Florida

What does an Addiction Counselor in Florida do? What is Their Job Role?


Substance abuse counselors are an important part of detection, treatment, and recovery. They also play a key role in public education and drug abuse prevention. Federal and state governments along with many private and non-profit organizations wrestle with the issues of effective treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. Current factors such as the opioid epidemic, access to addictive prescription drugs, and the change to value-based medical care have created new demands for more and more effective drug and alcohol abuse counselors.


The powerful drugs of choice today cause severe damage, heavy dependence, and deaths. Further, many addictions involve co-occurring mental and physical conditions that must get treatment. The role of the substance abuse counselor is important for direct treatment and also for assessments and detection of hidden or underlying conditions. Governments and other agencies that expend resources that treat addiction have moved away from measuring the numbers of patients served as the primary measure of program effectiveness. These agencies and organizations increasingly look at patient outcomes and individual results rather than to the numbers of people served.


Overview


Earning a certification for substance abuse counselor required education, training, and a long period of supervised counseling. A qualified supervisor must provide the acceptable on the job supervision, and they include Master’s Level Certified Addiction Professionals and Certified Addiction Professionals. The substance abuse counselor’s role carries an enormous responsibility. Recovering addicts may be extremely vulnerable when attempting recovery, and the bonds of trust and reliance put the counselor in a powerful position to potentially help or harm the recovery. Because drug addiction carries with it heavy burdens of societal condemnation, the counselor must have a firm ethical framework that avoids subjectivity and judgment. The counselor must be a source of inspiration for the recovering addict and not intentionally or unintentionally reflect negativity and blame.


Background Check


All applicants for certification must agree to a complete criminal background check. The matters discovered in the check may be serious and not disqualifying; honesty is a vital part of the process. Dishonesty during the investigation may do more damage to the application than the actual record of minor offenses. The intimate role of substance abuse counselor with respect to their patients requires caution in the screening process. The counselor will work with emotionally vulnerable adults, addicted young people, and children.


Code of Ethics


The FCB code of ethics governs counselor conduct; it protects the counselor and the public. Violations of the code can lead to discipline, suspension, and loss of license. The Code requires a certain level of conduct from certified counselors that include the below-listed items.


  • Not taking, controlling, or converting patient property

  • Not using illegal drugs or alcohol to excess

  • Abstaining from practice if under a disability that affects judgment and capacity

  • Avoiding the appearance of improper sexual or other types of contact with patients.


Further, like other medical or health-related treatment, counselors must protect patient privacy and administer their records and treatment files within the protection of privacy laws and medical privacy regulations.


Florida Licensing & Certifications for Associates & Independent Counselors


The State of Florida oversees the quality of drug and alcohol abuse treatment and licenses provider facilities. The Florida Department of Children and Families, Substance Abuse Program Office certifies providers but does not directly certify substance abuse counselors. The independent non-profit Florida Certification Board offers certification for substance abuse counselors. Florida laws permit the FCB certifications, and the highest levels, the Certified Addiction Professional and the Master’s Certified Addiction Professional, meet the requirements for a qualified professional under Florida law.


The Florida Certification Board has four types of substance abuse professional certification; Florida certifies Certified Addiction Specialists, Certified Addiction Counselors, Certified Addiction Professionals and Certified Master’s Level Addiction Professionals.


Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS)


This replaces the Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS is no longer available from the FCB). The CRSS is the basic level of certification. It requires acceptance of the FCB ethics agreement, completion of 75 training hours, a complete criminal background check, three professional references, and 1,000 hours of clinical supervision. Applicants must pass the Florida Recovery Specialist examination.

Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC)


This requires up to 6000 hours of related work experience, up to 300 hours of supervised training in core areas like evaluation, documentation and managing records, ethics, drug education, treatment planning, and referral to other counselors. Associates and bachelor’s degrees reduce the amount of experience and training required.

