If you are just starting out in the world of addiction counseling, you probably are focused on completing your educational requirements. While earning your initial CCAPP certification is crucial, it’s also smart to understand the process of renewing your credential, and this process includes several steps.
But first, here’s a quick look at CCAPP certification in general . . .
CCAPP Certification
The California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals is recognized by the California Department of Health & Child Services (DHCS) as a Certifying Agency. This means that CCAPP is one of just three organizations that can issue credentials for addiction counselors.
To complete the CCAPP certification process, an individual must complete a specific amount of educational units, complete a practicum (internship) experience, pass the IC&RC exam for their specific type of credential, and complete a specific number of supervised work hours.
At Sober College of Addiction Studies, we are a CCAPP-approved education provider. If, for instance, you wish to earn your Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor (CADC) credential, we can provide you with the 315 hours of education you need as well as providing you with test prep for the IC&RC exam. Additionally, we can help you find approved facilities for your practicum hours.
Once you’ve completed all of these items, you can begin your supervised work experience. The number of hours needed depends on your education level and the type of credential you wish to earn. For CADCs, you will be required to complete 2,080 to 6,000 hours.
For a CADC-I credential, if you have earned an associate’s degree in behavioral science or an allied mental health profession, you will need to complete 2,080 hours of supervised work experience. If you have no degree or a non-applicable degree, you must complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience.
CADC II credentials require 6,000 hours of supervised work experience, regardless of your level of education. For a CADC III credential, you will need to complete 4,000 hours of work experience, but only those with a bachelor’s degree are eligible for the CADC III credential.
Renewing Your Credential
Whether you’ve earned a CADC I, CADC II, CADC III, a Prevention Specialist credentials or something else entirely, you will need to renew this credential every two years.
To renew your CADC certification, you will need to complete CCAPP’s Renewal of Certification application. You also will need to submit several other forms, including a signed and dated Code of Ethics form.
More importantly, perhaps, in order to renew your CCAPP certification, you also will need to complete 50 hours of continuing education and professional development. These educational hours and your professional development hours must be CCAPP-approved.
If you head to the CCAPP website, you will see a tab on the homepage that says “Education.” Click on that link and scroll down the page until you see the section marked “Find Continuing Education (CEs).” From there, you will complete a small search form and a list of CE providers in your area will be shown. You can complete these hours either in class or online.
The CCAPP holds several conventions during the year, and these events can be a great opportunity to earn some of your CEs, as well as gain valuable insights and information regarding our profession in general, and you’ll also have a chance to meet and network with fellow addiction professionals.
Within these 50 hours, you must complete 40 hours of CEs, and 10 hours of professional development. These might include developing a presentation regarding drug/alcohol counseling and delivering it to other professionals. Another option might be attending self-improve workshops or seminars. There are several interesting options, including some CCAPP committee volunteer work.
Lastly, you also must pay a renewal fee that ranges from $100 to $400, depending on whether or not you are a CCAPP member. You can earn CCAPP certification without becoming a CCAPP member. With CCAPP membership, you not only enjoy less expensive renewal rates, you also will receive discounted admission to CCAPP conventions and several other perks.
Get Started With Sober College
While we can’t help you with your credential renewal, we can help you earn your initial CCAPP certification. We offer education for those wishing to earn their CADC I, CADC II or CADC III certification as well as those who wish to earn their California Certified Prevention Specialist (CCPS) credential.
Our Prevention Specialist program is available as online curriculum. With the CADC program, you have the option of learning online or in-class. The in-class option meets just one weekend per month for six months. This option may be ideal for students that live near our Los Angeles-area campus.
For those who live elsewhere or who just enjoy the convenience of an online program, you can opt for our regular online program, which also takes just six months or our self-paced program. With the self-paced option, you can finish as quickly as three months, but if you need more time, you can take up to 18 months to complete the program.
Our program also is available for those who live outside of California. We are NAADAC-approved and IC&RC-approved, as well, so if you live in Texas, Georgia, Arizona or elsewhere, we may be able to help you meet those educational requirements.
We offer rolling admissions so you can begin at any time. If you are ready to get started with the CCAPP certification process, just click on the Get Started tab on our homepage or contact a registration specialist.
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