Approval for Addiction Counselors in California

Orientation requirement (before you register):

• 10-hour Orientation Course – Ethics, Confidentiality & Boundaries
  • 3 hrs Ethics • 3 hrs Professional Boundaries • 3 hrs Confidentiality
  Upload the completion certificate with your initial RADT application. Course available from CCAPP CE or partner ZipMart.*

Annual Renewal

• 3-hour Ethics course (may cover ethics, professional boundaries, and/or confidentiality)
• 47 hours AOD/SUD each year (counts toward the 315 hrs required for counselor certification;)
• Sign the CCAPP & DHCS Codes of Conduct

For details see the CCAPP RADT page and handbook.

Renewal Completion of an approved 3-hour ethics course consisting of ethics, professional boundaries, and/or confidentiality

Initial certification prerequisites (before you apply):

• 315 hours SUD-specific education from a CCAPP-approved college
  (includes a 45-hour supervised practicum class).
• Supervised work experience
  • 3,000 hours total (includes a 255-hour field practicum)
  With an Associate’s degree in a behavioral-science or allied MH field, only 2,080 hours are required.
• Passing score on the IC&RC Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ADC) exam.
• Fingerprint/background clearance • Signed CCAPP & DHCS Codes of Conduct • Signed Scope of Practice.
• Application fee: $339 (member) | $648 (non-member).

Biennial Renewal (every 2 years on your birth month)

• 50 hours continuing education per cycle.
  • At least 40 hours must be CE from CCAPP-approved providers.
    CE Learning Systems is a CCAPP-approved provider.
  • 9 hours Ethics required.
    • A minimum of 3 hours must address diversity, inclusion, culture, equity, or LGBTQIA2+ topics.
  • Up to 10 hours may be Professional Development Hours (PDHs) from non-approved providers.
• Renewal fee: $100 (member) | $400 (non-member).
  Late renewal > 30 days = renewal fee + CCAPP late-penalty; written request to Credentialing Board required.

Keep all CE certificates; CCAPP may request them during an audit. Duplicate courses are not accepted.

See the CADC-I page for full details:  ccappcredentialing.org / cadc-i

Important: The Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor – Certified Addiction Specialist (CADC-CAS) credential has been closed to new applicants since 1 Jan 2017. Current credential-holders may continue to renew and practice; the requirements below apply only to renewals.

Biennial Renewal (every 2 years on your birth month)

• 50 hours continuing education per 2-year cycle
  • At least 40 hours must be CE from CCAPP-approved providers.
  • 9 hours Ethics required.
    • A minimum of 3 hours must address diversity, inclusion, culture, equity, or LGBTQIA2+ topics.
  • Up to 10 hours may be Professional Development Hours (PDHs) from non-approved providers.
• Sign the CCAPP Code of Conduct and the DHCS Code of Conduct in Certemy.
• Renewal fee: $100 (members) | $400 (non-members).
• Late renewal (> 30 days): add a $70 late fee and complete all renewal steps again.
• Agree to and sign the Scope of Practice statement.

Keep all CE certificates; CCAPP may request them during an audit. Duplicate courses are not accepted.

See the CADC-CAS renewal page for full instructions: ccappcredentialing.org / cadc-cas

Initial certification prerequisites (before you apply):

• 315 hours SUD-specific education from a CCAPP-approved college.
• 6,000 hours supervised work experience (includes a 255-hour field practicum).
• Passing score on the IC&RC Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ADC) exam.
• Fingerprint/background clearance • Signed CCAPP & DHCS Codes of Conduct • Signed Scope of Practice.
• Application fee: $339 (member) | $648 (non-member).

Biennial Renewal (every 2 years on your birth month)

• 50 hours continuing education per cycle.
  • At least 40 hours must be CE from CCAPP-approved providers.
  • 9 hours Ethics & Confidentiality required.
    • A minimum of 3 hours must cover diversity, inclusion, culture, equity, or LGBTQIA2+ topics.
  • Up to 10 hours may be Professional Development Hours (PDHs) from non-approved providers.
• Renewal fee: $150 (member) | $400 (non-member).
  Late renewal > 30 days = renewal fee + $70 (member) or $138 (non-member) late penalty.

