CATAP Certification Program

• Must be an active Regular or International Affiliate CATAP member in good standing.
• Willing to pay the non-refundable $250 application fee.
• Must be deemed by the CATAP Board of Directors to meet minimum requirements for training, professional and practical experience. 
• Must pass a conduct and ethics review through verification with, at minimum but not necessarily limited to, the referees nominated by the applicant within the application. 
• Sufficient background in Threat Assessment and Management (TAM), as demonstrated by appropriate training and requisite professional and practical experiences.
• Must have been and continue to be actively involved in the practice of TAM in the role of trainee, practitioner, supervisor, instructor, or administrator.
• Have demonstrable knowledge of the scientific and professional literature regarding the various forms of violence with which they work or are likely to encounter. Such literature includes books, chapters, journal articles, and other documents relevant to the nature of, causes of, risk factors for, and management of various forms of violence.
• Have demonstrable knowledge and sufficiently extensive training and qualification in the use of threat assessment tools that are available, specifically actuarial and structured professional judgment tools, and the ability to apply them in any given case.

An applicant must have:

• Worked, individually or as part of a team, on 25 or more threat assessment and management files (as defined and determined by the CATAP Certification Committee); and
• Been the lead or primary evaluator on 15 or more threat assessment and management files (as defined and determined by the CATAP Certification Committee); and
  • Authored a written opinion or report on 10 or more threat assessment and management files (as defined and determined by the CATAP Certification Committee); and
  • Completed a law enforcement based threat assessment understudy program or 12 full days of TAM specific training, and 
  • Attained the core competencies as outlined in CATAP materials.

The term Threat or Risk Assessment can describe a general term or concept and it can be applied differently, in different settings. In business terms for example, Threat Assessment can include the assessment of risk to computer mainframes and other corporate assets.

In law enforcement/investigative terms, Threat Assessment can include considering the risk posed to a confidential informant, or when considering accepting someone into a witness protection program.

The term Threat Assessment and Management in the context of the Canadian Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (CATAP) and its Certification Program, however, is much more precise and specific:

Threat assessment and management (TAM) comprises operational activities related to the assessment and management of risk for violence, in all its forms. This involves most broadly the practice of, and research related to violence prevention through development, implementation, and evaluation of assessment and management procedures including, where applicable, the use of validated threat assessment tools. TAM is behavioural orientated and may focus on perpetrators (potential or actual) or victims of violence, on system or organizational responses to violence, or on protection of people or events as a situation develops.

As a result, the Certification Process of CATAP is intended to ensure that Certified Threat Assessment Professionals:

• Have demonstrable knowledge of the scientific and professional literature regarding the various forms of violence with which they work or are likely to encounter. Such literature includes books, chapters, journal articles, and other documents relevant to the nature of, causes of, risk factors for, and management of various forms of violence.
• Have demonstrable knowledge and sufficiently extensive training and qualification in the use of threat assessment tools that are available, specifically actuarial and structured professional judgment tools, and the ability to apply them in any given case.
• Have demonstrable extensive practical experience and expertise in TAM.
• Foundational knowledge in the assessment of, but not limited to:
  • General violence
  • Sexual Violence
  • Stalking
  • Intimate partner violence
• Foundational knowledge of, but not limited to:
  • Mental Health concerns (Major Mental Illness, Psychotic Disorders, Major Mood Disorders, Personality Disorders, etc.) and its relationship to violence
  • Substance use and its relationship to violence
  • Victim Safety planning, offender support and case management
• Do not rely solely on unaided or unstructured professional judgement when evaluative devices or procedures germane to their work exist and could be appropriately used.
• Acknowledge the limitations of unaided or unstructured professional judgment.
• Do not use evaluative devices or procedures unless trained to do so and be familiar with the professional literature regarding their reliability (consistency) and validity (accuracy).
• Are aware of and compliant with the laws, policies, standards, and other documents that guide or are relevant to the field of TAM. Are familiar with existing laws, policies, standards, and other documents, as well as any updates or changes.
  
  

It is mandatory that prospective candidates for the CTAP-C designation provide evidence of and can affirmatively answer all of the above prior to entry into the program.