Certificate Program

The ISSTD Center for Advanced Studies in Trauma and Dissociation offers a comprehensive series of educational programs. These include training courses, webinars, and conferences. All programs are based on the Core Areas of Knowledge identified by field leaders in 2010.

The Center awards a Certificate in Complex Trauma and Dissociation to those who complete 72 hours of approved courses and training. Those who complete 100 hours receive an Advanced Certificate in Complex Trauma and Dissociation.

The ISSTD Certificate Program is not a certification since it requires no exam or assessment. Credits are not provided for courses produced outside of ISSTD.

Earning ISSTD Certificate Program Credits

Participants can earn credits through live participation in Professional Training Program (PTP) courses, webinars, seminars, and conferences, both in-person and online. Watching recorded content also earns credits. Each hour of live participation equals one credit.

Credits are awarded automatically for live PTP courses, webinars, seminars, and conferences once the learner completes the event evaluation. To receive credits for recorded content, participants must complete short quizzes and evaluations.

There is no extra cost to enroll in or earn either certificate beyond the training costs. Credits are not available for trainings taken outside of ISSTD.

Tracking ISSTD Certificate Program Credits

Learners can track their Certificate Program credits in the “My Activities” section of the Center for Advanced Studies. To view earned credits, log into your account on the Center for Advanced Studies website, click the “My Account” option in the top blue navigation bar, and select “My Activities” in the “Completed Activities” area. The total number of credits earned for the ISSTD Certificate Program, as well as for each type of CE credits, will be displayed at the bottom of this page.

Awarding of Certificates and Advanced Certificates

ISSTD Staff review Certificate Program Credits annually before the ISSTD Annual Conference. Certificates and advanced certificates are awarded at the Annual Conference. Conference attendees receive their certificates onsite, and all recipients receive an electronic copy within 30 days after the conference.

ISSTD aims to increase the frequency of awarding certificates to quarterly by 2025.

Certificate Program Bundles

ISSTD offers two bundles of PTP courses and webinars for a direct path to certificate completion. For more information, visit the Certificate Program Bundles Page. These bundles provide a 10% discount for purchasing the content upfront. While these bundles are the most direct path to completion, credits can also be earned from any listed programs. PTP courses and webinars can be purchased individually.