CCBCDC

Counselor Certification Requirements

1.      Complete a minimum of 155 documented hours of formal AOD classroom education.  Or provide written transcript verifying that he/she has successfully completed an Associate’s Degree (A.A.), a bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.), or a master’s degree (M.A.) in the study of chemical dependency, OR

2.      Provide written documentation of previous employment providing counseling services in an AOD program for the equivalent of forty (40) hours per week for a minimum of five (5) years between April 1, 1995 and April 1, 2005.

3.      Complete an additional 2,080 or more documented hours of paid or unpaid work experience providing counseling services in an AOD program.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the CCDC (Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor) Examination by the CCBCDC, an applicant must fulfill the following requirements:

Requirements for Certification of AOD Counselors

(California Code of Regulations Chapter 8, subchapter 3, Section 13040)

Requirements for Initial Certification of AOD Counselors. § 13040.

Prior to certification as an AOD counselor, the certifying organization shall require each registrant to:

1.      Complete a minimum of 155 documented hours of formal classroom AOD education, which shall include at least the following subjects:

a.      The curriculum contained in “Addiction Counseling Competencies: The Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes of Professional Practice”, Technical Assistance Publication Series 21(TAP 21), published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Reprinted 2002;

b.      Provision of services to special populations such as aging individuals; individuals with:

Co-occurring disorders (e.g., alcoholism and mental illness)

Individuals with post traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]

Individuals with disabilities

Diverse populations

Individuals with cultural differences

Individuals on probation/parole (Criminal Justice)

c.      Ethics;

d.      Communicable diseases including tuberculosis, HIV disease, and Hepatitis C; and

e.      Prevention of sexual harassment;

2.      Complete a minimum of 160 documented hours of supervised AOD training based on the curriculum contained in TAP 21 [as defined in (a) of this regulation] and supervised on-site by an AOD counselor who has been licensed or certified pursuant to this Chapter. As used in this regulation, “supervised” means that the individual supervising the training shall:

a.      Be physically present and available on site or at an immediately adjacent site, but not necessarily in the same room at all times, and:

b.      Document in the registrant’s record that the registrant has completed the supervised training required by this subsection.

3.      Complete, an additional 2,080 or more documented hours of paid or unpaid work experience providing counseling services in an AOD program prior to, after, or at the same time as completion of the education required in (a) of this regulation and the supervised AOD training required in (b) of this regulation.

4.      Must achieve a passing score of 70% on CCDC Examination on a written or oral examination approved by the certification organization.

Re-Certification Information

• Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Counselor certification is granted for a period of two years in accordance to section 13055 of Chapter 8 of the California Alcohol and Drug Programs Administration. The certification period begins with the date certification or re-certification is granted.

• Except as noted below, candidates may recertify either by taking the current certification examination or by submitting an application for recertification by contact hours.

• An Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Counselor candidate with a recertification expiration date before 04/01/05 will have four opportunities to recertify during the year. A candidate who attempts to recertify, either by examination or by contact hours, early in the year without success may retry at a later date during that year.

• For this reason, it is recommended that candidates begin the recertification process early in the year to allow themselves the most options. However, candidates cannot be recertified either by contact hours or by examination until the year their certification expires.

Note: Although certification is valid for a period of two years, as a practical matter, candidates must recertify by their re-certification deadline in that year or their certification will automatically expire on the last date of issue.

The specific dates and deadlines for recertification by examination will be posted on a regular basis on the boards website www.californiacertificationboard.org

Certification Period

• Alcohol and Drug Counselor Certification is conferred for a period of two years. A certification period begins with the date certification is granted. Contact hours, however, must be earned during two year certification period.

Re-Certification by Education Contact Hours

• To qualify for re-certification by contact hours a candidate must demonstrate the completion of a minimum of 40 approved continuing education hours and submitting a recertification application  and all attachments, including copies of relevant Certificates of Completion from approved education providers in accordance to section 13055 of Chapter 8 of the California Alcohol and Drug Programs Administration Subchapter 8.5 of the California Certification Board of Chemical Dependency Counselors.

• Since Education Contact hours are accepted in lieu of re-examination, approved CEU hours must be in specific categories and must include specific topics in accordance to section 13040 (2), (3), (4),  (5) and section 13055 of chapter 8 of the California Alcohol and Drug Programs Administration.

• Continuing Education Hours for recertification must be accrued from the date of certification or recertification date through the deadline of submission of recertification.  No CEU hours acquired before the beginning of the certification period or after the last deadline for submission for recertification by continuing education hours will be counted toward recertification.

Renewal of Certification Requirements

1. In order to renew certification, each certified AOD counselor to complete a minimum of forty (40) hours of continuing education, approved by the certifying organization, during each two-year period of certification.
2. If a previously certified counselor’s certification expires prior to April 1, 2007, in order to have his/her certification renewed, the counselor shall complete 1.6 hours of continuing education prorated for every month he/she was certified after the effective date of this Chapter, and rounded to the nearest whole hour. For example, if the counselor’s previous certification expires on September 30, 2005, the counselor shall be required to complete ten (10) hours of continuing education (i.e., 1.6 hours multiplied by six months) to renew certification.
3. The forty (40) hours of continuing education shall include any combination of the following:
   1. The curriculum contained TAP 21, as defined in Section 13040;
   2. Provision of services to special populations including at least aging individuals; individuals with co-occurring disorders (e.g., alcoholism and mental illness); individuals with post traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]); individuals with disabilities; diverse populations; individuals with cultural differences, individuals on probation/parole, etc.;
   3. Ethics;
   4. Communicable diseases including tuberculosis, HIV disease and Hepatitis C; and
   5. Prevention of sexual harassment.
4. (d) At the certifying organization’s discretion, the forty (40) hours of continuing education may also include other topics related to the field of alcoholism and drug abuse such as residential treatment, driving-under-the-influence, etc.
5. The CCBCDC shall accept continuing education credits hours of training in the areas specified in (c) and (d), provided by any State, county, city, or other governmental agency or by any agency which provides services through a contractual arrangement with a State and/or county agency.
6. The CCBCDC shall receive documentation of completion of all continuing education hours and the subject matter studied in each certified AOD counselor’s record maintained pursuant to Section 13075.
7. Prior to renewing certification, the certifying organization shall review the AOD counselor’s record to determine if his/her certification has been revoked during the previous certification period.
8. If previous certification was revoked, the certifying organization shall document in the registrant’s file its reasons for granting or denying renewal of certification. Within 48 hours of renewing certification, the certifying organization shall send written notification to the Department that it has renewed certification of an AOD counselor whose previous certification was revoked.
9. If the certifying organization denies renewal, it shall send the AOD counselor a written notice of denial. The notice shall specify the counselor’s right to appeal the denial in accordance with the provisions of Section 13070.
10. If the certifying organization decides to renew certification, upon completion of all continuing education requirements and payment of all fees charged by the certifying organization, the certifying organization shall issue a written certificate to the registrant, stating that his/her certification as an AOD counselor has been renewed.
11. If the AOD counselor’s previous certification was revoked, the certifying organization shall deny renewal of certification and shall send the AOD counselor a written notice of denial of renewal. The notice shall specify the AOD counselor’s right to appeal the denial in accordance with the procedure established in Section 13070.
12. If certification as an AOD counselor has not been revoked, the certifying organization shall renew the AOD counselor’s certification upon documentation of completion of a minimum of forty (40) hours of continuing education and payment of a renewal fee as specified by the certifying organization. Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Counselor certification is granted for a period of two years in accordance to section 13055 of Chapter 8 of the California Alcohol and Drug Programs Administration. The certification period begins with the date certification or re-certification is granted.