California
What does an Addiction Counselor in California do? What is Their Job Role?
Working as a substance abuse counselor in California is a personally and professional rewarding career option. Demand for these counselors is expected to grow by 18% between 2014 and 2024, by which time there will be 11,000 licensed professionals throughout the state. Once licensed, these counselors work closely to help individuals overcome addictions and correct self-destructive behaviors. They also work with families to heal the damage caused by addiction to drugs or alcohol. The work may not be easy, but it is extremely important and extremely rewarding as a result. If you believe this is a role you could thrive in, explore the exact substance abuse licensure requirements in California.
California Licensing & Certifications for Associates & Independent Counselors
The National Council for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) provides accreditation to agencies that certify substance abuse counselors in California. As of 2018, the NCCA recognizes two agencies in the state - California Association of DUI Treatment Programs (CADTP) and the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP). The California Department of Health Care Services permits anyone with active certification from either of these programs to work as a substance abuse counselor in the state. No further licensure is required. The requirements of both certification programs are similar, and candidates will find an equal number of job opportunities with either credential.
Earning CADTP Certification
The CADTP offers several forms of certification, each with its own requirements for education and experience. The specific steps for earning each certification are outlined below:
CADTP Alcohol/Other Drug Counselor - CAODC (SUDCC)
CAODC is now known as Substance Use Disorder Certified Counselor (SUDCC). Register with the CADTP as an applicant for certification. Registrants are required to sign a statement agreeing to abide by a code of ethics. They must also complete a nine-hour orientation course. Afterwards, registrants have 5 years to complete the remainder of the requirements. During that time they are required to renew their registration on an annual basis by paying a renewal fee, completing 6 hours of ethics and confidentiality training, and outlining their education/professional activities throughout the previous year.
Complete 315 hours of formal classroom training focused on alcohol and drug abuse. Counselors must have at least 45 hours (3 semester credits) in each of the following content areas:
Introduction and Overview
Physiology and Pharmacology of Alcohol and Other Drugs
Law and Ethics
Case Management: Assessment, Orientation, Treatment Planning and Relapse
Prevention/Aftercare Planning
Individual, Group, and Family Counseling
Supervised Practicum
Complete 160 hours of supervised training
Complete 2,080 hours of paid or unpaid work as a substance abuse counselor
Earn a passing grade on the Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ADC) exam administered by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC)
CADTP Alcohol/Other Drug Counselor - Advanced CAODC(SUDCC)-A
The requirements for this certification option are the same, except candidates must complete 380 hours of formal classroom training and have 5 years (10,000 hours) of documented experience working as a substance abuse counselor.
CADTP Alcohol/Other Drug Counselor – Clinical Supervisor CAODC-CS
Complete 450 hours of formal classroom education related to alcohol and drug abuse.
Finish 5 years/10,000 hours of general clinical experience.
Finish 2 years of clinical supervision experience. This requirement may be earned concurrently with the previous requirement.
Complete 40 hours of clinical supervision education courses.
Renewing a CADTP Certification
Renewal is required every two years for all substance abuse counselors in California. A renewal application must be submitted no later than 30 days before the certification expires.
Counselors must complete 40 hours of continuing education within that period, including 3 hours on ethics and confidentiality specifically. Verification of completion must also be included with the renewal application.
A renewal fee is required based on the type of certification being renewed.
Earning CCAPP Certification
The CCAPP also offers a range of certification options. Importantly, they also offer a credential to counselors still completing their initial education. This credential may help students secure a job before becoming a full-certified counselor. The specific steps for earning each certification option are outlined below:
Registered Alcohol Drug Technician - RADT
Complete an approved nine-hour course covering ethics, confidentiality, and professional boundaries. Multiple options are available, but one is offered specifically through the CCAPP.
Complete the RADT application
Sign code of conduct forms issued by the CCAPP and the State of California.
Pay a fee and submit a copy of your driver’s license.
Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor 1 – CADC1
Complete 315 hours of formal classroom education as part of either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program focused on Behavioral Science or an Allied Mental Health Profession. Counselors must earn at least 45 hours in each of the following areas.
Introduction and Overview
Physiology and Pharmacology of Alcohol and Other Drugs
Law and Ethics
Case Management: Assessment, Orientation, Treatment Planning and Relapse Prevention/Aftercare Planning
Individual, Group, and Family Counseling
Personal and Professional Growth
Supervised Practicum
Complete 255 practicum hours. If completing a bachelor’s degree these hours must be earned as part of a formal internship.
Complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience. If earning a bachelor’s degree all of the practicum hours may be applied. If earning an associate’s degree only 95 practicum hours apply, but candidates must only complete 2,080 hours of supervised work experience overall.
Earn a passing score on the IC&RC ADC examination
Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor 2 – CADC2
In addition to completing the requirements to earn CADC1 certification, these counselors must complete an additional 3,000 hours of supervised work experience for a total of 6,000 hours. Hours earned while completing a bachelor’s degree may not be applied.
Licensed Advanced Alcohol Drug Counselor - LAADC
Earn a master’s degree in Behavioral Science or an Allied Mental Health Profession including at least 300 hours of education specific to alcohol/drug counseling and six hours specific to professional ethics.
Carry professional liability insurance providing at least $1.3 million in payment per incident.
Complete 4,000 hours of work experience.
Complete the following training programs from a provider approved by the CCAPP - 10 Hours in Private Practice, and 40 Hours in Screening for a Co-Occurring Disorder.
Earn a passing score on the IC&RC AADC Exam.
Licensed Advanced Drug Counselor Supervisor - LAADC-S
In addition to completing the requirements to earn the LAADC certification, counselors must complete 45 hours of clinical supervision education.
These counselors must earn that same 4,000 hours of work experience as a counselor with LAADC certification, but 2,080 hours must be completed after finishing a graduate degree program.
Renewing a CCAPP Certification
Renewal is required every two years for all forms of certification with the exception of RADT.
In order for a certification to be renewed, counselors must complete 40 hours of continuing education from a provider approved by the CCAPP. At least six of those hours must be focused on professional ethics. They must also complete 10 hours of professional development from any event/organization intended to enhance professionalism.
Anyone with an RADT certification is required to submit proof of completion of at least 45 hours of addiction education each year. Those hours are applied towards the 315 total required to earn CADC certification.
CACREP Accredited Online Certification
Two types of accreditation are recognized in the United States; institutional and specialized. Institutional accreditation takes the entire institution into account while the specialized focus on professional preparation programs. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is a specialized accreditation that focuses on master’s and doctoral degree programs in counseling at colleges and universities worldwide. Only already-accredited institutions are eligible for CACREP review. The review for accreditation will center on programs offering graduate degrees in counseling.
Choosing a CACREP-accredited program ensures that the program meets the highest of quality standards. Many counseling specialties are accredited by the CACREP, including addiction counseling. Accredited addiction counseling programs prepare individuals to work with those affected by addictive behavior and their families. Addictive behaviors include alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, sex, and anything else that negatively affects your personal or work life by creating addiction behaviors.
CACREP-accredited programs will focus on treatment models and the phases of addiction including prevention, recovery, and relapse prevention. These 60-semester hour programs will include the application of interventions. When students choose a CACREP-accredited program they can be confident that:
the program meets or exceeds national standards
the program will focus on professional counseling rather than psychology or education
the program has an excellent reputation
CACREP graduates statistically receive higher scores on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE).
the requirements for licensure will be met.
Board of Behavioral Sciences
The California Board of Behavioral Sciences is a regulatory committee providing licensure exams and licensing. The committee sets and enforces standards for mental health professionals, communicating current standards to licensees. The mission of the Board is to “protect and serve” the citizens of California.
Address
1625 North Market Boulevard
Suite S-200
Sacramento, CA 95834
Phone
(916) 574-7830
Website Address
https://www.bbs.ca.gov/
Licensure:
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) and Interns (IMF)
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) Associates (ASW)
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC) and Interns (APCC)
Licensed Educational Psychologists (LEP)
Discover possible program circumstances for compound misuse therapist programs below, yet keep in mind not all institutions hold these class offerings. Grads entering into product misuse therapy need to recognize the leading concepts in their area.
Normal concepts contain existential psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, as well as reasonable behavior modification. Chemical abuse counselors help patients with diverse histories daily. In this program, students get a company understanding concerning social as well as modern troubles experienced in their area to much better inform their technique. This program deals with topics like race, gender, as well as additional disabilities.
This training program supplies details concerning gadgets as well as therapies for identifying customers, assessing their wellness as well as wellness problems, along with supplying therapy. Learners develop abilities to address typical addiction in addition to emotional wellness scenarios. Students take a look at the latest drug abuse treatment tools as well as also modern technology. A great deal of programs require students to sign up with a practicum or teaching fellowship where they get specialist experience with licensed drug abuse counselors.
Pupils observe experts at the office as well as take part in the job's day-to-day tasks with their straight mentorship. Product abuse therapists generally advertise team therapy sessions. College students learn methods to efficiently browse team setups by analyzing their features along with the clients' functions, along with techniques and additionally gadgets. Because therapists use various styles of management in team setups, students have a look at several designs to discover what jobs best for them.
