The certification program requires a professional to complete specific TLC courses. The courses may be completed over a period of time. Level 2 certification may be completed in one week in the summer at the TLC Childhood Trauma Practitioners Assembly. Three levels of certification are offered and the requirements for each level are listed below. Children of Trauma and Structured Sensory Interventions are mandatory courses for all certifications. Any course may be taken individually without applying for certification.

Certification Credentials

After completing Level-1 Certification you may use the credentials "C.T.S." which stands for Certified Trauma Specialist.

After completing Level-2 Certification you may use the credentials "C.T.C." which stands for Certified Trauma Consultant.

After completing Level-3 Certification you may use the credentials "C.T.C.-S." which stands for Certified Trauma Consultant Supervisor.

Level 1 - The Foundation
Level One Certification requires you to attend a minimum of 3 days at TLC trainings and the remaining requirements can be completed through online courses and an essay exam.
School Specialist (for school personnel) REQUIRED COURSES: • Children of Trauma • Structured Sensory Intervention (SITCAP) • Trauma Debriefing PLUS: • 2 TLC online courses • At-home essay exam* OR If attending a 4-day TLC Childhood Trauma Practitioners Assembly): REQUIRED COURSES: • 4 Assembly Level-1 courses PLUS: • 1 TLC online course • At-home Level-1 essay exam*	Clinical Specialist (for clinical personnel) REQUIRED COURSES: • Children of Trauma • Structured Sensory Intervention (SITCAP) • Trauma Debriefing PLUS: • 2 TLC online courses • At-home essay exam* OR If attending a 4-day TLC Childhood Trauma Practitioners Assembly): REQUIRED COURSES: • 4 Assembly Level-1 courses PLUS: • 1 TLC online course • At-home Level-1 essay exam*
*The Essay Exam is not a requirement for Certification. It is offered as an option for those who do not have the funding or time to travel to a TLC training to attend the remaining two required courses for Level-1 Certification. There are two exams. One is for those who are applying for Clinical Specialist Certification and another for those applying for School Specialist Certification. The cost is $175 to take the exam. The exam does NOT provide CEU's. It is a comprehensive essay exam that will take anywhere from 4 - 8 hours to complete, depending upon the person. It can be submitted to TLC for credit up to 6 months from date of purchase. The Essay Exams are available online. Click here to sign up to take the exam online. You may also call the TLC office toll-free at 877-306-5256 to register for the exam and have it mailed to you.
Level 2 - Intermediate
Level Two Certification requires you to attend a minimum of 2 days at TLC trainings and the remaining requirements can be completed through online courses and an essay exam.
Consultant* (for school and clinical) • Managing & Discharging Activation • Using Children's Drawings in Art and Play Therapy • TLC Online Course: Art, Play, Music, Drama and Bibliotherapy: Advanced Skills PLUS: • 2 additional TLC online course • At-home Level-2 essay exam* OR If attending a 4-day TLC Conference or 4-day Summer Assembly (Texas or Michigan): • 4 Assembly Level Two days PLUS: • TLC online course - Art, Play, Music, Drama and Bibliotherapy: Advanced Skills (if you have already taken this course for Level-1 Certification you may select another online course of your choice) • At-home Level-2 essay exam* *Prerequisite courses: Children of Trauma and Structured Sensory Interventions
Level 3 - Advanced
Consultant Supervisor* (advanced certification for school and clinical) • 2 - Additional TLC (or other**) trauma-related trainings • Case Study or Essay Exam • Give a presentation at TLC's Annual Practitioners Assembly OR Write an article, review or commentary for publication in the TLC Journal, Trauma and Loss: Research and Interventions *Prerequisite courses: Children of Trauma and Structured Sensory Interventions **Additional other (non TLC) trauma-related trainings must have been completed within the last two years and will only be accepted by presenting a certificate of completion and a one-page paper (double spaced) describing the fundamentals presented at the conference.