The National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT) will play an increasingly significant role. The community interest company supports €the delivery of effective evidence-based tobacco control programmes and smoking cessation interventions provided by local stop smoking services.€ This is done through online and face-to-face training, and a range of resources and guidance on smoking cessation on its website.6

NCSCT says it €would encourage anybody who helps smokers to quit to register with the NCSCT, use the online training programme and take the practitioner assessment. This includes both 'specialist' stop smoking practitioners, frequently employed directly by stop smoking services, and 'community' stop smoking practitioners, including those based in GP surgeries, pharmacies and other settings.€

While it is not compulsory for stop smoking practitioners to undertake NCSCT training, €it is likely that in the very near future commissioners of stop smoking services will require NCSCT certification of practitioners.€6