With millions of Americans suffering from addiction, there is a huge need for qualified professionals to help these people fight their addictions and work through to recovery. If you’ve been researching Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) certification in California, the team at Sober College of Addiction Studies can help lead you into this valuable profession.
First of all, let’s take a look at the many different types of AOD certifications in California that you might consider for your career:
Registered Alcohol & Drug Technician (RADT) – This is often a person’s first step into the world of addiction counseling. This certification is available to anyone with a high school diploma or higher, and it is fairly easy to attain.
In addition, to completing an approved nine-hour orientation that covers ethics and codes of conduct, there is quite a bit of paperwork to fill out and you’ll need to pay the registration fee. This credential must be renewed every year, and you can work as a RADT for several years, but eventually you no longer will be able to renew the credential and you must upgrade to the next level as a Certified Drug & Alcohol Counselor (CADC).
Certified Drug & Alcohol Counselor (CADC) – For this level of AOD certification, California residents must complete 315 units of approved education and complete 255 practicum hours. Additionally, you must pass the IC&RC Alcohol Drug Counselor (ADC) exam and will need to complete a set number of hours of work experience to earn your credential.
There are three levels of CADCs. CADC I and CADC II credentials are available to anyone with a high school diploma or higher. If you do have an associate’s degree in behavioral science or an allied mental health profession, you need only complete 2,080 hours of supervised work experience for your CADC I certification.
If you do not have this degree, all CADC I candidates will need to complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience. All CADC IIs, regardless of their level of education, must complete 6,000 hours of supervised work experience.
In order to become a CADC III, you must complete the same 315 educational hours and the same amount of practicum hours. You also must complete 4,000 hours of supervised work experience. However, it’s important to note that the CADC III credential is only available to those with a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science or an allied mental health profession.
Licensed Advanced Alcohol Drug Counselor (LAADC) – If you do possess a master’s degree in a subject related to Substance Use Disorders (SUD) or an authorized mental health discipline (AMHD), then you will want to apply at this level. This requires 4,000 hours of work experience in SUD counseling as well as a passing score on the IC&RC Advanced Alcohol Drug Counselor (AADC) exam.
If you have the master’s degree, you also can apply to become a LAADC-S, which stands for Licensed Advanced Alcohol Drug Counselor Supervisor. You will need to pass the same exam as a LAADC and complete 4,000 hours of SUD counseling as well as completing an additional 45 hours of clinical supervisor education.
Certified Criminal Justice Professional (CCJP) – This is a person who works as an addiction counselor within the criminal justice system. You might be helping lead group therapy sessions in a prison setting or working with prisoners upon their release or in other related settings.
Requirements vary for this AOD credential in California. All candidates must receive a passing score on the IC&RC Criminal Justice Addictions Professional exam and complete 300 hours of supervised practicum. However, the amount of educational units required and the amount of work experience required varies depending on your education level.
For instance, if you have a high school diploma but no addiction or applicable health-related college degree, you must complete 270 hours of education and 6,000 hours of work experience. If you have an applicable master’s degree, you need only 100 hours of education and 2,000 or work experience. For those with bachelor’s or associate’s degrees, the requirements are in between these two amounts.
California Certified Prevention Specialist – One of the best aspects of many of these AOD certifications is that you don’t have to possess a college degree for many of them, which means these jobs are open to a wide range of people and Prevention Specialist is no exception.
This is a person who works on the flip side of the addiction coin, so to speak. Your goal is to work with liaisons from schools, churches, law enforcement and community groups to prevent people from becoming addicted to alcohol and drugs, as well as providing information so that individuals can make healthy choices and avoid risky behavior.
To become a certified Prevention Specialist or CCPS, you will need to complete 120 hours of approved education, 120 practicum hours, a passing score on the IC&RC Certified Prevention Specialist exam and 2,000 hours (about one year) of AOD prevention experience.
This is another area where Sober College can help. We offer the approved education hours as well as test prep for the IC&RC exam. You can take our program online, making it convenient for working adults to fit their education around their work and family commitments.
Additional AOD Certifications In California
There are many areas of specialization that also might be interesting to you, and each has unique requirements. Here’s a quick look at just a few other options to consider.
Women’s Treatment Specialist (WTC) – If you’ve earned your CADC or above, you might also consider working toward this credential if it is of interest to you. For this credential, you obviously work exclusively with female clients and it might be in an in-patient or outpatient facility, a hospital, a sober living home or perhaps another type of facility.
Medication Assisted Treatment Specialist (MATS) – For many people in rehab or recovery, medication-assisted treatment has shown high rates of success. As a MATS, you will learn a great deal about the different types of medications that might be used for people with opioid addictions, alcohol addictions and perhaps those in need of psychiatric medications. Many people with addictions also have dual diagnosis, and concurrently suffer from issues such as eating disorders, bipolar disorder, OCD and many other psychiatric disorders, and sometimes medication is needed to treat these disorders in order for the patient to have a long-term recovery.
Intervention Specialist (IS) – A carefully planned intervention can truly save the life of someone who might otherwise be resistant to treatment. As an intervention specialist, you can help plan thoughtful, supportive interventions that lead to rehab and ultimately, recovery.
As you can see, when it comes to AOD certification in California, you have many excellent options. At Sober College, we can help you with your quest for CADC or PS certifications. Our classes can be taken online or in-class and you can complete your education in just six months. We also offer rolling admissions, so you can get started anytime!
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