Credentialing is an important step before anyone begins working in the helping field. Many professional bodies exist that provide detailed information on standards and requirements needed to work with a certain population. In the alcohol and other drug (AOD) field, there are various certification and/or licensure programs that exist to help individuals become credentialed. In some states, credentialing is voluntary. In others, it is required before someone can begin working with the AOD population.
Here at DLCAS.com we primarily work with individuals who are working to maintain a credential. However, some states are now allowing distance learning for basic education hours needed for initial certification or licensure. DLCAS.com is working to create a basic training track that will assist counselors-in-training in obtaining their required hours. There also exist many outstanding local training programs that can assist you in gathering these required hours.
Regardless of where you obtain your hours, it is out belief that credentialing is important in letting others know that you have taken a comprehensive set of educational and experiential trainings that allow you to work with the AOD population. To that end, we have created a link to a database of state, national, and some international bodies that offer various credentialing services. The following link will take you to the National Addiction Technology Transfer Center's credentialing database.
This database will help you find out more information about various certification or licensure requirements. It will allow you to make the first important step in contacting the appropriate board that can assist you in beginning the credentialing process. Typically, most boards in the United States use standards developed by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (ICRC) or NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals. The local board grants the initial credential, and then a national credential is available from either of these bodies (ICRC or NAADAC). The national credential will probably require you to take more training, gather more experience, or to obtain a degree. Your local board should be able to help you identify what steps are needed for this next level of credentialing. However, to assist you, the following links will take you to ICRC or NAADAC's websites:
DLCAS.com is an approved NAADAC provider and we have obtained board approval in virtually every state at the present time (ICRC does not have a blanket approval process - approvals are granted by individual state boards). You can visit the following site to see what approvals we have in place:
There is also an additional option for a national/international certification in the addictive disorders. This credential is available from the American Academy of Health Card Providers, and is available to anyone, anywhere who meets or exceeds the minimum requirements set by the organization. It can be obtained as an additional credential, or as a stand alone credential. This may be useful especially if you happen to reside in a country or location that does not have any other credentialing process available.
About the American Academy
The American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders is a non-profit credentialing organization devoted to maintaining quality standards for the provision of treatment in the addictive disorders. The Academy was created to establish a core set of standards of competence for addiction treatment professionals throughout the world.
The Academy succeeded in creating the Certified Addiction Specialist (C.A.S.) credential which reflects the highest and most comprehensive standard in the field today, a standard based on contemporary research findings. The Academy unites clinicians from a variety of disciplines under a single standard of health care. Membership is comprised of nurses, doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and counselors unified in their commitment to providing the highest quality of health care for individuals suffering from addiction. The C.A.S. is the most comprehensive credential with specialty areas covering alcoholism, other drug addiction, eating disorders, compulsive gambling and sex addiction.
Minimum Eligibility Requirements
Professionals with advanced or graduate degrees must have:
- A Masters or Doctorate degree from an accredited health care training program;
- Three years of post-graduate, supervised experience providing direct health care services to those identified with an addictive disorder. Pre-doctoral or pre-masters internships at an approved site may be applied accounting for one year;
- A portfolio of clinical training with a minimum of 120 hours of training in basic counseling skills including assessment, interviewing and diagnosis, and a minimum of 60 hours of training in each area of specialization;
- Three professional recommendations. At least one referent must be a supervisor who is personally familiar with the applicant's work and can document his or her health care experience; and
- A completed application with the $80 application fee.
Professionals with other degrees or without a degree must have:
- A high school diploma;
- Five years of supervised experience providing direct health care services to those identified with an addictive disorder;
- A portfolio of clinical training that includes a minimum of 120 hours of training in basic counseling skills including assessment, interviewing and diagnosis, and a minimum of 60 hours of training in each area of specialization;
- Three professional recommendations. At least one referent must be a supervisor who is personally familiar with the applicant's work and can document his or her health care experience; and
- A completed application with the $80 application fee.
DLCAS.com is approved by the American Academy as a provider of educational services.If you'd like more information, or to obtain the necessary forms for apply for this credential, please use the following link: