Career Ladder Becomes Complete with New Counselor Credential

The Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB) is pleased to announce the availability of a new addiction counselor credential starting January 1, 2011.  The CAAC (Certified Associate Addiction Counselor) credential has been over a year in development and is now ready for release to the field.  The development of the CAAC credential came at the request of the Pennsylvania Drug and Alcohol Coalition, The PA Department of Public Welfare, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and the PA Department of Health, Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs.  Specifically, PCB was asked to “create a formal pathway for individuals whose life experience and/or personal recovery may make them a valuable member of the drug and alcohol treatment workforce.”

The US Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has long been promoting and encouraging states to adopt a career ladder for professionals entering the addiction field.  This career ladder includes professionals with high school diplomas through advanced degrees.  The overall outcome of a career ladder is to have a diverse workforce with professionals at all levels of education and experience having a place in our field.

PCB will now offer the new CAAC credential which will mirror the current requirements for the CAC credential but the CAAC credential will not require a minimum bachelor’s degree.  This new credential will complete Pennsylvania’s career ladder with credentials in place requiring a range of education, training, and experience.  With the graying addiction workforce leaving the field through retirement, the difficulty attracting younger professionals to the addiction field, and providers at times having difficulty finding candidates that meet the many requirements that must be met for hiring addiction counselors, PCB feels that the CAAC credential will result in building the addiction workforce and easing the workforce crisis our field has been facing for the last several years.

The CAAC requirements are as follows:

Prerequisite – Candidate must hold a current and valid AAC II credential from PCB for a one year minimum.

Employment – Two years as an alcohol and drug counselor gained within the last seven years.

Supervision – Completion of 300 hours of supervision in the counselor domains.  Supervisor must hold a CCS (Certified Clinical Supervisor) credential or must document proof of meeting the PA Department of Health staffing qualifications for the position of clinical supervisor.

Education/Training – Must show proof of high school diploma/GED.  Completion of 300 hours of relevant education/training of which 100 hours are alcohol and drug specific including six hours in ethics and six hours in communicable diseases.

Written Exam – Must pass the IC&RC Written Exam for Alcohol and Drug Counselors.

Recertification – Must recertify credential every two years with 45 PCB approved relevant training hours including three hours in ethics.

Lastly, it is important to note that the PA Department of Health has determined that an individual who holds the CAAC credential would meet the Department’s staffing requirements for the position of counselor under 29 Pa. Code § 704.7(b)(6).

For questions about the new CAAC credential or any of PCB’s credentials, please call the PCB Office at 717.540.4455 or email us at info@pacertboard.org.

APPLICATION FOR CERTIFIED ASSOCIATE ADDICTION COUNSELOR (CAAC)