As a busy working adult, it can be difficult to change careers, particularly if your new career choice requires you to complete training or education, such as becoming a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). However, Sober College provides quality education, and our program is 100% online, making it easy for students to fit learning into their hectic schedules. Here’s a quick look at the CADC certification process, and how we can help.
What Is A CADC?
A CADC is a common type of substance use disorder counselor, or SUD counselor. It is a term used for addiction counselors in many states, including California, Iowa, New Jersey, Virginia and several more.
In other states, this type of counselor might be known as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, or LADC. It also might be known as Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) or an Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor (AOD). While the names vary state to state, substance abuse counselor requirements tend to be the same across the United States.
How To Become An Addiction Counselor
There are several steps you will need to take to earn your CADC certification, including:
Education
The first step toward earning CADC certification is to complete your education units. In general, most states require 315 hours of addiction studies curriculum. Your curriculum provider must be approved by your state’s certification board.
At Sober College of Addiction Studies, we are an IC&RC-approved and NAADAC-approved education provider. This means you can use our program in any state with IC&RC reciprocity. IC&RC is a testing organization that provides credentialing exams for addiction specialists, including CADCs.
Our program can be used to complete educational requirements in all states, except Alaska, North Dakota and Montana, as these states have unique certification requirements and do not accept schools with IC&RC reciprocity.
Practicum
Once you complete your addiction studies educational requirements, you will be required to complete a practicum experience. This is an internship, and you will be working at an approved facility and observing and handling all of the 12 Core Functions of Addiction Counselor. You must complete at least 21 hours handling each of these functions, which include intake, patient assessment, counseling, treatment planning and more.
At Sober College, we have included a 255-hour practicum in our program, so by the time you finish your educational hours, you also will have completed your practicum experience. Some states do require more than 255 hours, which means you simply will have to complete more hours at your approved facility.
IC&RC Exam
Once you’ve completed your educational units/hours and your practicum, you can take the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor exam. One of the most common questions we hear is “how hard is the CADC exam?” Rest assured, our program will provide you with all of the information you need to pass this exam, but IC&RC does offer practice exams on its website for $59.99.
In general, the pass rate for exams is about 60-70%, and you can take the exam four times. If you fail four times, you will be required to complete additional educational units before attempting the exam again.
Work Experience Hours
Once you’ve completed the aforementioned requirements, the real fun begins! You will be working as a CADC in some type of treatment facility and earning a salary. However, you will not be a certified counselor until you have completed a specific number of supervised work experience hours.
The number of hours needed varies by state and by CADC level. For instance, in California, a CADC-I must complete 3,000 hours. A CADC-II must complete 6,000 hours, and a CADC-III must complete 4,000 hours. A CADC-III also must have earned a bachelor’s degree. No degree is required for a CADC-I or CADC-II and most CADC-I’s go on to eventually earn their CADC-II certification.
What Does A CADC Do?
CADCs work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, inpatient treatment facilities, outpatient facilities and more. While counseling is a big part of the equation, there is much more to this career. Addiction counseling jobs include handling all of the 12 Core Functions of addiction counseling, including:
- Patient Screening
- Intake
- Patient Orientation
- Assessment
- Treatment Planning
- Counseling
- Case Management
- Client Education
- Crisis Intervention
- Referral (for additional patient support)
- Reporting & Record-Keeping
- Consultation with Other Professionals
How Much Does A CADC Make?
An addiction counselor salary varies based on several factors, including your education level, years of experience, and your location. In general, an entry-level CADC can expect to make about $40,000. Typically, salaries increase as you gain experience, and many CADCs will go on to earn a bachelor’s degree or even a master’s degree to become a clinical supervisor.
Sober College: Get Started With CADC Certification
At Sober College of Addiction Studies, we make it as easy as possible for students to complete the educational and practicum requirements for CADC certification. Unlike traditional colleges or universities, our program can be completed in just six months and is 100% online.
We also offer rolling admissions, so you can get started at any time. Additionally, the total cost for our program is just $4,250 with no hidden fees. Books will cost an additional $300-$500 in all. This is far more affordable than most college programs, yet we still provide you with a high-quality curriculum and support from instructors with years of experience as addiction specialists.
If you want a career where you truly help others, becoming a certified addiction counselor can be an excellent option to consider. To enroll in our CADC certification program, simply click on the Get Started tab on our homepage and select Apply.
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