The California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) was created to support addiction specialists throughout the state as well as to serve the interests of those struggling with addiction. CCAPP plays a vital role in shaping the future of addiction counseling in the state. Here’s a bit more about what they do:
- Certification and Credentialing: CCAPP credentials alcohol and drug counselors in California, offering various certifications such as the Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor (CADC), among others. CCAPP certification is recognized throughout the state and beyond, setting standards for professionalism in addiction counseling.
- Education and Training: The organization provides a range of educational programs, workshops, and conferences to enhance the knowledge and skills of addiction treatment professionals. This includes continuing education opportunities to help counselors meet certification requirements and stay abreast of the latest developments in the field.
- Advocacy: CCAPP advocates for policies that improve the quality of addiction treatment services, increase access to care, and promote the professional interests of its members. It represents the addiction treatment community in legislative and regulatory matters, aiming to influence public policy in a way that supports effective treatment practices and the welfare of individuals struggling with addiction.
- Membership Services: For addiction treatment professionals and organizations, CCAPP offers membership benefits such as networking opportunities, discounts on educational offerings, access to job boards, and resources that support professional growth and service delivery.
- Public Information: The consortium also serves as a resource for the public on issues related to substance use disorders and treatment options. Through its website and publications, CCAPP provides valuable information aimed at raising awareness and understanding of addiction and recovery.
- Ethics and Standards: CCAPP enforces a code of ethics and standards for its members to ensure that counseling services are provided in a professional and ethical manner. This includes oversight and disciplinary actions for ethical violations, thereby protecting the integrity of the profession and the well-being of clients.
CCAPP’s work is crucial in supporting the development of a skilled, ethical, and professional workforce in the addiction treatment field. By providing CCAPP certification, education, advocacy, and resources, CCAPP helps ensure that individuals and families affected by substance use disorders have access to high-quality care and support.
Sober College: Providing Quality CCAPP-Approved Education
If you are working toward the goal of becoming any type of licensed addiction counselor, one of the first steps you must take is to complete your educational units. In California, this means finding an educational source approved by CCAPP.
Sober College of Addiction Studies is proud to be a CCAPP-approved education provider in California and our program is unique with many advantages over traditional colleges and universities. Here are a few reasons why Sober College might be the best fit for your needs:
1.Convenient Online Learning
As a busy working adult, you likely have a tight schedule and trying to attend classes in person can be difficult. At Sober College, all of your coursework can be completed online and during times when it is convenient for you.
Of course, we still provide plenty of support for students. Our instructors can be reached via email 24/7 with a 24-hour turnaround time. Additionally, you can reach instructors over the phone by appointment. We also offer an online discussion forum where students can ask questions or ask for clarification regarding assignments, etc.
2. Rolling Admissions
At most colleges, you have to wait until the beginning of a set term or semester to begin coursework. At Sober College, we offer rolling admissions, so you can get started with the certification process at any time.
Our application process also is far easier than with most colleges and universities. For most students, one needs to simply download and fill out our application and submit this document along with proof of your high school diploma (or the equivalent).
3. Affordable Tuition
Not only can it take several years to complete most college programs, but the cost is also exorbitant. At Sober College, the total cost for our program is $4,250 with the cost of books ranging from $300-$500 total. This is much less expensive than taking the traditional college route, and while we don’t offer financial aid, we can work with you on financing to make paying for our program as easy as possible.
4. A Fast-Paced Program
If you want to truly jump-start into a career as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), Sober College is the perfect fit. It takes just six months to complete our coursework and everything we teach is CCAPP-approved and will help prepare you for the IC&RC exam, which is one of the requirements for CADC certification.
5. Practicum Is Included
In addition to the educational units and a passing score on the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor exam, future counselors also must complete 255 hours of practicum experiences. During the practicum, you must complete at least 21 hours in each of the 12 Core Functions of Addiction Counseling, which includes everything from intake to assessment to crisis intervention and more.
Your practicum experiences are part of our curriculum, so once you complete our program, you will have checked off several steps on your journey toward becoming an addiction counselor.
Beyond Education: Additional Steps For CCAPP Certification
Once you’ve completed your coursework, practicum and IC&RC exam, the last step (aside from applying for your CADC certification) is to complete your supervised work experience hours.
CCAPP requires 3,000 hours of supervised work experience for anyone wishing to become a CADC-I. A CADC-II must earn 6,000 hours and many CADC-I’s will work toward this goal after earning their initial certification. A CADC-III must complete 4,000 hours of supervised work, but these candidates also must have earned a bachelor’s degree.
Once you’ve earned your credential, you will need to complete a set number of Continuing Education credits to renew the certification, which is required every two years.
CCAPP also has many special certifications that they offer, and, depending on your interests, you may want to branch out and specialize in a unique area of addiction care. For instance, you might consider becoming a Certified Criminal Justice Professional (CCJP) and helping those within the criminal justice system fight addiction and maintain sobriety.
Other options include a Medication Assisted Treatment Specialist (MATS), Women’s Treatment Specialist (MTS), California Certified Prevention Specialist (CCPS), Certified Co-Occurring Disorder Professional (CCDP) and several other interesting choices. It is not required to earn any of these certifications, but if these areas interest you, it can be smart to research these career routes.
Enroll Today At Sober College
If you are ready to get started on your path toward CCAPP certification, you can select the Get Started tab on our homepage and select Apply. Outside of California? In addition to being CCAPP-approved, Sober College is also NAADAC-approved and IC&RC-approved, and our curriculum can be used to complete counseling certification programs in most states as well as internationally.
Leave a Reply