Distance Learning Addiction Education Counselor Training

CREDENTIALING REQUIREMENTS
Updated: 9/06

Florida  

Florida Certification Board (FCB)

1715 South Gadsen Street
Tallahassee, FL  32301 USA
 
Phone: (850) 222-6314
Fax:      (850) 222-6247
Website: www.flcertificationboard.org
Email: admin_assist@flcertificationboard.org

 
Requirements:
FCB sets the standards for several levels of certification for addiction professionals in Florida. There are three levels of classification within each category of certification. The three certifications are: addiction, criminal justice, and prevention/early intervention.

ADDICTIONS CERTIFICATION

Each Certified Addictions Professional classification has its own educational eligibility requirements. All college/university degrees and hours must be earned through an accredited college/university that is recognized through the American Council on Education. An eligible supervisor (cannot be a spouse) must either have a CAP or a master's degree in a social or behavioral science with 2 years experience. As of January 1, 2001, an eligible supervisor must be a CAP or licensed according to Chapter 490 or 491, Florida Statutes.

Florida Specific Exam
This exam ($50 fee) measures proficiency in the following areas:

  1. Documentation
  2. Treatment services
  3. Screening, intake, orientation
  4. Professional responsibility
  5. Case management and referral
  6. Prevention services
  7. Criminal justice services

International Exam
This exam ($75 fee) measures proficiency in the following areas:

  1. Assessment
  2. Case Management
  3. Professional responsibility
  4. Counseling
  5. Education

1. Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS):

This classification is viewed as the first stage in the professional development of the addiction counselor who operates in an adjunctive capacity in addiction treatment. The requirements for this level are as follows:

Degree: No academic degree required
Experience: 2,000 hours of Direct Service - Must be within the past 10 years.
This equals 1 year of full-time work
Supervision: 100 hours of Direct Supervision (A minimum of 8 hours must be documented in each of the 8 professional practice dimensions)
Education: 150 hours of Education – At least 70 in the following:
  1. Clinical Evaluation – 10 hours
  2. Treatment Planning – 5 hours
  3. Referral – 5 hours
  4. Service Coordination – 5 hours
  5. Counseling – 20 hours
  6. Client, Family and Community Education – 5 hours
  7. Documentation – 5 hours
  8. Professional and Ethical Responsibilities – 15 hours

The remaining 80 hours must be in the transdisciplinary foundations as follows:
40 hours in Understanding Addiction/Treatment Knowledge; AND 40 hours in Application to Practice/ Professional Readiness. Within these 80 hours must be at least 4 hours of HIV and 2 hours of domestic violence education/training.
Written exam(s): Florida Specific Exam
Oral exam: No


2. Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC):

This classification is viewed as an intermediate stage in the professional development of the addiction counselor who operates in an adjunctive capacity in addiction treatment. The requirements for this level are as follows:

Degree: Associate Degree or High School Diploma/GED
Experience: If Associate Degree:
4,000 hours of Direct Service (within 10 years)

If High School Diploma/GED:
6,000 hours of Direct Service (within 10 years)
Supervision: If Associate or Vocational Degree:
150 hours of Direct Supervision (A minimum of 8 hours must be documented in each of the 8 professional practice dimensions)

If High School Diploma/GED:
300 hours of Direct Supervision (A minimum of 16 hours must be documented in each of the 8 TAP 21 professional practice dimensions)
Education: 250* hours of Education – At least 130 in the following:
  1. Clinical Evaluation– 25 hours
  2. Treatment Planning – 15 hours
  3. Referral – 5 hours
  4. Service Coordination – 5 hours
  5. Counseling – 30 hours
  6. Client, Family and Community Education – 10 hours
  7. Documentation – 10 hours
  8. Professional and Ethical Responsibilities – 30 hours

The remaining 120 hours must be in the transdisciplinary foundations as follows:
60 hours in Understanding Addiction/Treatment Knowledge; AND 60 hours in Application to Practice/ Professional Readiness. Within these 120 hours must be at least 4 hours of HIV and 2 hours of domestic violence education/training.
*For reciprocity, 270 hours are required – additional 20 hours must be in the transdisciplinary foundations.
Written exam(s): Florida Specific Exam
International Exam (if reciprocity is desired at this level)
Oral exam: No
Yes (if reciprocity wanted)


3. Certified Addiction Professional (CAP):

This classification is viewed as the title for the addiction treatment professional primarily involved in providing direct treatment services in addictions. The requirements for this classification are as follows:

Degree: Bachelor’s Degree (minimum)
Experience: 6,000 hours of Direct Service
(within past 10 years)
Supervision: 300 hours of Direct Supervision (A minimum of 20 hours must be documented in each of the 9 professional practice dimensions)
Education: 350 hours of Education – At least 190 in the following:
  1. Clinical Evaluation (20 hours in Assessment & 15 in screening)
  2. Treatment Planning – 20 hours
  3. Referral – 5 hours
  4. Service Coordination – 5 hours
  5. Counseling – 50 hours
  6. Client, Family and Community Education – 15 hours
  7. Documentation – 15 hours
  8. Professional and Ethical Responsibilities – 30 hours
  9. Supervision – 15 hours

