SMHS - Student Mental Health Specialist badge from IBCCES

SMHC - Student Mental Health Certificate badge from IBCCES

Student Mental Health Training And Certification

Certifications Recognizing Educators with Training and Certification in the Field of Student Mental Health

We recently interviewed nearly 10,000 school administrators and special education directors in school districts nationwide. Overwhelmingly, an increase in the need for student mental health training and certification was identified.

The Student Mental Health Specialist (SMHS) and Student Mental Health Certificate (SMHC) programs were created by a team of experts, including international leaders in the educational field, Tier 1 University researchers, master educators, and clinical professionals. The programs were designed based on feedback from your peers and leaders in education to address the most-needed training topics for special education and general education teachers, as well as paraprofessionals.

SMHS Certification + Exam:$495 | SMHC Certification + Exam:$295

Survey Results

Areas of Competency

The certification training for the SMHS and SMHC programs are based of the following 9 areas of competency:

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smhs-competency-traumatic-brain-injury for student mental health certifications and training

Student Mental Health Specialist

Who Should Apply?

Special Education Directors
Student Services Directors
Principals & Assistant Principals
Behavior Specialists
Special & General Education Teachers
Deans/Disciplinary Staff
Speech-Language Pathologists
Occupational Therapists

Eligibility Requirements

Master’s Degree:
Applicants must have earned a Master’s degree in special education, education, educational psychology, psychology, human development, early childhood education, speech/language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, or closely related field to apply for the Student Mental Health Specialist certification. A professional not holding a license number or teaching certification number are required to upload their college transcripts. The Master’s degree requirement will be waived if the applicant has a bachelor’s degree and at least 10 years of experience.

Two Years Experience:
Applicants must have two years’ experience working in a field that treats or supports individuals with cognitive disorders.
14 CE hours:
Applicants must have earned 14 hours of continuing education that directly relate to cognitive disorders within the last two years. These CEs can be earned through IBCCES University as part of the application process. If you have already completed 14 hours of continuing education within the last 2 years, check here to make sure the hours can be applied toward your certification.
Competency Exam:
Applicants must pass the Competency Exam. The exam is taken online and is included in the price of your application.
Registry Fee:
$495

Renewal Requirements:

Renewal fee: $199 every two years
14 Additional (CEU) in related area
Maintain active status and Compliance with Code of Ethics

APPLY NOW FOR SMHS ($495)

Student Mental Health Certificate

Who Should Apply?

General Education Teachers
Special Education Teachers
Paraprofessionals
Administrative Personnel
Support Staff
Behavior Specialists
School Nurse
Secretary

Eligibility Requirements

Two Years Experience:
Applicants must have two years’ experience working in a field that treats or supports individuals with cognitive disorders.
14 CE hours:
Applicants must have earned 14 hours of continuing education that directly relate to cognitive disorders within the last two years. These CEs can be earned through IBCCES University as part of the application process. If you have already completed 14 hours of continuing education within the last 2 years, check here to make sure the hours can be applied toward your certification.
Registry Fee:
$295
Competency Exam:
Applicants must pass the Competency Exam. The exam is taken online and is included in the price of your application.

Renewal Requirements:

Renewal fee: $149 every two years
14 Additional (CEU) in related area
Maintain active status and Compliance with Code of Ethics

APPLY NOW FOR SMHC ($295)

Registration fees include application review by IBCCES board and Access to the exam. Terms and conditions.

Honestly, I’ve had more students this year hospitalized for anxiety, depression, and other mental-health issues than ever. There’s just so much going on in this day and age, the pressures to fit in, the pressure to achieve, the pressure of social media.

Michelle
School Counselor, PA

1 in 5 students are diagnosed with a mental illness and our teachers are on the front line of the student mental health crisis in America . Yet less than 1% are equipped with the training and certification required to identify a student in need and take action.

Marcus
School Superintendent, FL

We can’t wait until a student is at a crisis state to take action. Like diabetes or cancer, you should never wait until stage 4 to intervene.

Martha
Special Education Director, TX

In most schools mental health certification is reserved for a social worker or guidance counselor. Yet 99.9% of student contact time everyday is with a teacher, bus driver or coach. Our number one priority should be to train and equip or front line staff to deal with this crisis.

Isabel
School Superintendent, CA

Individual Benefits

Our certification will:

Allow you to provide support and resources to families and students to enhance their school experience, safety and learning outcomes
Expose you to best practices and current research
Equip you with the confidence to identify students potentially struggling with mental health issues
Improve student outcomes, behavior and learning
Provide credibility and recognition for staff, school and district
Sense of security in the classroom setting

Additional Benefits

Once you have completed the requirements:

You will be issued an official Certification Number;
Your name will be listed in the International Registry as a Student Mental Health Specialist;
You will receive an official certificate printed on diploma stock to display in your classroom or office;
You will also receive an authorized wallet ID card to demonstrate your new credentials to parents, employers, insurance professionals and others;
A digital badge is available upon request for use on digital resumes and social media;
Your credential number can be verified by employers at ibcces.org