New Certificate of Competency in Problem Gambling

Harrisburg, PA – January 2007 -- The PA Certification Board (PCB) is pleased to announce a new Certificate of Competency in Problem Gambling. The Certificate of Competency is available to those professionals holding a current and valid CAC, CAC Diplomate, CCJP, CCDP, CCDP Diplomate, or CCS credential from the PA Certification Board and who meet the education requirement as described below. The Certificate of Competency is not a credential but rather a certificate indicating the completion of training requirements. The Certificate of Competency is not time limited, is not being offered through a grandparenting process and can be obtained at any time once the training requirement is met.

The requirements for the Certificate of Competency in Problem Gambling are as follows:

Certification

Must hold a current and valid CAC, CAC Diplomate, CCJP, CCDP, CCDP Diplomate, or CCS credential from the PCB. 

Education

Completion of 30 hours of PCB approved training specific to the following gambling knowledge areas: 

• Gambling, problem gambling and pathological gambling: treatment and rehabilitation/recovery, understanding the history, prevalence and social impact of gambling in the US as well as the significant literature in the field; 
• Understanding the history and theoretical basis for treatment of pathological/problem gamblers, as well as familiarity with current research in the field; 
• The effect of problem/pathological gambling on the gambler personally, interpersonally, financially, as well as management of the disorder and the recovery process; 
• Sociocultural values and attitude systems related to finances, pathological/problem gambling and spiritual concerns; 
• Effective medical, psychological, social service and spiritual management of pathological/problem gamblers, as well as the recovery process; 
• Sociocultural values and effective medical, psychological, social service and spiritual management of the family of the pathological/problem gambler; 
• The effect of pathological/problem gambling on occupational and legal concerns; 
• Pathological and problem gambling; 
• Stages of change theory with problem and pathological gamblers and families; 
• The steps, traditions and philosophy of Gamblers Anonymous, its relation to various treatments and the programs of Gam-Anon and Gam-A-Teen. 

Recertification (every 2 years with full credential)

6 hours of PCB approved training specific to the gambling knowledge areas. These 6 hours can be part of the total number of hours needed to recertify full credential. 

The PA Department of Health, Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs has endorsed the Certification of Competency and will issue an Information Bulletin stating they will accept the Certificate of Competency from PCB for the purposes of providing gambling counseling.

Gambling educational opportunities are becoming more and more available from many different sources. Please check the PCB web site under "Education" for those trainings that are PCB approved.

APPLICATION

Send mail to info@pacertboard.org with questions or comments about this web site.
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