Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists

Name

Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists

Legal name

Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists

Website

https://atss.info

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists (ATSS) is a private, nonprofit professional membership and certification organization that grants three internationally recognized trauma credentials (CTR, CTSS, CTTS) to individual trauma professionals globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: ATSS generates revenue through annual membership fees paid by individual professionals in the trauma field. The organization offers reduced membership rates for students, seniors (65+), and teams. Payment is processed online via BluePay internet payment platform, with options to pay by credit card or mail a check/money order in US funds.
2. Professional Certification Fees: ATSS charges application and processing fees for its three international certifications: Certified Trauma Responder (CTR), Certified Trauma Services Specialist (CTSS), and Certified Trauma Treatment Specialist (CTTS). Certifications are valid for three years, after which members pay a recertification fee. Sponsors who help guide certification applicants receive sponsor coupons ($50 each, up to 3 per renewal cycle) toward their recertification fees.
3. Educational and Training Resources: ATSS provides links to and promotes third-party online courses and training programs (e.g., ICISF/UMBC, NCTSN, Trauma Institute, EMDR training) and earns referral/affiliate consideration through these partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ATSS is a nonprofit professional membership organization that issues internationally recognized certifications in trauma response, trauma services, and trauma treatment, and provides membership services to an international community of trauma specialists. Revenue comes from annual membership dues (individual, student, senior, and team tiers) and application/recertification fees for its three certifications (CTR, CTSS, CTTS), which are valid for three years and require documented continuing education and peer sponsorship.

Product overview

The Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists (ATSS) is a professional certification and membership organization, not a technology product company. It provides three internationally recognized trauma-related certifications: Certified Trauma Responder (CTR), Certified Trauma Services Specialist (CTSS), and Certified Trauma Treatment Specialist (CTTS). These certifications are supported by membership benefits including access to a Public Member Directory, the ATSS Blog for professional content, online educational courses from partner organizations, and the Members Engaged platform for member recognition. ATSS does not offer a software platform or digital product; its offerings are primarily professional certifications, membership services, and educational resources for trauma specialists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Certified Trauma Responder (CTR) Certification An international certification designation created for first responders and others who provide immediate trauma intervention through individual and group crisis intervention, critical incident stress response, debriefing, crisis and disaster management, peer counseling, disaster and trauma response, and follow-up. Application fee for the CTR designation is valid for 3 years; senior/student discounts available with appropriate documentation.
• Certified Trauma Services Specialist (CTSS) Certification A certification for individuals who provide services and support to individuals impacted by traumatic events, including immediate trauma intervention, advocacy, crisis intervention, death notification, victim/survivor assistance, and immediate and longer-term services for a variety of traumatized populations. Application fee valid for 3 years with senior/student discounts.
• Certified Trauma Treatment Specialist (CTTS) Certification A designation for counselors, clinicians, and treatment specialists who provide immediate and longer-term individual, group, and/or family counseling, therapy, grief counseling or support to trauma survivors either as a specialty or within their field of practice. Application fee valid for 3 years with senior/student discounts.
• ATSS Membership Professional membership offering international certification recognition within trauma specialties, professional development opportunities, access to an online membership directory, and affiliation with an international professional network of skilled trauma specialists. Annual subscription with reduced rates available for students, seniors (65+), and teams/organizations.
• Recertification (CTR/CTSS/CTTS) Recertification service for CTR, CTSS, and CTTS designations that requires a recertification application and documentation of 30 hours of trauma-related continuing education. Valid for 3 additional years. Sponsors can earn up to $150 in sponsor coupons per renewal cycle to apply toward their own recertification fees.