Keep all CE certificates; CCAPP may request them during an audit. Duplicate courses are not accepted.

See the CADC-II page for full instructions:  ccappcredentialing.org / cadc-ii

Initial certification prerequisites (before you apply):

• Bachelor’s degree in a behavioral-science or allied MH field.
• 315 hours SUD-specific education from a CCAPP-approved college.
• 4,000 hours supervised work experience (includes a 255-hour practicum).
• Passing score on the IC&RC Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ADC) exam.
• Fingerprint/background clearance • Signed CCAPP & DHCS Codes of Conduct • Signed Scope of Practice.
• Application fee: $339 (member) | $648 (non-member).

Biennial Renewal (every 2 years on your birth month)

• 50 hours continuing education per cycle.
  • At least 40 hours must be CE from CCAPP-approved providers.
  • 9 hours Ethics & Confidentiality required.
    • A minimum of 3 hours must cover diversity, inclusion, culture, equity, or LGBTQIA2+ topics.
  • Up to 10 hours may be Professional Development Hours (PDHs) from non-approved providers.
• Renewal fee: $150 (member) | $400 (non-member).
  Late renewal > 30 days = renewal fee + $70 late penalty; credentials expired > 30 days also require a letter to the Credentialing Board.

Keep all CE certificates; CCAPP may request them during an audit. Duplicate courses are not accepted.

See the CADC-III page for full instructions:  ccappcredentialing.org / cadc-iii

Initial certification prerequisites (before you apply):

• Master’s degree in a behavioral-science or allied mental-health field.
• 300 hours advanced AOD/SUD education from a CCAPP-approved provider.
• 4,000 hours supervised work experience (includes a 255-hour practicum).
• Passing score on the IC&RC Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (AADC) exam.
• Professional liability insurance – minimum $1 million per incident / $300k aggregate.
• Fingerprint/background clearance • Signed CCAPP & DHCS Codes of Conduct • Signed Scope of Practice.
• Application fees:
  • Portfolio Review  $165 (member) | $280 (non-member)
  • Written Exam    $174 (member) | $338 (non-member)

Biennial Renewal (every 2 years on your birth month)

• 50 hours continuing education per cycle.
  • At least 40 hours must be CE from CCAPP-approved providers.
  • 9 hours Ethics & Confidentiality required (effective Jun 1 2024).
    • A minimum of 3 hours must cover diversity, inclusion, culture, equity, or LGBTQIA2+ topics.
  • Up to 10 hours may be Professional Development Hours (PDHs) from non-approved providers.
• Re-sign CCAPP & DHCS Codes of Conduct in Certemy.
• Renewal fee: $200 (member) | $425 (non-member).
  Late renewal > 30 days = renewal fee + $70 late penalty; credentials expired > 30 days also require a letter to the Credentialing Board.

Keep all CE certificates; CCAPP may request them during an audit. Duplicate courses are not accepted.

See the LAADC page for full instructions:  ccappcredentialing.org / laadc

This credential is obtained only after having achieved a LAADC credential, then you may advance to the LAADC-S. To advance you will need 45 hours clinical supervision education. Renewal Completion of 56 hours of CEUs including six hours six hours in clinical supervision and nine hours in ethics and confidentiality. A minimum of three (3) of these ethics hours must be on the subjects of diversity, inclusion, culture, equity, or LGBTQIA2+.

six hours in clinical supervision and nine hours of ethics. A minimum of three (3) of these ethics hours must be on the subjects of diversity, inclusion, culture, equity, or LGBTQIA2+

Complete a minimum of 25 hours of AOD-related continuing education each year. The 5-year registration clock begins on the date you first registered as a RADT Trainee I. You must achieve full certification within 5 years of that initial registration date. Failure to do so will result in the expiration of your registration and ineligibility to continue in the field without starting over.

Initial - 120 hours. 50 hours AOD specific and six hours of prevention specific ethics education.

Initial As of July 22, 2022, obtaining certification as a peer support specialist requires 80 hours of education. Renewal 6 hours of Ethics and Confidentiality