Certified Addiction Professional (CAP)


This is the certification level recognized in Florida law as a qualified professional. The certification requires 350 hours of professional training, three professional references, an accredited bachelor’s degree in a related social science field, and 6,000 hours of supervised clinical experience. Applicants with master’s degrees or higher in counseling only need 400 hours. Applicants must accept the FCB professional ethics code and pass the Florida Alcohol &Drug exam.

Certified Master’s Level Addiction Professional (MCAP)


This is an enhancement for master’s level applicants that already have their CAP certificate. The MCAP certifies readiness to develop and assess drug abuse treatment plans. The MCAP requires 200 hours of direct supervision experience in treatment evaluation, ethics, planning, counseling, education, documentation, and information management.


Education Requirements


The education requirements vary for the type of certification in question. The Master’s Certified Addiction Professional requires a master’s degree in a related field. The Certified Addiction Professional requires a bachelor’s degree, and the CRSS and CAC certifications can proceed with a High school diploma or GED.


Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) Requirements


The Recovery Support Specialist is an ideal vehicle for gaining entry level into the field. It is appropriate for recovered addicts and those with personal experience in drug or alcohol addictions such as family members of recovered addicts. Recovered addicts are an essential part of treatment, particularly in group settings. Counselors offer information and apply approved techniques to promote recovery. Recovered addicts can speak with a voice of authenticity that can reach many recovering addicts. Support specialists support the work of professionals and counselors.


  • The CRSS education requirement is a minimum of high school diploma or GED. The certificate requires 75 hours of training in the core competency of Alcohol and Drug treatment.

  • 1,000 hours of supervised work experience on Alcohol and drug treatment with 100 hours of direct supervision.

  • Pass the Florida Recovery Support Specialist Exam

  • Perform 10 CEU each year for renewal

The Certified Addiction Counselor Certification Requirements


Certified Addiction Counselors must have a high school diploma or equivalent. The college education levels reduce the training and work experience requirements.


The CAC level requires a High School education or equivalent. Many applicants have associate’s or bachelor’s degrees, and the system reduces their work experience, supervised training, and competency training hours based on their level of formal education.


The CAP Certification Requirements


Formal education requirements


Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Candidates with degrees in related social fields such as psychology, mental health, or family counseling may have lower experience and clinical supervision requirements later in the process.


Competency Training- Applicants must show that they have completed 350 hours of coursework covering nine areas of professional competence. They can apply for college credits without a time limit, but they must apply training hours performed within ten years of the date of application. The below-listed items describe the required competencies and training hours required for CAP certification.


  • Counseling requires 50 hours of coursework or equivalent

  • Clinical evaluation - 35 credit hours or equivalent

  • Treatment planning – 20 hours of coursework

  • Case management and referral – 10 credit hours or equivalent

  • Education – 15 hours or equivalent in coursework

  • Professional and educational responsibilities – 30 hours of coursework

  • Documentation – 15 class credit hours or equivalent

  • Administrative supervision – 15 hours or equivalent

  • Addiction and treatment knowledge – 80 hours of coursework

  • Application to practice – 80 hours of coursework or equivalent


The Master’s Certified Addiction Professional Requirements


This important credential certifies the capability to assess, develop, and provide treatment services and treatment plans. They must have a master’s or higher degree in counseling or a closely related field of study. MCAP certified persons are ‘qualified professionals’ within the meaning of Chapter 397, Florida Statutes. They have the legal authority to make substance abuse diagnosis for purposes of the Florida Medicaid Plan. MCAP holders can apply for the IC&RC ADC credential for use in other jurisdictions outside of Florida.


You can upgrade a CAP certification, transfer a qualified professional license to the MCAP program, and apply as a standard applicant. The certification requires proof of supervised training and educational achievement.


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 Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling


The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling is the state’s regulatory agency for counseling practice. The Board claims exemplary leadership in the Florida healthcare industry by communicating with the public, the government, and the education community. Every effort is made to clearly communicate licensure procedures to interested applicants. Their website provides extensive information about practice standards, licensure for applicants, and renewal for current professionals.


