Interested in Becoming a Substance Abuse Professional?
§ Employment opportunities working with individuals who have substance abuse issues and their significant others can be found even without professional credentialing.
§ However, in North Carolina becoming a substance abuse professional means that a person is credentialed by the State.
§ The State establishes, grants, controls, and requires such credentialing for substance abuse professionals through regulation in order to, among other things, establish standards to protect the public.
§ The organization in North Carolina that is empowered to award, renew, and discipline substance abuse credentials is the North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board (NCSAPPB).
§ Individuals interested in obtaining and maintaining such credentials must satisfy State criteria which means satisfying NCSAPPB criteria.
§ Different states can have different criteria, but to work in North Carolina as a substance abuse professional the credentialing criteria established specifically by the NCSAPPB must be satisfied.
§ Universities & colleges do not award professional substance abuse credentials although they might offer courses and training that count toward the criteria necessary to earn and maintain such credentials.
§ Various agencies and organizations that are not affiliated with a university or college provide training that can be applied toward credentialing as a substance abuse professional in North Carolina.
§ In North Carolina, professional substance abuse credentials are of various types which have differing criteria.
§ Applications and criteria for each of the types of credentials offered through the NCSAPPB can be found through its website.
ú This website can be found by performing an internet search.
ú Or it can be found at www.NCSAPPB.org.
§ Historically, to work as a professional credentialed in substance abuse in North Carolina a worker must be designated by the NCSAPPB as one or more of the following:
ú Substance Abuse Counselor Intern:
· To become a Substance Abuse Counselor Intern, an individual must, among other things:
° Register with the NCSAPPB.
° Provide documentation of one of the following:
ü High school graduation
ü Completion of:
ű A GED
ű An associate’s degree
ű A baccalaureate degree
ű A graduate degree
° Sign a form that indicates commitment to the Ethical Principles of Conduct of the Board.
° Provide a signed supervision contract documenting a continuing supervision process by a CCS or CCS intern.
° Provide documentation verifying the successful completion of 300 hours training according to NCSAPPB criteria.
° Pass a written exam.
ú Certified Substance Abuse Counselor:
· Otherwise known as a “CSAC”.
· To become a CSAC, an individual must, among other things:
° Have been registered as a Substance Abuse Intern with the NCSAPPB.
° Obtain the equivalent of 3 years full time, supervised paid or volunteer experience as a Substance Abuse Counselor.
° Complete 270 clock hours of education/ training according to NCSAPPB criteria.
° Pass a written exam.
° Provide evaluation forms according to NCSAPPB criteria.
ú Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist:
· Otherwise known as an “LCAS”.
· To become an LCAS, an individual, among other things, usually must have earned a master’s degree.
· Please refer to the NCSAPPB website for more specific criteria for obtaining this credential.
ú Certified Criminal Justice Addictions Professional:
· Otherwise known as a “CCJP”.
· This credential only applies to those who specifically work in or plan to work in law enforcement, the judiciary system, and/ or corrections.
· To become a CCJP, an individual must, among other things, satisfy the following criteria:
° If an individual has a high school diploma or GED, he/ she must secure 6000 hours of documented work experience in direct services in criminal justice/ addictions services which must have been obtained over the past 10 years.
° If an individual has an associate’s degree, he/ she must secure 50000 hours of documented work experience in direct services in criminal justice/ addictions services which must have been obtained over the past 10 years.
° If a person has a bachelor’s degree, he/ she must secure 40000 hours of documented work experience in direct services in criminal justice/ addictions services which must have been obtained over the past 10 years.
° If the person has a master’s degree, he/ she must secure 2000 hours of documented work experience in direct services in criminal justice/ addictions services which must have been obtained over the past 10 years.
° The person must also have earned 270 hours of education/ training according to NCSAPPB criteria.
ú Certified Substance Abuse Prevention Consultant:
· Otherwise known as a “CSAPC”.
· This certification is offered to individuals who frequently are not involved in individual and group counseling with individuals who have substance abuse issues.
· To become a CSAPC, an individual must, among other things:
° Have 3 years of full-time experience in the field or 2 years if the individual has a bachelor’s degree or higher in a human services field.
° Earn 270 hours of training according to NCSAPPB criteria.
° Complete at least 3000 of NCSAPPB approved practicum hours that are documented by a qualified alcohol, drug, or substance abuse professional.
° Complete evaluations according to NCSAPPB criteria.
° Pass a written exam.
° Provide verification statements according to NCSAPPB criteria.
ú Certified Substance Abuse Residential Facility Director:
· Otherwise known as a “CSARFD”.
· To become a CSARFD, an individual must, among other things:
° Be a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor.
° Undergo 50 hours of training according to NCSAPPB criteria.
° Provide recommendation statements according to NCSAPPB criteria.
§ Those interested in learning about credentialing are strongly advised to verify current criteria by contacting the NCSAPPB directly.