How To Become A CADC-III

Category: CADC Certification, CADC-III

If you’d love a career where you could help others fight addiction and heal, there are many options to consider. Becoming a CADC (Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor) can be a great option, and Sober College can provide you with the education you need to become a CADC-I, CADC-II or CADC-III.

Understanding The Different CADC Types

When it comes to earning a CADC credential, you have three different options – CADC-I, CADC-II or CADC-III. All three of these options require that you complete 315 hours of approved education as well as 255 practicum hours, which are basically internship hours where you actually get to work at treatment facilities.

Additionally, all three types of CADCs must achieve a passing score on the IC&RC written exam. There are actually six different exams available through IC&RC, but the exam for CADCs is the Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam.

The real difference between the three types of CADCs lies in the educational background of the student and the number of hours of supervised work experience that student must complete.

If you don’t have a college degree, you can work toward your CADC-I credential or CADC-II credential. For the CADC-I credential, if you don’t have a college degree, you will need to complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience in order to earn the credential. If you are applying as a CADC-I but you have an associate’s degree in behavior science or a related mental health area, only 2,080 supervised hours are required.

For a CADC-II credential, your level of education is not relevant; it is simply a credential that requires 4,000 hours of supervised work experience. Even if you’ve earned an associate’s or bachelor’s degree or no degree at all, the requirements are the same for everyone.

For the CADC-III credential, you also have to complete 4,000 hours of supervised work experience. However, anyone applying for a CADC-III credential must have earned a bachelor’s degree.  CADC-III is the highest level you can earn as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor.

For all three of these credentials, your practicum hours will be counted toward your total hours of supervised work experience. Also, beyond your practicum hours, these supervised work hours will be a paid work experience; it simply means that you will be working under a supervisor during your first year or two.

What Does A CADC Do?

A CADC, at any level, will work in a facility that helps people struggling with addiction. In some cases, this might be an inpatient facility, where round-the-clock help and support may be needed. Other CADCs will work in outpatient facilities, which typically work traditional 9-to-5 hours.

CADCs provide counseling and support for individuals and also might lead or co-lead group and family counseling sessions. Case management and long-term recovery planning also will be part of your responsibilities.

Beyond CADC-III

If you have a bachelor’s degree and earn your CADC-III credential, you have a few additional options to consider. If you continue your education and earn a master’s degree in a behavioral science or related allied mental health profession, you can apply to become a Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LAADC).

In addition to earning the master’s degree, you also will need to have completed 4,000 hours of work experience and complete 300 hours of alcohol/drug counseling-specific education including at least six hours of education regarding counselor ethics, although this may be completed as part of your master’s degree education.

Additionally, you will need to take and pass the IC&RC exam for advanced counselors. This is called the AADC exam, which stands for Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor exam.

Take Your First Step Toward CADC-III

At Sober College School of Addiction Studies, we can provide you with your 315 hours of approved education, as well as test prep for the IC&RC exam, and help you find suitable facilities for your practicum hours.

Our program can be completed online or in-class, depending on your preference. For our in-class option, you’ll attend classes just one weekend per month at our Los Angeles-area campus. In just six months, you can complete your education, and get started on your practicum hours.

If you don’t live near our campus or just prefer to complete your program online, we have two convenient options. Our regular online program can be completed in six months, and you’ll take one class per month, just as you would with our in-class option.

Our self-paced online option allows you to complete the entire educational program in as little as three months. This option also is a great choice for someone who needs a bit more time to complete the program. While you can complete the classes in three months, you also can take up to 18 months to complete your educational requirements.

During your educational training, you will complete six courses:

• Introduction and Overview of Drug & Alcohol Addiction
• Physiology and Pharmacology of Alcohol and Other Drugs
• Law and Ethics
• Case Management
• Individual, Group and Family Counseling
• Personal and Professional Growth

Upon completion of these courses and your practicum hours, you can take the IC&RC written exam. Again, we can provide you with an online IC&RC test prep class to help you better prepare for this exam. All of our curriculum is CCAPP, NAADAC and IC&RC-approved, and you can enroll at any time. Just head to the Get Started tab at the top of this page and you can get started on the path toward earning your CADC-III credential.