Address


4052 Bald Cypress Way

BIN C-08

Tallahassee, FL 32399


Phone


(850) 245-4474


Website Address


https://floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov/


Licensure:


  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

  • Provisional Mental Health Counselor (RMH)


The CAC is an intermediate practice for people that work side-by-side with a clinical group. The CAC notes knowledge in the domains of Professional Evaluation; Therapy Preparation; Counseling; Circumstance Monitoring as well as likewise Referral; Consumer, Household Members as well as Neighborhood Education; Files; as well as Professional Responsibilities.


Florida has 3 degrees of qualification for Chemical abuse Therapy. The cheapest tier is called the Accredited Dependence Expert (CAS), the 2nd rate is referred to as the Certified Dependency Specialist (CAC) along with the highest level is described as the Licensed Dependency Expert (CAP). Listed below you will certainly discover the demands for every level of qualification.


Florida licenses chemical abuse vendors, consisting of getting facilities and also therapy facilities. Personnel are not always accredited. The state does establish some requirements for people who operate at centers, for example, that they need to be fingerprinted if they will certainly deal with juveniles or developmentally impaired adults. The state furthermore defines "accredited specialist" as it associates with chemical abuse strategy.


The certification board keeps in mind that a prospect seeking global accreditation will require an added 10 hours in each of these two domains. Specialist readiness educational program requirement to consist of 2 human resources of residential physical violence training as well as 4 human resources of HIV/AIDS, no matter. The various other 130 hours require to be dispersed in the adhering to means: Scientific examination - 25 Treatment preparation - 15 Instance administration/ referral - 10 Counseling - 30 Documents - 10 Client/ family members/ community education and learning 10 Expert as well as honest responsibilities - 30 The experience requirement is 6,000 hrs for a trainee with education and learning at the high school degree, 4,000 for one with an affiliate or employment degree.


Candidates are allowed to pick examination days. There is a $100 fee for the Florida analysis. CAP and likewise CAC prospects who are seeking IC&RC accreditation will certainly pay an included $185 testing cost. Candidates must not pay examination charges until such time as they are authorized for examination. A prospect that requires to take back either examination will pay the total fee once again.


The scholastic needs for product misuse counselors in Florida vary relying on the level of qualification. A student pursuing CAC credentials requires to finish a secondary school diploma or equal to fulfill education demands. The FCB requires each CAP prospect to hold a bachelor's level in any sort of field to obtain professional-level accreditation.


Becoming a drug counselor in Florida can be an exciting prospect. To get your licensed alcohol and drug counselor certificate, you will need to attend college courses and successfully complete a counselor training program. Of course, there are some requirements that must be met before you can be certified as a counselor.


With the help of online resources, you can learn more about how to get your certified alcohol and drug counselor certificate. The Internet offers great information about preparing for your clinical training and completing your online programs. Some of the information includes, scheduling classes, learning about deadlines, and how to keep yourself motivated.


To gain your certified alcohol and drug student counselor training course, you will need to enroll in an approved college or university. An accredited school will offer you the proper accreditation so that you can receive your certificate. Also, when you complete your school credits, you can move on to become a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.


There are many types of counseling classes that are available to you. You can take classes that focus on individual counseling, marriage and family counseling, treatment for adults, or other classes. These classes will help you gain practical experience in your chosen field. As you advance in your career, you can apply for the next level of licensure.


One of the most important steps to learning about becoming a counselor is to take the clinical training. This kind of training will give you hands-on training and help you grow as a therapist. Classes like these provide you with all of the knowledge that you need to become a successful and competent counselor. Many counselors choose to go to a school that specializes in counseling before they begin their training.


If you are interested in taking the plunge and becoming a career counselor, there are certain career choices that you will want to consider. It can be very intimidating to choose a career that will take up so much time and money. Career counseling can help you find your career path. After you finish your education, you can either begin a full-time job or get involved in some sort of voluntary work.


