Tobacco Treatment Training Program
MD Anderson is one of 28 sites accredited by the Council for Tobacco Treatment Training Programs (CTTTP) to provide a five-day training for individuals interested in becoming credentialed as a Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS). The program offers the highest quality tobacco treatment training, based on the most up to date research evidence on tobacco treatment strategies. Our program offers more than the required 24 hours of core competencies, such as, Counseling Skills, Motivational Interviewing, Pharamacotherapy, Relapse Prevention, Treament Planning and more.
We welcome participants from all health care disciplines and cultures. Our goal is to train interdisciplinary health care providers and public health professionals to become tobacco treatment champions for their organizations and communities. To date, we have trained more than 1,400 from across the U.S. and seven countries. Participants in this program can become credentialed to treat tobacco dependence when they successfully complete our training and pass an exam. Read more about our Tobacco Treatment Training Program findings in our article published in Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement.
Upcoming Trainings
- June 9-13, 2025
Please contact us at ctts@mdanderson.org if you have any questions about the program or would like to be added to the participant waiting list for trainings.
Audience Criteria
This activity is intended for health care providers and behavioral health professionals, who counsel and treat patients toward full abstinence from tobacco and nicotine products.
Prescribers Track
This particular track takes place on Thursday of the training week. The lectures covered are Pharmacotherapy, Treatment Planning, and Relapse Prevention. Please note we welcome registrants to join us on Wednesday afternoon for additional background on pharmacotherapy, but credit hours will only be provided for Thursday (up to 7 credit hours). For those who complete the 1 day training, they will obtain a certificate of attendance/completion, but are not eligible for the national exam to obtain certification by the American Heart Association (AHA) in tobacco treatment. To learn more, contact ctts@mdanderson.org.
Scholarship Opportunity
MD Anderson's Tobacco Treatment Training Program will have scholarships available for VA employees during the 2024-2025 trainings. This is made possible by a generous donation from Mr. Ellis J. Williamson, who is a World War II Veteran and retired member of the Army Air Corps hailing from Gallatin, Texas (Cherokee County). Eligibility for the scholarship includes (1) verification of employment within a Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital or Medical Center in the United States, and (2) provide tobacco and nicotine cessation services for patients. To learn more information or inquire about eligibility for the scholarship, email ctts@mdanderson.org.
Course Description
MD Anderson’s Tobacco Treatment Training Program is an intensive, five-day course focused on the skills needed to effectively deliver tobacco treatment in both a clinic and community setting. Faculty and presenters are MD Anderson physicians, psychologists, counseling clinicians, education staff and other MD Anderson professionals.
A partial list of curriculum topics includes:
- Assessment
- Counseling Skills
- Motivational Interviewing
- Diversity and Disparities
- Treatment Planning
- Pharmacotherapy
- Tobacco Dependence and co-morbid conditions
- Relapse Prevention
The last half-day of the program will consist of an examination which tests both abstract knowledge and counseling skills. This training program is designed for health care professionals either already providing tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment and/or for those with a strong interest in entering the field.
Program Cost
Registration fee for all five days of the virtual training: $1,100
- Provider types include: M.D., D.O., Psy.D., PA, APN and RN
- Community health and education specialists: CHES and MCHES
Prescriber Track fee (Thursday only): $250
We also offer special discounts for professionals working in academic, government, non-profit and limited resource settings:
- Employees working at Academic, Health Science Center or Schools of Health Profession- $900.
- Employees working in FQHC’s, LMHA’s, state and local health departments (only 5 spaces per training course) - $500.
- Clinics or health departments designated as serving patients who are uninsured, underinsured or living in low-resourced areas
- Non-profit organizations
Prescriber Track
The Prescribers Track takes place on Thursday of the training week. We welcome registrants to join us on Wednesday afternoon for additional background on pharmacotherapy, but credit hours will only be provided for Thursday (up to 7 credit hours).The lectures covered are:
- Pharmacotherapy
- Treatment Planning
- Relapse Prevention
Those choosing this training are not eligible for the national exam to obtain certification by the American Heart Association (AHA) in tobacco treatment.
Continuing Education
The following Continuing Education (CE) credits can be earned:
- Up to 32.25 hours of CE credit for Physicians, Registered Nurses, and Advanced Practice Providers.
- Up to 32.25 hours of CE credit for CHES and MCHES
Learning Objectives:
1. Implement best practices patient screening and care procedures
2. Demonstrate understanding of best practices and complications related to tobacco treatment
3. Identify multiple treatment plans, techniques and available resources to offer with patient care
4. Provide patient education on new and emerging tobacco products
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment being offered
Accreditation Statement:
In support of improving patient care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Credit Designation Statement:
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 32.25 AMA
PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their
participation in the activity.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.00
credit(s) of education in medical ethics and/or professional responsibility.
The University of Texas MD Anderson (CEU Provider #4607) is an approved continuing education provider for
Social Workers through the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners. this activity has been approved for
continuing education units.
Prescriber Track
The following Continuing Education (CE) credits can be earned:
- Up to 7 hours of CE credit for Physicians, Registered Nurses, and Advanced Practice Providers.
Learning Objectives:
1. Describe available pharmacotherapy options for treating tobacco use disorder and their therapeutic use.
2. Implement behavioral interventions such as Motivational Interviewing to complement pharmacotherapy and enhance quit rates.
3. Create personalized treatment plans that identify and address individual smoking triggers
through targeted interventions and coping strategies.
4. Recall strategies to effectively address common challenges with relapse prevention.
Accreditation:
In support of improving patient care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Credit Designation:
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity..
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center designates this live activity will award 7.00 Nursing Contact Hour(s)
The University of Texas MD Anderson (CEU Provider #4607) is an approved continuing education provider for Social Workers through
the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners. this activity has been approved for continuing education units.
Commercial Support:
No commercial support has been received for this activity.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited
Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or
others are required to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest
have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Registration
Registration is limited to facilitate learning and maximize interaction with the experienced faculty. For more details and to register for upcoming trainings, please see list of trainings listed above in the "upcoming trainings" section.