The remaining 160 hours must be in the transdiscipliary foundations as follows:

80 hours in Understanding Addiction/Treatment Knowledge; AND 80 hours in Application to Practice/ Professional Readiness. Within these 160 hours must be at least 4 hours of HIV and 2 hours of domestic violence education/training.
Written exam(s): Florida Specific Exam, and International Exam
Oral exam: Yes **

** Oral exam exemption: For applicants applying for the CAP certification with a Master’s Degree in a clinical counseling or counseling-related field (i.e., social work, mental health counseling, marriage and family, psychology), the oral exam may be waived if the following requirements are met:
Degree was received from a fully accredited institution, recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation, AND:
Have at least one university-sponsored supervised clinical practicum, internship, or field experience in a counseling setting where you provided clinical services directly to clients, OR:
Have registered Intern Status through the Agency for Health Care Administration.

A written request to waive the oral exam must accompany your application.


ADDICTIONS PREVENTION CERTIFICATION

Each Certified Addictions Prevention Professional classification has its own educational eligibility requirements. All college/university degrees and hours must be earned through an accredited college/university that is recognized through the American Council on Education. An eligible supervisor (cannot be a spouse) must either have a CAP/CAPP or a Master's degree in a social or behavioral science with 2 years experience. As of January 1, 2001, an eligible supervisor must be a CAP /CAPP or licensed according to Chapter 490 or 491, Florida Statutes.

1. Certified Associate Addiction Prevention Professional-1 (CAAPP-1):

This classification is viewed as the first stage in the professional development of the addiction counselor for those operating in an adjunctive capacity in prevention services. The requirements for this level are as follows:

Degree: No academic degree required
Experience: 2,000 hours of Direct Service
(Must be within the past 10 years)
Supervision: 100 hours of Direct Supervision
(A minimum of 5 hours must be documented in each skill area)
Education:
150 total hours of Education, which must include:
100 hours of Prevention/Early Intervention
15 hours must be in Ethics (included in Prevention)
50 hours of Addiction education
4 hours must be in HIV/AIDS*
2 hours must be in Domestic Violence*
* Part of the total Education requirement, and counts for either Addiction or Prevention
Written exam(s): Florida Specific Exam


2. Certified Associate Addiction Prevention Professional-2 (CAAPP-2):

This classification is viewed as an intermediate stage in the professional development of the prevention counselor for those operating in an adjunctive capacity in prevention services. The requirements for this level are as follows:

Degree: Associate Degree or High School Diploma/GED
Experience: If Associate Degree:
4,000 hours of Direct Service
(Must be within the past 10 years)

If High School Diploma/GED:
6,000 hours of Direct Service
(Must be within the past 10 years)
Supervision: If Associate Degree:
150 hours of Direct Supervision
(A minimum of 5 hours must be documented in each skill area)

If High School Diploma/GED:
300 hours of Direct Supervision
(A minimum of 10 hours must be documented in each skill area)
Education:
270 total hours of Education, which must include:
175 hours in Prevention/Early Intervention
30 hours must be Ethics (included in Prevention)
95 hours of Addiction education
4 hours must be in HIV/AIDS*
2 hours must be in Domestic Violence*
* Part of the total Education requirement, and counts as either Addiction or Prevention
Written exam(s): Florida Specific Exam
International Prevention Exam (if reciprocity is desired at this level)


3. Certified Addiction Prevention Professional (CAPP):

This classification is viewed as the title for the prevention professional primarily involved in providing direct treatment services in addictions. The requirements for this level are as follows:

Degree: Bachelor’s Degree
Experience: 6,000 hours of Direct Service
(Must be within the past 10 years)
Supervision: 300 hours of Direct Supervision
(A minimum of 10 hours must be documented in each skill area)
Education:
300 total hours of Education, which must include:
200 hours in Prevention/Early Intervention
30 hours must be in Ethics (included in Prevention)
100 hours in Addiction
4 hours must be in HIV/AIDS*
2 hours must be in Domestic Violence*
* Part of the total Education requirement, and counts for either Addiction or Prevention
Written exam(s): Florida Specific Exam, and International Prevention Exam


CRIMINAL JUSTICE CERTIFICATION

Each Criminal Justice Addiction Professional classification has its own educational eligibility requirements. All college/university degrees and hours must be earned through an accredited college/university that is recognized through the American Council on Education. An eligible supervisor (cannot be a spouse) must have a CCJAP/CAP or a master's degree in a social or behavioral science with 2 years experience. As of January 1, 2001, an eligible supervisor must be a CCJAP/CAP or licensed according to Chapter 490 or 491, Florida Statutes.