In order to be certified as a drug counselor in Florida, you will need to take a test that will help you prove that you are indeed qualified to take care of people. To do this, you will need to get a recommendation from your doctor. This is very important because this person will be looking out for your safety. Your doctor will know that you are medically stable.


By completing the necessary requirements for certification as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor certificate, you will be eligible to take the exams that you need to pass in order to get your license. Once you have finished your certification training, you will then have the opportunity to take the certified alcohol and drug counselor exam. You will need to pass this test to prove that you are qualified. You may also be required to get some additional training for it.


All that you need to have in order to be a certified alcohol and drug counselor certificate is good grades, a great personality, and the desire to help others. Most schools will require you to complete extra study on addiction and mental health. They will even allow you to pursue other certifications if you want to.


Online certification courses are also available, allowing you to complete alcohol and drug counseling classes at your own pace. By completing your online coursework at your own pace, you will have more time to focus on your counseling needs. Many online courses give you the opportunity to learn at your own pace, allowing you to learn the material at your own pace.


Once you have completed the classes you need to pass the tests to become a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, you will need to contact your state licensing board to make sure that you have all of the necessary requirements to practice. in your state. A State Board of Health report will be required. so you can prove that you have all of the experience needed to help addicts and alcoholics in the medical field.


Counselor Testing & Examination Process


Procedures


The FCB application procedure requires applicants to prove their content-specific training and provide copies of supporting documentation. Work experience, education, and supervised training require written proof. Applicants must fill-out and present the FCB Training Verification form and attach the supporting documentation for each of the entries. Applicants must provide three professional references letter of recommendation.

Written Exam

There are two exams that help establish credentials for a Florida substance abuse counselor; they are the FCB exam and the ADC (Alcohol and Drug Counselor) exam offered by the International Credentialing and Reciprocity Consortium. The ADC exam provides acceptance of the credential outside of Florida and expands the market for a credentialed substance abuse counselor.


Clinical Supervision Explained


Clinical supervision is a key part of the experience required to gain certification as a counselor, specialist, or professional. Clinical supervision is teaching by a qualified supervisor that takes place in a clinical setting. A clinical setting is any instance of drug or alcohol treatment. Clinical supervision is a process that takes place over a set period of time, usually measured in hours of instruction.


The purpose of clinical supervision is to ensure quality and effectiveness of drug and alcohol abuse treatment. The clinical supervisor must observe the counselor, mentor her, offer coaching to demonstrate ideas for improvement. Clinical supervision should create a learning environment that encourages self-analysis and motivates learning and professional improvement. Applicants must show proof that they completed supervised clinical training. Applicants with bachelor’s degree must perform 300 hours, and applicants with master’s degrees must complete 200 hours of supervised clinical practice.


Renewal and Continuing Education


Once achieved, the CAP certification requires 20 hours of continuing education each calendar year. The continuing education must cover changes in rules and regulations, new developments in the field. The continuing education should involve the competencies needed to be an effective substance abuse counselor. The rules require annual renewal of the license and payment of the license fee. The renewal date is June 30 of each calendar year.


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


FCB


The Florida Credential Board is the sole recognized agency for substance abuse counselors in Florida. The State licenses Mental Health Counselors as psychotherapy professionals with competence in many areas including substance abuse, family counseling, mental health, and marital relationships.


FADAA


Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association is an organization consisting of substance abuse prevention and treatment providers. Its mission includes policy development and leadership of the overall efforts to treat and reduce substance abuse in Florida.


Mental Health America of Northeast Florida


An advocacy and resource organization, their mission includes impacting public policy, legislation, and increasing resources to address the needs for mental health and substance abuse treatment.


DARE


Drug Abuse Resistance Education is a series of lectures by law enforcement and counselors focused on prevention education among teens and pre-teens.