Problem/Objective: The Mayo Clinic College of Medicine Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) Certification Training Program is an intensive, five-day course focusing on teaching the knowledge and skills needed by health-care professionals to effectively treat tobacco dependence. Little is known about the impact of this type of training on tobacco control activities.

Methods: A summary description of the demographic characteristics of participants who participated in one of the 8 courses held between May 2005 and December 2006 was prepared from course registration materials. A web-based survey was developed and sent to all participants at least 6 months after completion of the course. Participants were queried on such areas as their perceived improvements in knowledge and skills related to tobacco intervention, and their involvement in patient care, education of health care professionals and other tobacco control activities.

Results: From May, 2005 to December, 2006, 250 individuals participated in the Mayo Certification Training Program from 28 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The most common degrees held by participants were: RN, RRT, MSW, MPH, MS, MA and MD. Further description of the participants and qualitative and quantitative outcomes from the surveys of will be presented.

Conclusions: The intensive training of professionals to be highly skilled in the delivery of effective tobacco interventions has the potential to advance tobacco control activities across the country. Implications of the results of this study for the direction of future training of specialists will be described and discussed.