Becoming an addiction counselor in California requires an MSW degree from an accredited institution. You can train for a number of different positions at the same time, and many students end up specializing in one area of addiction treatment or another. It is also possible to study for a specialty and specialize in it, as well.
The most common jobs that are available to students pursuing a PhD in addiction counseling are social workers, marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers, and substance abuse counselors. Becoming an addiction counselor in California can be very competitive. Most students are advised to apply for internships before they are accepted into the doctoral program.
There are several things that you should be prepared to talk about when you're applying for positions as an addiction counselor in California. You need to be knowledgeable in the human brain, which is what addicts have trouble using. You must be aware of the various types of addiction, and how it affects the brain.
Being an addiction counselor requires that you understand a number of different ways in which addiction can be treated. One of the most important things you need to know is the basic biology of addiction. This means that you will need to learn all of the different signs of addiction, as well as how a person can control these signs. In order to become an addiction counselor in California, you will need to know a lot about addiction.
When you're learning how to become a drug counselor, it's good to have a strong foundation. A psychology degree is a good idea, because this type of education is a good fit for the job. You'll learn how the brain works, and how the behavior patterns of addicts are formed. An MA in clinical psychology is a good choice.
Many students who are considering becoming an addiction counselor in California are advised to pursue an MPH degree. The pace of school and the educational materials that are available to you in an MPH program make it a good choice. Additionally, there are more job opportunities in a psychiatric setting after you have completed a program in addiction counseling.
Students who are considering how to become a drug counselor in California may also be advised to get a professional license in this field. In fact, some schools offer programs in the field that are directly related to the MPH program. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has an informative website that explains the differences between the two programs.
The most important part of becoming a drug counselor in California is that you have to have a desire to help people. Anyone can go to school and take the classes that they need to get a degree, but that doesn't mean that they have the passion for the field. It takes a certain level of dedication to be a good addiction counselor.
The main thing to remember is that you need to be ready to work long hours. As much as you might be willing to work long hours, you will need to enjoy the job in order to make it through each day. If you are having problems finding a job, it might be a good idea to keep your eyes open in the medical community.
Many addicts require a great deal of help before they are ready to accept treatment. It is up to the professionals to make sure that the patients are getting their treatment. Those who have been in and out of treatment for their entire lives might find it difficult to adapt to the new system, so you will need to be prepared to provide assistance to them as well.
One of the most important steps to becoming an addiction counselor in California is to have at least a working knowledge of your field. Even if you are not going to specialize in addiction, it will be helpful to have some knowledge of it. The National Association of Alcoholism Treatment Programs (NATE) offers classes for the students in the United States.
The steps to becoming an addiction counselor in California are very simple. once you take care of the basics, you'll have a great job.
Passing the IC&RC Exam
All certified substance abuse counselors in California must pass an exam administered by the IC&RC. Since the exam requires a fee and extensive preparation, there is a strong incentive to pass it the first time. Here is some information to help first-time test takers.
The exam is administered electronically at a designated testing center. Centers are located throughout California in the following locations:
Burbank
Calimesa
Ceres
Fresno
Long Beach
Riverside
San Diego
Sunnyvale
Van Nuys
On the day of the test candidates are required to bring a photo ID and the Candidate Admission Letter from the local member board of the IC&RC.
The exam consists of 125 multiple-choice questions administered over a three-hour period. The questions break down into four domains:
1. Screening, Assessment, and Engagement
2. Treatment Planning, Collaboration, and Referral
3. Counseling
4. Professional and Ethical Responsibilities
Scores are determined based on the number of questions answered and the number of correct answers. Scores are reported on a scale of 200-800, and a score of 500 is considered the minimum passing grade.
Candidates are given unofficial scores immediately after finishing the test but it may take several weeks to receive official scores.
Potential Counselor Career Path Options
Addiction Counselor
Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselor
Behavioral Health Specialist
Certified Addiction Drug and Alcohol Counselor
Chemical Dependency Counselor
Mental Health Counselor
School Counselor
Substance Abuse Counselor
Associations & Organizations
Participating in professional organizations is a great way for substance abuse counselors to learn new skills, develop additional credentials, and contribute to the professional dialogue. Whether to earn required continuing education or to purse a promotion, consider joining or simply following of these associations focused on substance abuse recovery:
American Academy of Addiction Psychology
American Society of Addiction Medicine
American Society of Addiction Psychology
The Association for Addiction Professionals
National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers
International Association of Addiction and Offender Counselors