If you are working toward becoming a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, or CADC, you may be wondering how to advance your career after earning your initial CADC I certification. For many counselors, earning your CADC II certification is the next step, but the requirements for this level vary widely by state.
What Is A CADC?
A CADC is a common type of substance use disorder (SUD) counselor, and this title is used in many states. Some states, however, will use another term for this job position, such as Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, or LADC. In many cases, though the names vary, the requirements for certification are similar.
In some states, there are several levels of certification. For instance, California recognizes three levels of CADC certification: CADC-I, CADC-II, and CADC-III. Some states also have three levels, while others have only one or two levels of CADC.
In general, a CADC I will work toward becoming a CADC II over time. CADC II requirements vary by state, as well. If you want to become a SUD counselor, we highly recommend looking at your state certification board’s specific requirements.
What Are The Requirements For CADC Certification?
Substance abuse counselor certification requirements vary by state, but generally, all applicants must complete a specific number of educational units, as well as a specified number of practicum hours and supervised work experience hours.
Applicants also will be required to pass the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam. IC&RC stands for International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium. This is an international organization that provides certification testing for several different types of SUD counselors, including CADCs, as well as prevention specialists, clinical supervisors, peer recovery specialists, and more.
When it comes to educational units, these are an addition to any earned college degrees. Typically, a state will require 315 hours/units of addiction studies curriculum. You also must complete at least 255 hours of practicum experience, which is an internship. Some states require more practicum hours. For instance, North Carolina and Oregon require 300 hours.
During the practicum hours, you will get to experience a wide variety of addiction counseling skills firsthand, from treatment planning to case management to client education and much more.
Once you’ve completed your educational units and practicum, you should be ready to take your ADC exam as well as begin your supervised work experience hours. The number of work experience hours varies by state and by CADC level. Let’s use California as an example. This state requires an applicant to complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience to earn CADC-I certification and 6,000 hours to earn CADC II certification.
Each state is unique in the number of hours required, so, again, be sure to research what your state’s certification boards require. Additionally, many states will count your practicum hours toward this total. It’s also important to note that, beyond the practicum hours, the work experience hours will be paid. You will be a trainee counselor handling all of the typical tasks that certified counselors handle.
Additionally, once you become a certified counselor, you will need to renew your certification every two years. Generally, to renew, you will need to complete a set number of continuing education (CE) hours, typically 40-50 hours.
Do You Need A College Degree For CADC II Certification?
In most cases, you don’t need a college diploma to become a CADC I or the equivalent. Most states offer one or two types of SUD counselor certification that do not require a college degree.
When it comes to CADC-II certification, the requirements vary. For instance, in California, Michigan, Maine, and several other states, you do not need a college degree to become a CADC I or a CADC II. California does require a bachelor’s degree for anyone wishing to earn their CADC III certification.
Other states, such as Oregon, will allow CADC-I certification without a college degree, but require the completion of a bachelor’s degree for CADC II certification. Some states will require completion of an associate’s degree for CADC-II certification, but do not require a bachelor’s degree.
Most states require 6,000 hours of work experience, which, given a 40-hour work week, will take about three years to complete. During this time, if you live in a state that requires a bachelor’s or associate degree, you can slowly work toward completion of that degree so that you can earn your CADC II certification.
While earning your degree can seem like a daunting prospect, a substance abuse counselor with a bachelor’s degree usually will earn a higher salary and also tends to have more job opportunities in general, so it can be a great option to consider.
How Sober College Can Help
If you want to become an addiction counselor, specifically a CADC or the equivalent, Sober College’s curriculum can be used in most states to complete your educational requirements. Our program includes 315 hours of IC&RC-approved education, and we are NAADAC-approved and CCAPP-approved, as well.
Our program also includes 255 hours of practicum experience, which is the requirement in most states. If your state requires more hours, you can simply continue to work in your internship until your requirement has been met. We also provide you with everything you need to know to pass the IC&RC ADC exam.
All CADCs, regardless of the level, must complete this educational requirement as well as the practicum and the IC&RC exam. Typically, though, someone working toward CADC II certification already will have completed these steps to earn their CADC I certification.
Our program can be an excellent option for many people hoping to earn their CADC certification. Because we are IC&RC reciprocal and NAADAC-approved, our curriculum can be used in all U.S. states except Alaska, Montana, and North Dakota, which have unique educational requirements.
Sober College is also is 100% online, which makes it easy for busy adults to fit in learning when it’s convenient rather than having to attend in-person classes. Our program also can be completed in just six months, so you can truly jumpstart your career as a certified addiction counselor with Sober College. We also offer rolling admissions, so you can begin at any time.
Once you’ve completed our program and earned your CADC I certification, you can work toward becoming a CADC II, which is a significant professional achievement as it reflects your advanced clinical experience. If you are ready to take the first step in your journey toward becoming a CADC and wish to enroll in our program, just head to our homepage, select the Apply tab, and download our application.
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