eligibility requirements.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Qualifying supervised work experience in the field may meet the experience pathway.
1 Yr In Last 3 Yrs
2 Yrs In Last 5 Yrs
FUTURE EXPERIENCE
Where permitted by the applicable NPS pathway, required hands-on experience may be completed within the allowed 180-day window.
180-Day Window
NPS is an examination provider and national certification agency, not a school or training program. Eligible candidates register with NPS, prepare for the applicable certification exam, take the secure proctored exam, and receive certification after meeting the applicable requirements and passing the exam. The NPS certification package includes study materials, unlimited practice exams, and three certification exam attempts. The current listed price is $225.00. Certification demonstrates that the candidate met the applicable NPS certification requirements; employment and employer requirements remain separate.
Click to learn more about becoming a Certified Behavioral Health Specialists (CBHS).
After registering for the certification exam, use the study materials, practice questions, and practice exams available to you to prepare for the exam. Focus your review on the applicable exam content and use practice testing to identify areas that need additional study. NPS NPS candidates should use the resources available in their NPS account. After a passing result, the NPS certification is available through the candidate’s account and can be verified online through NPS Verify. Results and certificates are not emailed.
*NPS study materials and practice exams are included as optional preparation resources. Candidates are not required to access or complete them before taking the certification examination. After completing identity verification and receiving application approval, eligible candidates may proceed directly to the exam. Use of preparation resources does not guarantee a passing score or certification.
After earning your Certified Behavioral Health Specialist (CBHS) certification, you may use the credential as evidence of your certification in behavioral health. Employment opportunities, job duties, work schedules, compensation, licensing requirements, and employer requirements vary by location and employer. NPS certification does not guarantee employment or a particular salary. Candidates in Jackson, Mississippi should review applicable local requirements and individual employer expectations.
NPS works with multiple staffing agencies to help our members find a career in the behavioral health field.
NPS CBHS certification is issued for a two-year certification period. Begin reviewing your renewal options before your certification expires. Depending on the certification and your eligibility, current NPS renewal pathways may include continuing education, examination, or qualifying employment. Review the applicable NPS renewal page and the Candidate Handbook for the pathway and documentation requirements that apply to you. The current listed renewal price is $225.00. Renewal information and available options are accessed through your NPS account. Renewing You CBHS Certification.
A Certified Behavioral Health Specialist Instructor (CBHSI) is a highly capable Behavioral Health Specialist with over 5 years of experience in the field. Certified Behavioral Health Specialist Instructors can instruct for or own their own school. They’re responsible for ensuring that students in their class are retaining the guidance provided by their curriculum. Every class in Jackson, Mississippi should tell their students with 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 undergo the entire process online. If you would like to request 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.
