Earn your nationally recognized NPS CBHS certification through on-demand online testing with remote proctoring.
Get your exam results within one hour and, after successfully completing all certification requirements, receive same-day certification and credential verification.
Free optional study modules, unlimited practice exams, and three certification exam attempts are included. Already prepared? Eligible candidates can proceed directly to the certification exam after application approval.
Certified Behavioral Health Specialist (CBHS) Certification
$225Registration Includes:
NPS is not a school or training program. NPS is an examination provider and national certification agency.
Receive education, training, or experience in the field.
Meet the NPS eligibility requirements listed in the Candidate Handbook.
Take the secure proctored NPS certification exam.
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
Obtaining a CBHS certification demonstrates competency within the behavioral health field. CBHS credential holders have demonstrated a satisfactory understanding of the content domains that encompass the tasks and knowledge requirements of Behavioral Health Specialists.
Earning your CBHS through National Performance Specialists provides a national certification credential that employers, schools, and other organizations can verify through NPS Verify and demonstrates that you have met the applicable NPS certification requirements.
All NPS initial & renewal certification exams are remote proctored. NPS Remote Proctoring allows you to take your certification exam from the comfort of your home. Our advanced system provides you with 3 certification exam attempts and on-demand testing so you can test anytime without scheduling or going to a testing center.
As advancements in medical technology rise, more employers are requiring national certification in the behavioral health field each year.
Psychiatric technicians are one related occupational benchmark for behavioral health support roles. Their median annual wage was $45,130 in May 2025. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 18% growth for psychiatric technicians and aides combined from 2025 to 2035. These figures are not specific to CBHS certification, and this certification does not confer clinical licensure.
Become a Certified Behavioral Health Specialist in 4 easy steps:
Behavioral Health Specialists who have completed a Behavioral Health Specialist program or possess practical experience in the field and have specific training in mental health care may sit for the CBHS certification exam.
The first step you need to take in your online CBHS certification is to register. Once you’ve completed your registration, you will receive access to your certification materials. Certification materials include complete comprehensive study materials, unlimited practice exams, and three attempts to take the certification exam.
Watch the Certification Overview video below for an inside look at the certification process.
*Complete exam qualifications and requirements can be found in the NPS Candidate Handbook.
Your NPS account guides you through identity verification and the Candidate Application. Once your application is approved, you can access the certification examination without first completing study modules or practice exams. Free optional study modules and unlimited practice exams are available if you want to prepare before testing. NPS advisors can assist throughout the certification process.
*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.
NPS offers on-demand online testing 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Once you're prepared and all exam requirements are met, you can test when you're ready.
The CBHS certification exam has 100 multiple-choice questions with a 120-minute time limit. You may take the certification exam at any time, and you have a total of 3 attempts to pass the CBHS exam without any retake fees.
Each time you take a practice exam or the certification exam, you will be provided with a domain proficiency report that will show you the areas of the study materials you need to focus on to improve your score.
Upon completion of your national certification exam, your results will be provided to you within 1 hour.
Once you pass, your digital certification is issued immediately and is instantly verifiable. Exam results are available within 1 hour, provided no proctoring violation is identified.
The cost for your initial two-year CBHS certification period is $225.
Your competency-based study guide, unlimited practice exams, and three chances to take the CBHS certification exam are all included in the cost of your initial certification, as well as unlimited medically-driven resume revisions and job placement assistance.
On average, these services would cost over $450, but with NPS they are all included for one low cost of $225.
When you register for online testing you are able to complete the certification process online, at your own pace.
When you pass the certification exam, your NPS national certification is issued and becomes immediately verifiable through NPS Verify. Your digital certification and digital badge are available in your account, and the badge includes a QR code that allows employers, schools, and other organizations to quickly verify your certification status and credential details.
NPS remains a proud member of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (I.C.E.). You may view our membership using our Credly Badge that is issued by I.C.E.
NPS includes optional study materials, unlimited practice exams, and three certification exam attempts with your registration, giving you flexible preparation resources without separate study-material or retake fees.
We expect NPS-certified members to present themselves professionally. National Performance Specialists is a subdivision of the National Association for Psychometric Competency Testing (NAPCT). We reserve the right to revoke certifications at any time if an NPS-certified member does not conduct themselves as a moral and professional member of the allied health community. NPS certified members are rigorously tested and held to the utmost standards.
Complete study materials and unlimited practice exams
Three attempts to pass the exam without retake fees
The largest network of allied health recruiters & staffing agencies
Free professional resume builder available for all certified members
Provided immediately on our site.
Once you have passed the certification exam, your certification is able to be printed and verified.
National Performance Specialists is a proud organizational member of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (I.C.E.), a leading professional organization dedicated to advancing quality, fairness, and best practices in certification. This membership connects NPS with the national credentialing community and provides access to professional standards, research, and resources that support our commitment to rigorous, credible certifications and the confidence employers, educational institutions, and healthcare professionals place in the credentials we issue.
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The Texas Education Agency’s 2025–2030 Industry-Based Certification List for public school accountability identifies the NPS Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) as a Tier 2 certification, recognizing its value within Texas career and technical education programs that prepare students for allied health careers. Texas public schools may also qualify for state reimbursement of eligible NPS CPT certification examination costs, allowing schools to invest in industry-recognized credentials for their students while recovering qualifying examination expenses through the Texas Education Agency.
View the TEA Certification List
All six NPS certification programs are listed in CareerOneStop’s Certification Finder. CareerOneStop is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration and is a proud partner of the American Job Center network. This listing allows employers, workforce development boards, educators, and job seekers to independently review National Performance Specialists as a credential issuer, along with key information about each certification, making it easier for organizations to evaluate and accept NPS-certified candidates.
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O*NET OnLine, the leading occupational information resource sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, maintains separate credential entries identifying National Performance Specialists as the certifying organization for its Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certifications. These entries give employers, workforce professionals, and educators an independent, publicly accessible reference for reviewing NPS credentials and confirming how they align with real-world occupations when evaluating candidate qualifications and hiring decisions.
National Performance Specialists partners with the American Red Cross to provide job placement assistance to NPS-certified members and to help the American Red Cross recruit qualified allied health candidates across the United States. Through this partnership, NPS-certified professionals gain access to meaningful career opportunities, while the American Red Cross connects with credentialed candidates prepared to support its mission of serving communities, patients, and blood donors nationwide with skill, care, and professionalism.
Apply with the American Red Cross
National Performance Specialists is a member of the Health Professions Network (HPN), a national community connecting allied health professional associations, educators, and credentialing organizations. This membership supports NPS’s engagement with the broader allied health community and its commitment to advancing workforce development, professional certification, and career opportunities. Through HPN, NPS collaborates with peers across the allied health field to share knowledge, strengthen workforce quality, and support the professionals who serve patients every day.
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