Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a worldwide epidemic, and the need for addiction specialists continues to grow. If you are interested in becoming a SUD counselor, becoming a Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician (RADT) or a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) are two options you might consider. Let’s take a quick look at each of these types of professionals.
What Is A RADT?
In California, the RADT is the entry-level registration for individuals working toward becoming certified Substance Use Disorder (SUD) counselors. It’s issued by CCAPP, CADTP, or CAADE, the three approved certifying bodies in the state.
Becoming a RADT allows one to gain supervised work experience in the addiction counseling field. It’s also a good opportunity to see if you would enjoy or are a good fit for a career as an alcohol and drug abuse counselor. Typically, people will become a RADT while they work toward becoming a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, or CADC.
RADTs can perform a variety of supervised tasks that support clients and clinical staff in treatment settings, including:
1. Assist With Client Intake
- Gather basic personal and medical information
- Help clients complete intake forms
- Explain program rules and procedures
2. Support Treatment Planning
- Participate in treatment team meetings
- Help document client progress
- Assist certified addiction counselors with planning client activities
NOTE: RADTs cannot develop or sign treatment plans independently, but they may help collect info used by certified counselors.
3. Facilitate Group Activities (Under Supervision)
- Co-facilitate educational groups on topics like relapse prevention or life skills
- Lead recreational or wellness activities
- Support peer discussion groups
4. Monitor & Supervise Clients
- Supervise clients during activities and free time
- Conduct room checks and wellness checks
- Observe and report unusual behavior or safety concerns
5. Maintain Documentation
- Record daily client observations
- Complete logs, reports, and shift notes
- Assist with documentation of services provided under supervision
6. Conduct Drug Testing & Related Duties
- Collect urine samples and perform drug/alcohol testing
- Maintain chain-of-custody documentation
- Ensure confidentiality and compliance with testing protocols
7. Provide Emotional Support
- Listen to clients and offer encouragement
- Help clients navigate program expectations
- Refer issues or concerns to supervising counselors or clinicians
8. Help With Crisis Intervention (Support Role)
- Alert senior staff during emergencies
- Assist with de-escalation techniques under supervision
- Support safety protocols and emergency procedures
What RADTs Cannot Do:
- Diagnose or assess clients
- Provide one-on-one counseling or therapy
- Develop or sign treatment plans independently
- Supervise other staff or interns
RADTs play a crucial support role in addiction treatment programs. They gain hands-on experience in the field while working toward certification, learning the ropes through direct client interaction — always under the supervision of certified professionals.
How To Become A RADT
There are three RADT levels – RADT 1, RADT II and RADT Intern. A RADT 1 must complete a 10-hour orientation and must complete 80 hours of formal education within the first six months of work.
Once you’ve completed these 80 hours, you can apply to become a RADT II. During this time, you must commit to completing at least 50 hours of addiction studies education each year, working toward a goal of completion of 315 hours. Once you complete that, you can become a RADT Intern, and these interns must complete 25 hours of continuing education annually in order to stay registered.
Working Toward CADC Certification
The end goal as a RADT is to become a CADC. In fact, there is a five-year limit for RADT registration. As we stated above, RADTs are working toward the completion of 315 hours of addiction studies education. This is the amount of education required to become a CADC in California.
Sober College is a CCAPP-approved provider for CADC education in California, and you can enroll in our program as a RADT and complete your educational units. Our program has many advantages over similar programs at traditional colleges and universities, including:
1. Sober College is 100% Online
If you are working as RADT, it can be tough to attend in-person classes and still manage a feasible work schedule. With Sober College, you can schedule learning time for whenever it fits your schedule, which is ideal for busy working adults.
2. Sober College’s Program Takes Just Six Months
While you have up to five years to move from RADT to CADC, opting for a faster track has many advantages. With our program, you can complete two of the requirements for CADC certification – your 315 educational hours as well as your 255-hour practicum, both are part of our curriculum.
3. We Offer Rolling Admissions
Unlike a traditional college or university that sets specific semester, trimmest or quarter start times, we offer rolling admissions, which means you can get started with our program at any time.
4. Low Tuition Costs
University programs can be extremely cost-prohibitive, but the cost for our program is just $4,250, with an additional $300-$500 for books in total. There are no hidden fees either; this is exactly what you will pay, and our curriculum will prepare you for your career as well as the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor exam, which is another requirement for substance abuse counselor certification.
Additional CADC Requirements
Once you have completed your educational hours, practicum and passed the IC&RC exam, your final requirement will be to complete your supervised work experience hours. This will be paid work, it is simply supervised experience, and you will be handling all of the day-to-day tasks that certified counselors handle.
In California, you will need to complete 3,000 hours to earn CADC-I certification, 6,000 hours for CADC-II certification and 4,000 hours for CADC-III certification. CADC-IIIs must have earned a bachelor’s degree, as well. No degree is required for CADC-I or CADC-II certification.
Get Started With CADC Certification!
Whether you are a RADT that need to complete the steps toward CADC certification, or you are bypassing the RADT level, we can help. To enroll in our addiction studies program, simply click on the Get Started tab on our homepage and click Apply. Additionally, our program is NAADAC-approved and IC&RC-approved so it can be used in most states and even internationally for many types of counselor certification.
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