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Prevention specialist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a prevention specialist. Prevention specialists usually study psychology, social work, or criminal justice. 65% of prevention specialists hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 4,919 real prevention specialist resumes to see exactly what prevention specialist education sections show.
The most common colleges for prevention specialists are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online prevention specialist courses to help get the education required to be a prevention specialist.
There are certain prevention specialist certifications that you should consider. These prevention specialist certifications include Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) and Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES).
What education do you need to become a prevention specialist?
What degree do you need to be a prevention specialist?
- Bachelor's, 65%
- Master's, 16%
- Associate, 12%
- High School Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a prevention specialist?
- Psychology, 19%
- Social Work, 12%
- Criminal Justice, 10%
- Business, 9%
- Other Majors, 50%
Most common colleges for prevention specialists
| Prevention specialist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 13.27% |
| Florida State University | 6.64% |
| Arizona State University | 6.41% |
| University of North Texas | 5.95% |
| Southern Illinois University Carbondale | 5.26% |
Best majors for prevention specialists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psychology | 19.2% |
| 2 | Social Work | 12.0% |
| 3 | Criminal Justice | 9.9% |
| 4 | Business | 9.5% |
| 5 | Sociology | 6.2% |
Best colleges for prevention specialists
The best colleges for prevention specialists are Washington University in St Louis, Northwestern University, and Boston University.
A prevention specialist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for prevention specialists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become prevention specialists.
1. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
2. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
4. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
5. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
6. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
7. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
8. Howard University
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$26,756
Enrollment
6,166
9. SUNY at Albany
Albany, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$10,011
Enrollment
13,434
10. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
In-state tuition
$53,399
Enrollment
7,356
20 best online courses for prevention specialists
Advertising disclosure
1. ERPO: A Civil Approach to Gun Violence Prevention Teach-Out
Evidence shows that 1 life is saved for every 10-20 Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) issued. ERPOs are legally issued civil orders that allow people on the front lines to ask a court to prevent a person at imminent risk of harm to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing firearms during a critical period of risk. As of October 2020, ERPO laws have been enacted by nineteen states and the District of Columbia and while some aspects differ by state, the general process for applying...
2. Infection Prevention in Nursing Homes
Learn about the role of environment in disease transmission and how to implement standard and transmission-based precautions to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other infections in your facility...
3. Fire Safety and Prevention Planning
Become an expert in understanding Fire Safety and Prevention Planning for your workplaces and organizations...
4. Preventing and Surviving an Active Shooter Incident
Active Shooter/Violent Intruder Prevention and Response...
5. Professional IQ: Preventing and Solving Problems at Work
In this Specialization, Professional IQ: Preventing Solving Problems at Work, learners use real-world dilemmas and ethical problems experienced by professionals around the world to clarify and articulate their personal values as a foundation for the issues they face. Many successful people use these skills every day—and you should too: making strong decisions; recognizing and avoiding career-damaging pitfalls; preventing and resolving conflicts so as to be value-added members of teams; knowing...
6. Redacting Sensitive Data with Cloud Data Loss Prevention
This is a self-paced lab that takes place in the Google Cloud console. In this lab, you will learn the basic capabilities of Cloud Data Loss Prevention and the various ways it can be used to protect data...
7. Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, India 2013
A complete guide to prevent, prohibit and redress sexual harassment at workplaces in India. Detailed overview on Sexual...
8. Build Powerful Compliance Programs & Prevent Corporate Fraud
Learn everything you need to know to build an effective and powerful compliance culture and prevent corporate fraud...
9. Major Depression in the Population: A Public Health Approach
Public Mental Health is the application of the principles of medicine and social science to prevent the occurrence of mental and behavioral disorders and to promote mental health of the population. This course illustrates the principles of public health applied to depressive disorder, including principles of epidemiology, transcultural psychiatry, health services research, and prevention. It is predicted that by 2020 depressive disorder will be the most important cause of disease burden in the...
10. Fraud Risk Analytics (Excel & AI based tools) and Prevention
Detect & Prevent Fraud Smartly Assess your company's maturity to manage fraud...
11. Fraud Prevention, Dispute Resolution and PCI-DSS Masterclass
The fundamentals of fraud prevention and monitoring + dispute resolution + PCI-DSS requirements - now in one course...
12. Preventing Workplace Harassment 101
Avoid inappropriate or questionable conduct and respond properly to harassment situations...
13. Cybersecurity: Implement Security Measures to Prevent Attack
Defend yourself and prevent attacks with this concise training-case studies, animations, assignments and trainer support...
14. Stress Management: Avoid Burnout and Prevent Stress
Stress Management: Quick, simple tools, & tips for avoiding burnout, setting boundaries, creating work life balance...
15. Sexual Harassment Training for Employees in the Workplace
Learn about sexual harassment in the workplace and the ways to identify, report, and prevent it...
16. Yoga for Back Pain Relief & Prevention-Certification Course
The SAFE WAY to do Yoga for Back Pain!Alleviate your Pain & Strengthen your Spine with Yoga! INCLUDES 2 CERTIFICATES...
17. Treatment & Prevention of Dog Aggression: Biting & Fighting
Learn new concepts that can significantly accelerate the training of dogs with aggression and reactivity issues...
18. Data Loss Prevention (DLP) - Security breaches under control
A vendor-neutral introduction to DLP with hands-on labs and examples. Network security in action!...
19. Addiction & Mental Health (Dual Diagnosis) Integrative 12hrs
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions: Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health - Integrative Holistic Approach...
20. Addiction & Mental Health - Chemically Speaking Two (2hrs)
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions - Understand Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health. How to help people...
Top 10 most affordable universities for prevention specialists
The most affordable schools for prevention specialists are California State University - Bakersfield, california state university - long beach, and california state university - los angeles.
If the best universities for prevention specialists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for prevention specialists.
1. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
4. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
5. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
6. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
7. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
8. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
9. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
10. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for prevention specialists
The hardest universities for prevention specialists to get into are Washington University in St Louis, Northwestern University, and Boston University.
Some great schools for prevention specialists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for prevention specialists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,434
6. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
7. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
8. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
Admissions rate
40%
SAT average
1,376
9. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
Admissions rate
28%
SAT average
1,429
10. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for prevention specialists
The easiest schools for prevention specialists to get into are Nyack College, kean university, and holy family university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a prevention specialist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for prevention specialists.
1. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
2. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
3. Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,017
4. Presentation College
Aberdeen, SD • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,050
5. Bluefield College
Bluefield, VA • Private
Admissions rate
95%
SAT average
980
6. The University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa, TX • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,046
7. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
8. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
9. Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,111
10. University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,020
Average prevention specialist salary by education level
| Prevention specialist education level | Prevention specialist salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $47,855 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $51,031 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $51,665 |
Prevention specialist education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025