Florida Specific Exam
This exam ($75 fee) measures proficiency in the following areas:

  1. Documentation
  2. Treatment services
  3. Screening, intake, orientation
  4. Professional responsibility
  5. Prevention services
  6. Criminal justice services
  7. Case management and referral

Criminal Justice Exam
This exam ($75 fee) measures proficiency in the following areas:

  1. Dynamics of addiction and criminal behavior
  2. Legal, ethical and professional responsibility
  3. Screening, intake, assessment
  4. Case management, monitoring and client supervision
  5. Criminal justice system and processes
  6. Counseling

1. Certified Criminal Justice Addiction Specialist (CCJAS):

This classification is viewed as the first stage in the professional development of the criminal justice counselor who operates in an adjunctive capacity in addiction treatment. The requirements for this level are as follows:

Degree: No academic degree required
Experience: 2,000 hours of Direct Service
(Must be within the past 10 years)
This equals 1 year of full-time work
Supervision: 100 hours of Direct Supervision
(A minimum of 5 hours must be documented in each skill area)
Education:
150 hours of Education:
45 hours of Criminal Justice education
45 hours of Addiction education
45 hours of Counseling education
15 hours must be in Ethics
4 hours must be in HIV/AIDS*
2 hours must be in Domestic Violence*
* Part of the total Education requirements, and counts for either Addiction or Counseling.
Written exam(s): Florida Specific Exam
Oral exam: No


2. Certified Criminal Justice Addiction Counselor (CCJAC):

This classification is viewed as an intermediate stage in the professional development of the criminal justice counselor who operates in an adjunctive capacity in addiction treatment. The requirements for this level are as follows:

Degree: Associate Degree or High School Diploma/GED
Experience: If Associate Degree:
4,000 hours of Direct Service
(within 10 years)

If High School Diploma/GED:
6,000 hours of Direct Service
(within 10 years)
Supervision: If associate degree:
150 hours of Direct Supervision
(A minimum of 5 hours must be documented in each skill area)

If high school diploma/GED:
300 hours of Direct Supervision
(A minimum of 10 hours must be documented in each skill area)
Education:
270 hours of Education, which must include:
90 hours in Criminal Justice education
80 hours of Addiction education
70 hours of Counseling education
30 hours mut be in Ethics
4 hours must be in HIV/AIDS*
2 hours must be in Domestic Violence*
* Part of the total Education requirements, and counts for either Addiction or Counseling.
Written exam(s): Florida Specific Exam
Oral exam: No

3. Certified Criminal Justice Addiction Professional (CCJAP):

This classification is viewed as the title for the criminal justice specialist primarily involved in providing direct treatment services in the criminal justice system. The requirements for this classification are as follows:

Degree: Bachelor’s Degree
Experience: 6,000 hours of Direct Service
(within 10 years)
Supervision: 300 hours of Direct Supervision
(A minimum of 10 hours must be documented in each skill area)
Education:
300 hours of Education:
100 hours of Criminal Justice education
90 hours of Addiction education
80 hours of Counseling education
30 hours must be in Ethics
4 hours must be in HIV/AIDS*
2 hours must be in Domestic Violence*
* Part of the total Education requirements, and counts for either Addiction or Counseling.
Written exam(s): Florida Specific Exam, and Criminal Justice Exam
Oral exam: No


CAP through Licensure

Certification and the Licensed Practitioner

Public and private employers, as well as government-subsidized health plans, are requiring clinicians to prove they are proficient in delivering substance abuse services. Managed care operations are increasingly demanding proof of competency. Certification will make a licensed practitioner a more marketable counselor to the insurance/managed care companies.

The Florida Certification Board (FCB) has recognized the increasing need for licensed practitioners to demonstrate their capability of treating substance-abusing clients. In response to this demand for specialization, FCB will provide a credential for the licensed population that will legitimate the level of specialization and professionalism needed when treating these clients.

Please note: Reciprocity is not available with this type of certification. If reciprocity is desired, then the oral exam process must be completed.

In order to be eligible, the applicant must:
1. Provide proof licensure under Chapters 490 or 491, Florida Statutes.
2. Provide proof of 145 hours of addiction specific education in the 2 Transdisplinary Foundations.
3. Provide two colleague evaluations.
4. Pass the International (IC&RC) written examination*. There is a $75 fee for this examination. The written exam samples proficiency in the knowledge base areas. It is a multiple-choice, true/false and matching test of 150 items. The knowledge and skill bases for the questions in the exam are derived from the actual practice of the counselor in the alcohol and drug field.
5. There is a $150 non-refundable certification fee that must accompany the completed application.

Recertification:

Certification is maintained and renewed every year provided the following criteria are met:

  1. Maintenance fees are met
  2. 20 CEUs accumulated annually