Quantifiable outcome

• ATSS certified professionals meet highest standards of trauma-informed, evidence-based mental health practices through verified experiential field hours, peer sponsorship, and continued professional development.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Green Cross Academy of TraumatologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn international, humanitarian non-profit established in 1997 that brings together world leaders in traumatology to establish and maintain professionalism and high standards in trauma care. Listed as a key partner organization on ATSS's homepage.
• International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission is to provide leadership, education, training, consultation, and support services in comprehensive crisis intervention and disaster behavioral health services to emergency response professions, organizations, and communities worldwide. ICISF and ATSS collaborate on certification pathways and training programs.
• The University of Ethnotrauma Science and Research (UESR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormerly known as the Traumatic Incident Reduction Association (TIRA), UESR is an international association of practitioners using TIR (Traumatic Incident Reduction) and related techniques. Listed as a partner on ATSS's homepage.
• College of Clinical CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization on ATSS's homepage, representing a collaborative relationship in the field of clinical trauma care.
• Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn affiliate partner offering a 14-day, 7 credit hour program in Critical Incident Stress Management, as well as trauma-informed treatment certificate programs. ATSS President Jeff Cartwright is an instructor at JIBC.
• National Organization of Victim Assistance (NOVA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn affiliate partner whose mission is to champion dignity and compassion for those harmed by crime and crisis. Listed as an ATSS affiliate.
• University of Pennsylvania – Public Safety Team MembersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn affiliate partner, representing a collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania's public safety team.
• Mobile Response Team – Health Emergency Management British ColumbiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn affiliate partner representing collaboration with the Health Emergency Management British Columbia mobile response team within the Provincial Health Services Authority.
• Canadian Critical Incident Stress FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA charitable organization dedicated to the mitigation of disabling stress and the fight against PTSD for Emergency Service Workers and Communities. Listed on ATSS's NGO resources page.
• Ontario Network of Victim Service ProvidersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn affiliate partner representing Ontario-based victim service providers collaborating with ATSS.
• Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of CrimeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn affiliate partner providing resources and support for victims of crime in Canada, listed on ATSS's resources page.
• International Conference and Summit on Violence, Abuse, and TraumaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn affiliate partner organization listed on ATSS's homepage, representing a major international conference on trauma-related topics.
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission is to raise the standard of care and improve access to services for traumatized children, their families and communities throughout the United States. ATSS links to NCTSN's Online Learning Center and resources on its government resources and courses pages.
• International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn international interdisciplinary professional organization that promotes advancement and exchange of knowledge about traumatic stress. ATSS links to ISTSS's online CEUs offerings on its courses page.
• National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH)minorOthersListed on ATSS's government resources page as a resource provider for comprehensive information about PTSD including signs and symptoms, risk factors, and treatment.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)coreOthersListed on ATSS's government resources page as a key resource for behavioral health conditions in children and youth exposed to natural disasters. SAMHSA provides extensive disaster and trauma-related resources and toolkits.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)minorOthersListed on ATSS's government resources page as the primary agency coordinating response to disasters in the United States.
• The Trauma Center at Justice Resource InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed on ATSS's government resources page; provides clinical services, training, and educational programming for mental health professionals. Offers a Certificate Program in Traumatic Stress Studies.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF): Provides leadership, education, training, and consultation in crisis intervention and disaster behavioral health. Directly comparable as a certification/training body serving first responders and emergency service personnel.
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN): A federally-funded network raising the standard of care for traumatized children and families. Operates an Online Learning Center that overlaps with ATSS's education resources and serves a similar trauma-professional audience.
• International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS): The largest international, interdisciplinary professional organization dedicated to the study and treatment of traumatic stress. Directly comparable as a peer membership body for trauma professionals, though with a stronger research/academic orientation.
• Canadian Critical Incident Stress Foundation: A charitable Canadian organization dedicated to mitigating stress and PTSD for emergency service workers. Direct regional peer in crisis intervention certification with overlapping first-responder audience.
• Green Cross Academy of Traumatology: An international humanitarian non-profit bringing together world leaders in traumatology. Listed as a core ATSS partner and serves a closely overlapping membership base of trauma professionals and practitioners.
• National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA): Champions dignity and compassion for those harmed by crime and crisis. Operates in an adjacent victim-services specialty area that overlaps with ATSS's CTSS certification scope and member segments.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Social Workers (NASW): The largest U.S. professional organization for social workers. Overlaps significantly with ATSS's clinical social worker member segment but covers the full breadth of social work practice.
• American Psychological Association (APA): The largest professional and scientific organization for psychologists in the U.S. Several ATSS-affiliated journals (e.g., Traumatology) link to APA, and APA's broad accreditation framework dwarfs ATSS's narrow trauma specialty.
• American Counseling Association (ACA): One of the largest U.S. professional membership organizations for counselors. Overlaps with ATSS's clinical membership base but operates at much larger scale across all counseling specialties.

Others

• International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP): Represents law enforcement leadership globally. Adjacent rather than competitive; shares the first-responder audience and overlapping trauma/critical-incident concerns but does not directly certify individual practitioners in trauma care.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/atss.info
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-of-traumatic-stress-specialists

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists