Certified Addictions Counselor (CAC I)

Certified Addictions Counselor (CAC II)

Certified Addictions Counselor (CAC III)

Licensed Addiction Counselor

Certified Addictions Counselor (CAC I)

All of the following requirements must be met prior to application for certification as a CAC I:

1. Verification that the applicant knows of no injunction entered against her/him

2. Verification that the applicant knows of no malpractice judgment against her/him, knows of no settlement of malpractice action or claim against her/him

3. Verification that the applicant knows of no complaint pending before, investigation being conducted by, or disciplinary proceeding pending before a grievance or disciplinary Board

4. Documentation of 1000 hours of clinically supervised work experience consisting of at least three of the following alcohol and drug treatment functions and their documentation:

1. Clinical Evaluation consisting of Intake, Screening and Differential Assessment.
2. Treatment Planning including Initial, Ongoing, and Discharge planning.
3. Co-facilitation Counseling of Individual, Group, Couples, or Families.
4. Case Management Services: Case Management Services means an array of services which include at a minimum, assessment of the needs of the client and the client’s family, service planning, referral and linkage to other services, advocacy, monitoring, and crisis management.
5. Client and Family Education.

E.     Documentation of clinical supervision at a minimum of 3 hours per month for full time work experience credit being sought, or pro-rated for part time work experience at a minimum of one (1) hour per month.

F.     Documentation that the applicant has completed the required alcohol and drug training, including:

1.      Within five years prior to receipt of a complete certification application packet, 21 clock hours ADAD approved Addiction Counseling skills class or passing the NAADAC NCAC II or MAC exam and ADAD approved clinical review of counseling skills videotape.

Applicants who completed 35 hours of ADAD approved training in Addiction Counseling Skills prior to January 2004, but within 5 years of receipt of a complete application, are not required to take the 21 clock hour Addiction Counseling Skill course nor the 21 clock hour Principles of Addiction treatment course.

2.      Within five years prior to receipt of a complete certification application packet, ADAD approved Client Record Management or passing the NAADAC NCAC II exam.

Applicants who completed 21 clock hours of ADAD approved training in Client Record Management prior to January 2004, but within 5 years of receipt of a complete application, are not required to take the 14 clock hours Client Record Management course. 

3.      21 clock hours of ADAD approved Principles of Addiction Treatment class.

4.      14 clock hours of ADAD approved training consisting of:

a.      7 hours of DORA approved jurisprudence workshop and

b.      7 hours training on ethical issues in the alcohol and drug clinical setting and Federal Confidentiality Regulations -- 42 CFR, Part 2 - Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records.

Standards and Regulations for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors referencing federal confidentiality regulations 42 CFR, Part 2 do not include amendments to or editions of said regulations later than October 1, 1995. Copies of these regulations are available from: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division, Colorado Department of Human Services, 4055 S. Lowell Blvd., Building KA, Denver, CO 80236; or, the material may be examined at any State Publication Depository Library.

5.      Diversity in Treatment Populations—14 clock hours.

6.      Infectious Diseases in the Alcohol and Drug Treatment Setting—14 clock hours.

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Certified Addictions Counselor (CAC II)

All of the following requirements must be met prior to application for

certification as a CAC II:

1. Verification that the applicant knows of no injunction entered against her/him

2. Verification that the applicant knows of no malpractice judgment against her/him, knows of no settlement of malpractice action or claim against her/him

3. Verification that the applicant knows of no complaint pending before, investigation being conducted by, or disciplinary proceeding pending before a grievance or disciplinary Board

4. For those individuals without a clinical master’s or clinical doctoral degree, documentation of 3000 total hours of clinically supervised work experience consisting of at least three of the following alcohol and drug treatment functions:

1. Clinical Evaluation consisting of Intake, Screening and Differential Assessment;
2. Treatment Planning including Initial, Ongoing, and Discharge planning;
3. Counseling of Individuals, Group, Couples, or Families;
4. Case Management: Case Management means an array of services which include at a minimum, assessment of the needs of the client and the client’s family, service planning, referral and linkage to other services, advocacy, monitoring, and crisis management.
5. Client and Family Education.

OR,

For those individuals holding a clinical master’s degree or clinical doctoral degree from an accredited institution of higher education which includes a clinical internship, documentation of 2000 total hours of clinically supervised work experience unrelated to the clinical internship, consisting of at least three of the alcohol and drug treatment functions identified above.

A clinical degree as used in this subsection is defined as a master’s degree with any of the following designations: Agency Counseling, Community Counseling, Guidance and Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Human Psychology, Educational Psychology, Clinical Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, and Behavioral Studies; or doctoral degree with any of the following designations: Agency Counseling, Guidance and Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Rehabilitation Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Human Psychology, Educational Psychology, Clinical Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, and Behavioral Studies; or master’s or doctoral degree determined by Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) staff to be equivalent to an accredited program with a clinical emphasis.

5. Documentation of clinical supervision of a minimum of 3 hours per month for full time work experience credit being sought or pro-rated for part-time work experience at a minimum of 1 hour per month.

6. Documentation of completion of all CAC I training requirements plus completion of 105 hours of training including:

1. Differential Assessment and Treatment Planning - 14 clock hours.
2. Working with Resistant Clients or Motivational Interviewing - 14 clock hours for applications received before January 1, 2005. For applications received after January 1, 2005, 14 clock hours Motivational Interviewing.
3. Group Counseling - 21 clock hours. 
4. Pharmacology I and II – 28 clock hours total.
5. As of January 1, 2005, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - 14 clock hours.
6. 28 clock hours of ADAD approved training related to clinical issues. As of January 1, 2005, 14 clock hours of ADAD approved training related to clinical issues.

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Certified Addictions Counselor (CAC III)

All of the following requirements must be met prior to application for

certification as a CAC III:

1. Verification that the applicant knows of no injunction entered against her/him

2. Verification that the applicant knows of no malpractice judgment against her/him, knows of no settlement of malpractice action or claim against her/him

3. Verification that the applicant knows of no complaint pending before, investigation being conducted by, or disciplinary proceeding pending before a grievance or disciplinary board

4. For those individuals without a clinical master’s or clinical doctoral degree, documentation of 5000 total hours of clinically supervised work experience consisting of at least three of the following alcohol and drug treatment functions:

1. Clinical Evaluation consisting of Intake, Screening and Differential Assessment;
2. Treatment Planning including Initial, Ongoing, and Discharge planning;
3. Counseling of Individuals, Group, Couples, or Families
4. Case Management Services;
5. Client and Family Education;
6. Clinical Supervision;

OR,

For those individuals holding a clinical master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education which includes a clinical internship, documentation of 4000 total hours of clinically supervised work experience unrelated to the clinical internship, consisting of at least three of the alcohol and drug treatment functions identified above; or,

For those individuals holding a clinical doctoral degree from an accredited institution of higher education which includes a clinical internship, documentation of 3000 total hours of clinically supervised post doctoral work experience, consisting of at least three of the alcohol and drug treatment functions identified above.

A clinical degree as used in this subsection is defined as a master’s degree with any of the following designations: Agency Counseling, Community Counseling, Guidance and Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Human Psychology, Educational Psychology, Clinical Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, and Behavioral Studies or doctoral degree with any of the following designations: Agency Counseling, Guidance and Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Rehabilitation Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Human Psychology, Educational Psychology, Clinical Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, and Behavioral Studies; or master’s or doctoral degree determined by Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) staff to be equivalent to an accredited program with a clinical emphasis.

5. Documentation of clinical supervision of a minimum of 2 hours per month work experience credit being sought for those who already are certified as a CAC II. Documentation of clinical supervision of a minimum of 3 hours per month are required for work experience credit being sought for those who are uncertified or hold a CAC I at time of application.

6. Documentation of completion of all CAC I and II training requirements plus completion of 105 hours of training including:

1. Clinical Supervision—21 clock hours
2. Advanced Counseling Skills—21 clock hours
3. 63 clock hours of ADAD approved training related to clinical issues

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Licensed Addiction Counselor

A person applying for licensure must meet the following requirements for licensure:

1. Hold a valid certificate (in good standing) of addiction counseling, Level III or meet all requirements of addiction counseling Level III; and,

2. Possess a Master’s Degree or higher degree in the social sciences or an equivalent program from a regionally accredited institution

1.      Degrees

a.      Master’s degree with any of the following designations would be acceptable: anthropology, counseling, agency counseling, community counseling, guidance and counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, psychology, counseling psychology, human psychology, sociology, educational psychology, social work, psychiatric nursing, and behavioral studies, or

b.      Doctoral degree with any of the following designations: anthropology, counseling, agency counseling, guidance and counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, psychology, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, human psychology, sociology, educational psychology, social work, psychiatric nursing, and behavioral studies.

1.      Accredited Program

The applicant obtained a Master’s or Doctoral degree from a regionally accredited program either at the time s/he graduated from the program or within one calendar year after the date s/he was awarded her/his graduate degree.

a.      Regional Accreditation

For the purposes of determining regional accreditation of an institution of higher learning, the following accrediting bodies will be accepted: the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Colleges and Schools, the Commission of Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Colleges and Schools, the Commission of Colleges of the Northwest Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In addition, upon proof satisfactory to the Director of the Division of Registrations, other accrediting bodies may be approved on a case-by-case basis.

b.      Foreign-Trained Applicants

Foreign-trained applicants must submit educational credentials to a credentialing agency for evaluation of equivalency. After course equivalency is established, the Director of the Division of Registrations will evaluate the educational credentials to determine whether or not the program is equivalent to a regionally accredited program in the social sciences. The foreign-trained applicant has the responsibility of presenting evidence to prove equivalency; and,

3. Pass a national examination administered by the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) or by the successor of that organization. The examination must have been taken after the Master’s Degree (used for licensure) has been conferred.

The examination required for licensed addiction counselor shall be the NAADAC/National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Masters Addiction Counselor examination.

4. Submit an application to the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) for an addiction counselor license, which shall include the following:

1.      Applicable fee;

2.      Completed Department of Regulatory Agencies application form;

3.      Official college transcript(s) in a sealed envelope from the institution granting the degree;

4.      Verification of passage of the required NAADAC or ICRC examination (copy of original notification letter is acceptable).

5.      Signature on the DORA application which represents an agreement to abide by procedures described in Sections 12-43-212 and 12-43-222 through 227, C.R.S.

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