CERTIFYING ORGANIZATIONS

• California Association of DUI Treatment Programs
• California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals
• California Association for Drug and Alcohol Educators

Counselor Certification for Alcohol and Drug Counselors is conducted through the State of CA to help regulate the industry to the professional standards required in the field of recovery.  The certification process is separate from SRJC, and the student is responsible to register, pay and track all of their own hours/paperwork for the state certification process. SRJC is not responsible for your certification process, though we can help guide you through it as best we can. 

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

The following steps must be completed to earn RADT or CATC initial certification - each organization has its own process and additional requirements. Check their websites for specifics.

1. EDUCATION: Completion of an accredited and approved Community College or post-secondary  Alcohol and Other Drug Studies/Addiction Studies (AOD/ADS)program that is at least 30 semester units in length and that is designed to meet Federal TAP 21 guidelines. 

2. EXAM: For applicants who were prior approved to take the CATC Exam, a passing score of at least 70% on the CATC Exam is required., as evidenced by the CATC Examination Score Report, which is a hard copy document given to candidates by the exam proctor immediately following the CATC Exam. For applicants who took IC&RC Exam, a passing score of 500 or better is required with supporting documentation in the form of an exam report.To apply to take the Exam, applicants must submit the Exam Eligibility Application, which is available on the ACCBC website here.

3. EXPERIENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: Proof of at least 2,240 hours of supervised clinical/ field experience hours documented.

• Supervised clinical work experience requirements:
  • Experience may include volunteer or paid experience in the field dating back to the first day the applicant became registered with a DHCS approved certifying organization. Hours cannot be counted during any period your registration was lapsed or expired, or before you first held registration.
  • Experience hours must be completed in a DHCS licensed and/or certified drug/alcohol treatment center or facility. Practicum/fieldwork hours can count toward the total 2,240 hours, as long as the hours meet all other requirements.
  • Experience hours must be acquired by providing AOD counseling services, defined as the following: Evaluating participants’, patients’, or residents’ AOD treatment or recovery needs, including screening prior to admission, intake, and assessment of need for services at the time of admission; Developing and updating of a treatment or recovery plan; Implementing the treatment or recovery plan; Continuing assessment and treatment planning; Conducting individual counseling sessions, group counseling sessions, face-to-face interviews, or counseling for families, couples, and other individuals significant in the life of the participants, patients, or residents; and Documenting counseling activities, assessment, treatment and recovery planning, clinical reports related to treatment provided, progress notes, discharge summaries, and all other client related data.(Overnight tech; driving clients; leading 12 step meetings – are not considered AOD counseling services)

Hours must be documented on the certifying body's required form by the applicant’s supervisor(s) verifying the dates of supervision, number of supervised hours, facility name(s), facility address(es), and counselor experiential functions.

Supervisors must be certified alcohol/drug treatment counselors or licensed professionals, which may be (but are not limited to): Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC), Medical Doctor (MD).

You cannot complete more than 2,080 hours in a one (1) calendar year period. Hours cannot be completed in less than fourteen (14) months.