Tobacco dependence remains the number one cause of preventable disease and mortality in developed countries, with studies showing that about one in five deaths occurring in the United States is smoking-related. Additionally, the smoking prevalence among adults in the United States continues to decline. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the percentage of smokers in the U.S. over the age of 18 dropped from 20.9% in 2005 to 16.8% in 2014, an historic low point. It was also reported that the overall number of smokers dropped from 45.1 million in 2005 to 40 million in 2014, even though the U.S. population is steadily increasing. Looking at the U.S. by region, the smoking rate was 20.7% in the Midwest, 17.2% in the South, and 15.3% in the Northeast. People who live in the West had the lowest smoking rate at 13.1%. In North Carolina, 20.9% of the adult population (aged 18+ years) currently smoke cigarettes. The Duke-UNC Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program is a unique collaboration of three leaders in tobacco treatment, education, and research: the Duke Smoking Cessation Program, the University of North Carolina Tobacco Treatment Program, and the North Carolina Division of Public Health. The comprehensive tobacco treatment specialist (TTS) training includes findings from the most current evidence-based research on pharmacotherapy, population-based issues, practical guidance on running a practice, and targeted skills in tobacco dependence counseling. Information is provided as a highly interactive, 100% virtual experience over the course of 2 weeks, with a focus on problem-based learning activities, applied practice problems, and practice counseling. The Duke-UNC TTS course satisfies the training component required for individuals who wish to earn their National Certificate in Tobacco Treatment Practice (NCTTP).