Application fee
$375
Education
HS diploma, GED or associate
Experience
3 years or 6,000 hours
Training
300 hours
Exam
IC&RC ADC exam
Renewal
Every 2 years, 40 hours

A counseling certification for drug and alcohol counselors with a high school diploma, GED or associate degree. As a CAAC, you provide primary, direct substance use disorder and co-occurring counseling: you counsel individuals and groups, prepare treatment plans and document client progress under clinical supervision. The CAAC is an international, reciprocal credential that meets Pennsylvania's state staffing requirements.

Is this certification right for me?

It's a fit if you are currently employed as a drug and alcohol counselor, you have three years of clinical counseling experience, and your highest education is a high school diploma, GED or associate degree.

Consider a different certification if you have less counseling experience (see Associate Addiction Counselor), you have a bachelor's degree (see Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor), or you provide substance use services but not primary counseling (see Certified Allied Addiction Practitioner).

Requirements

All requirements must be met and documented before you apply. Send all documents with your application, except your official college transcript, which your school sends to PCB directly before you apply.

  • High school diploma, GED or associate degree
    Send a copy of your diploma, transcript or GED verification. Veterans may send discharge documentation instead. For an associate degree from an accredited school, your school sends an official transcript directly to PCB.

  • Three years full-time or 6,000 hours part-time as a drug and alcohol counselor
    Providing primary, direct, clinical substance use disorder or co-occurring counseling, preparing treatment plans and documenting client progress, under clinical supervision. All of it must be within the last seven years. Volunteer work and mutual support groups do not count. If hours come from a previous employer, send a letter from that employer with your title, duties and dates. A resume is not accepted.

  • Current employment as a drug and alcohol counselor
    At the time you apply. Case managers, technicians, peer and recovery specialists, intake workers and drug court or probation staff are typically not eligible. A supervised, documented counseling internship that appears on your college transcript may count.

  • Signed current counselor job description
    From your current employer, signed and dated by you and your immediate clinical supervisor. It must show drug and alcohol counseling as a primary function. An official position description on agency letterhead can be used instead.

  • 300 hours of on-the-job clinical supervision
    With at least 10 hours in each counselor domain. Your clinical supervisor documents the hours on the supervision page of the application. More than one supervisor can sign.

  • 300 hours of relevant education
    Including 100 hours specific to substance use disorders and 6 hours in substance use disorders ethics. There is no time limit on when you earned it. Document trainings with certificates showing your name, title, dates, hours and provider, and college courses with an official transcript.

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

  • Notarized acknowledgements and release
    Complete, sign and notarize the release page, and send it with your application.

  • Pass the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam
    Taken after your application is approved. See the exam section below.

Your journey

  1. Build your counseling experience and training

    Work as a drug and alcohol counselor while you complete 300 hours of education and 300 hours of clinical supervision.

  2. Gather your documents

    Proof of education, training certificates, your signed job description, the completed supervision page and the notarized release. Ask your college to send your official transcript about three weeks before you apply.

  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.

    Review: up to 10 business days

  4. Schedule and take the ADC exam

    Your application is approved when the testing company emails you to register. You choose the day, time and site for your computer-based exam.

  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 exam date.

Fees

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

The application fee includes the exam. Half the fee is refunded if your application is denied or cancelled before the exam.

The exam

The CAAC uses the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam. It is computer based, with 150 multiple-choice questions (125 scored), and you have 3 hours. You test at an approved testing site. Scores are reported on a scale of 200 to 800, and 500 is passing. You get a preliminary score as soon as you finish.

It covers four domains: scientific principles of substance use and co-occurring disorders; evidence-based screening and assessment; evidence-based treatment, counseling and referral; and professional, ethical and legal responsibilities. Study guides and practice exams are listed on the IC&RC website, internationalcredentialing.org.

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. Examinations · Retest form

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

Clinical supervision

Supervision is a formal or informal process that is evaluative, clinical, educative and supportive. It includes observation, mentoring, coaching and evaluation. It can be one-on-one, group, or observation of your skills, and more than one supervisor can document your hours.

PCB has no requirements for who provides your clinical supervision. That is up to your agency and DDAP staffing requirements.

Keeping your certification current

The CAAC renews every two years. You need 40 hours of education relevant to addiction, including 3 hours in ethics, plus the renewal fee. Recertification requirements and fees

Common questions about the CAAC

Is the CAAC recognized outside Pennsylvania?

Yes. The CAAC is an international, reciprocal credential recognized and transferable to many other states and countries. See Reciprocity.

Can a college internship count toward my counseling experience?

It may. The internship must have involved drug and alcohol counseling, be well documented by the agency, have been supervised, and appear on your official college transcript.

I have a bachelor's degree. Should I apply for the CAAC?

The CAAC is for counselors with a high school diploma, GED or associate degree. With a bachelor's degree, look at the CADC. With a relevant bachelor's degree, it needs two years of experience and 200 hours of supervision.

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.

How do you define the term supervision?

It is supervised practical training in performing the core skill areas or domains, the time spent in face-to-face supervision, not the time performing the function. Supervision should be reflected in your actual work experience. Supervision is not education or training.

Does my supervisor need to be certified?

NO, but he/she must be knowledgeable in addiction.