PRACTITIONERS
A New Standard for Responder Care
Responder behavioral health has long lacked consistency. Providers use different models, definitions, and approaches—leaving responders unsure where to turn for help, and agencies unable to identify truly qualified professionals.
FRBH Certification closes that gap. Our certification programs define what qualified means in this field. We verify that every certified practitioner demonstrates competence in trauma-informed, culturally aware, and evidence-based responder care—built for the chronic, cumulative, and occupational nature of responder trauma.
Every FRBH-certified practitioner meets the national standards for responder behavioral healthcare, which are grounded in the systems-based framework of Sustained Functional Resilience™ (SFR). SFR does not train clinicians; instead, it establishes the organizational expectations, operational boundaries, and systems of care that agencies must align with.
Certification from FRBH signals to agencies, peers, and the public that a professional meets the national benchmark of excellence in responder behavioral health.
Who Should Apply
FRBH Certification is designed for:
Licensed and pre-licensed mental health clinicians
Social workers and case managers in trauma-exposed settings
Chaplains and faith-based support providers
Peer support leaders and coordinators
EAP and work-life staff supporting public safety agencies
CISM practitioners and crisis response teams
Organizational consultants, wellness leaders, and trainers who work with responder populations
If you support responder behavioral health in any capacity, FRBH Certification establishes your credibility and competence.
FRBH Certification Pathways
FRBH offers multiple certification tracks so that every professional or program can demonstrate competency aligned with national standards.
Responder Behavioral Health Clinician Certification
For licensed and pre-licensed clinicians serving first responders. Focus areas include responder culture, trauma science, evidence-based interventions, confidentiality, crisis response, and SFR integration.
Peer Support Specialist Certification
The national standard for responder peer support. Emphasizes ethics, boundaries, crisis skills, protocols, referral pathways, documentation, and cultural competence.
Program Administration Certification
For those who manage or coordinate responder wellness programs. Covers policy, data, system design, quality assurance, early identification pathways, and SFR system-building.
The FRBH Core Competencies
Each FRBH-certified practitioner must demonstrate proficiency in the six Core Competencies of Responder Behavioral Health:
Cultural Competence in Public Safety
Understanding responder roles, language, values, and occupational stressors.
Trauma-Informed Clinical Practice
Applying evidence-based approaches tailored to cumulative exposure and chronic stress.
Crisis and Critical Incident Response
Providing immediate stabilization and follow-up care after traumatic events.
Ethics, Boundaries, and Confidentiality
Navigating privacy, dual relationships, and sensitive contexts in responder communities.
Suicide Prevention and Postvention
Identifying risk, intervening effectively, and supporting recovery after loss.
Resilience and Recovery Planning
Building long-term functional readiness using the Sustained Functional Resilience™ (SFR) framework.
FRBH Certification Process
FRBH Certification is rigorous, accessible, and grounded in real-world experience. Every practitioner completes:
Step 1: Application & Eligibility Review
Submit your background, education, and training for verification.
Step 2: Foundational Course Completion
Complete FRBH’s online training series covering SFR™ and the core competencies.
Step 3: Field Immersion Experience (60 Hours)
Demonstrate real-world experience in responder or high-trauma setting.
Step 4: Assessment & Verification
Show mastery through assessment, documentation, and evidence of applied skills.
Step 5: Credential Award
Earn the FRBH-Certified Practitioner designation and listing in the National Registry.
Step 6: Renewal & Continuing Education
Maintain certification through ongoing responder-specific continuing education every three years.
Begin the Certification Process →
Integration with Accreditation
FRBH Certification and FRBH Accreditation form one united framework:
Certification ensure individual competency.
Accreditation ensures system and organizational excellence.
Together, they create the first national, vertically integrated system of responder behavioral health—aligning providers, programs, and agencies under one consistent standard.