Application fee
$375
Prerequisite
Counseling credential or master's
Experience
5 years, including 2 supervising
Training
30 hours clinical supervision
Exam
IC&RC CS exam
Renewal
Every 2 years, 6 hours

The full certification for experienced professionals who provide clinical supervision to substance use disorder and co-occurring disorder counselors. As a CCS, you use observation, mentoring, coaching and evaluation to ensure quality clinical care and to support counselors' learning, professional development and ethical decision-making. It is an international, reciprocal IC&RC credential.

Is this certification right for me?

It's a fit if you have at least five years of substance use disorder or co-occurring counseling experience, including two years supervising counselors, you currently work as a clinical supervisor, and you want a full, reciprocal supervision credential with an exam.

Consider a different certification if you already hold a PCB counseling credential and want to recognize your supervision training without an exam (see the Clinical Supervision Endorsement), you are still building counseling experience (see Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor), or you supervise recovery specialists (see Certified Recovery Specialist Supervisor).

Requirements

All requirements must be met and documented before you apply. Do not apply until every requirement is met.

  • A current PCB counseling credential or a relevant master's degree
    Hold a current and valid CAAC, CADC, CAADC, CCDP, CCDPD or CCJP, or a master's degree in a relevant field. If you hold a current PCB credential you don't need to resubmit transcripts. Otherwise, your school must send an official transcript directly to PCB.

  • Five years full-time or 10,000 hours part-time as a counselor
    Providing substance use disorder or co-occurring disorder counseling, within the last seven years. Volunteer work and mutual support groups do not count. Document hours from previous employers with a letter on their letterhead, not a resume.

  • Two years full-time or 4,000 hours part-time providing clinical supervision
    To substance use disorder or co-occurring disorder counselors. These two years can be part of your five years of counseling experience, and you must be working as a clinical supervisor when you apply.

  • Current clinical supervisor job description
    From your employer, signed and dated by you and your immediate supervisor. It must show clinical supervision as a primary function of the job. An official position description on agency letterhead is accepted instead.

  • 200 hours of on-the-job supervision
    Of your qualifying work, with at least 10 hours in each clinical supervisor domain. Your supervisor (or each supervisor, if more than one) completes and signs the supervision page of the application.

  • 30 hours of clinical supervision education and training
    With at least 5 hours in each CCS domain. Document college courses with an official transcript and trainings with certificates showing your name, the title, dates, hours and training organization.

  • Live or work in Pennsylvania
    At the time you apply.

  • Agree to the PCB Clinical Code of Ethical Conduct
    Confirm you have read the Clinical Code of Ethical Conduct and sign the Acknowledgements and Release page. If you have a felony or a disciplinary action from another certification or licensing body, include documentation with your application.

  • Pass the IC&RC Clinical Supervisor (CS) examination
    Taken after your application is approved. See the exam section below.

Your journey

  1. Build your supervision experience and training

    Complete 30 hours of clinical supervision training and your 200 hours of on-the-job supervision across the CCS domains.

  2. Gather your documents

    Collect your training certificates, signed job description, previous employer letters if needed, and the supervision page completed by your supervisor. Order a transcript only if you are applying with a master's degree.

  3. Apply online or by PDF

    Apply through your online account and pay by credit card, or send the PDF application by mail, email or fax. We email you if anything is missing.

    Review: up to 10 business days

  4. Take the IC&RC CS exam

    Once approved, the testing company emails you to register. You choose the day, time and site.

  5. You're certified

    You are certified once you pass. Your certificate is mailed within 10 business days, and your certification lasts two years from the date you pass the exam.

Fees

Item Fee
Application (includes first exam attempt) $375
Exam retake $175
Renewal $200
Renewal, each additional credential $50
Paper certificate (optional) $20

The certification fee includes the examination and must be sent with your application. Half the fee is refunded if your application is denied or cancelled before the exam. There is no refund after the exam.

What counts as clinical supervision experience

Qualifying clinical supervision is staff development focused on the clinical skills and competencies of people who provide counseling. It is usually one-on-one or in small groups on a regular basis, and often includes case review and discussion with direct and indirect observation of a counselor's clinical work.

Qualifying counseling experience means providing primary, direct, clinical substance use disorder or co-occurring counseling to people whose primary diagnosis is a substance use disorder, or supervising that counseling. Hours can come from more than one employer. Clinical internships may count if they were supervised, well documented by the agency and appear on your official transcript.

The exam

The IC&RC Clinical Supervisor (CS) exam is computer based, with 150 multiple-choice questions (125 scored and 25 unscored pretest questions), and you have three hours. You take it at an approved testing site or by remote proctoring, and choose your own day, time and site. It covers five domains: counselor development; professional and ethical standards; program development and quality assurance; assessing counselor competencies and performance; and treatment knowledge.

Scores are reported on a scale of 200 to 800, and 500 is a pass. If you don't pass, you can retest after 90 days, up to three retakes. After a fourth failed attempt you must submit a study plan to PCB and wait one year. Study guides and practice exams are available from IC&RC. Examination information · Retest form

Need an accommodation for a disability or religious obligation? Request it in writing, with official documentation, at least 60 days before your exam. If you need a reader or scribe, you must test at an approved testing site.

Keeping your certification current

The CCS renews every two years. You need 6 hours of education relevant to clinical supervision, plus the renewal fee. Review the recertification requirements well before your expiration date. Recertification requirements and fees

Common questions about the CCS

Do I need to send transcripts if I already hold a PCB counseling credential?

No. If you hold a current and valid CAAC, CADC, CAADC, CCDP, CCDPD or CCJP with PCB, you don't need to resubmit transcripts. You only need an official transcript if you are applying based on a relevant master's degree.

Can my years as a clinical supervisor count toward the five years of counseling experience?

Yes. The two years of clinical supervisor experience may be included in the five years of counseling experience.

What is the difference between the CCS and the Clinical Supervision Endorsement?

The CCS is a full IC&RC certification with its own exam and five years of counseling experience. The Clinical Supervision Endorsement is added to an existing CAAC, CADC, CAADC, CCDP, CCDPD or CCJP. It needs one year as a clinical supervisor and 30 hours of training, has no exam, and renews with your qualifying credential.

Is the CCS recognized outside Pennsylvania?

Yes. The CCS is an international, reciprocal credential recognized in many other states and countries. The PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) also accepts it as meeting the state's criteria for full alignment with the ASAM Criteria. About reciprocity

Do I have to live or work in Pennsylvania to be eligible for most of the credentials offered by PCB?

YES

Should I submit all documentation with full application and fee at the same time?

YES, if a test is required you will be notified of future dates, locations and times after approval of application.

Does employment have to be acquired within 7 years from the date of my application?

YES

Must I be currently employed in the profession for which I am applying at the time application for certification is made?

YES