Addiction Counselor Requirements in Mississippi
Mississippi’s alcohol and drug counselors are compassionate advocates for every client they work with struggling under the weight of substance use disorder. These professionals apply evidence-based counseling services that help transform people’s relationships with addictive substances and behaviors, and with themselves. It’s a life-affirming process that brings lives, families, and communities back from the brink.
The Mississippi state government does not regulate addiction counselors through licensure or certification. Instead, like many other states, employers and the public rely on a nonprofit organization to vet and certify qualified counselors.
As such, addiction counselors in Mississippi earn certification through the Mississippi Association of Addiction Professionals (MAAP), a member of the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC). IC&RC is nationally recognized and serves as a certification and exam agency throughout the US and in several other countries.
In Mississippi, addiction counselors can become certified at four different levels:
- Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC)
- CADC-I
- CADC-II
- Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC)
Separately, the Mississippi Department of Mental Health/Division of Professional Licensure and Certification (PLACE) also offers the Certified Addictions Therapist (CAT), a master’s or doctoral-level credential specifically for professionals employed in Mississippi’s state mental health system.
Select a Mississippi Addiction Therapist / Counselor Topic Below…
- MAAP Alcohol and Drug Counselor Certification Requirements
- The MAAP Application Process
- PLACE Certification Requirements
- The CAT Application Process
- Additional Information
MAAP Alcohol and Drug Counselor Certification Requirements
To earn certification as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) through the Mississippi Association of Addiction Professionals (MAAP), you must meet the following requirements:
CADC
To earn the CADC credential, you must have a high school diploma or GED, although if you have a degree, the required supervised work experience hours are reduced:
- No degree: 6,000 hours
- Associate’s degree: 5,000 hours
- Bachelor’s degree: 4,000 hours
- Master’s degree: 2,000 hours
All applicants must have at least 270 hours of education/training that meet IC&RC domains (Screening, Assessment, and Engagement; Treatment Planning, Collaboration, and Referral; Counseling; and Professional & Ethical Responsibilities). Of these, six hours must be in alcohol and drug counseling ethics and six must be in HIV/AIDS training.
You must also have the following supervised work hours that meet the 12 core functions and IC&RC domains:
- No degree: 300 hours
- Associate’s degree: 250 hours
- Bachelor’s degree: 200 hours
- Master’s degree: 120 hours
You must also take and pass the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination
CADC I
To qualify for the CADC I, you must have:
- A bachelor’s degree in a related field
- At least 270 hours of education/training that meet IC&RC domains (Screening, Assessment, and Engagement; Treatment Planning, Collaboration, and Referral; Counseling; and Professional & Ethical Responsibilities). Of these, six hours must be in alcohol and drug counseling ethics and six must be in HIV/AIDS training
- 200 hours of supervised work hours that meet the 12 core functions and IC&RC domains
- 8,000 hours of supervised work experience
- A passing score on the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination
CADC II
To qualify for the CADC II, you must have:
- A master’s degree in a related field
- At least 270 hours of education/training that meet IC&RC domains (Screening, Assessment, and Engagement; Treatment Planning, Collaboration, and Referral; Counseling; and Professional & Ethical Responsibilities). Of these, six hours must be in alcohol and drug counseling ethics and six must be in HIV/AIDS training
- 120 hours of supervised work hours that meet the 12 core functions and IC&RC domains
- 10,000 hours of supervised work experience
- A passing score on the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination
Certified Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CAADC)
To qualify for the CAADC, you must have:
- A master’s degree in a related field with a clinical application
- At least 270 hours of education/training that meet IC&RC domains (Screening, Assessment, and Engagement; Treatment Planning, Collaboration, and Referral; Counseling; and Professional & Ethical Responsibilities). Of these, six hours must be in alcohol and drug counseling ethics and six must be in HIV/AIDS training
- 300 hours of supervised work hours that meet the 12 core functions and IC&RC domains
- 4,000 hours of supervised work experience
- A passing score on the IC&RC Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) examination
The MAAP Application Process
You must download the appropriate application packet and submit the following: completed application and portfolio forms (signed by you and your supervisor); your resume showing your prior work experience; your official transcripts (sent directly from the school to MAAP); your education resume; and a written case (a case study that demonstrates your knowledge of counseling; written instructions are included in the application packet).
All documents must be uploaded to your Member Portal (if you’re an MAAP member) or emailed to [email protected].
Once your application has been approved, you’ll receive notice from MAAP with instructions for registering and taking the appropriate IC&RC exam.
Mississippi Department of Mental Health/Division of Professional Licensure and Certification (PLACE) Addictions Therapist Certification Requirements
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health/Division of Professional Licensure and Certification (PLACE) certifies applicants at two levels:
- Provisionally Certified Addictions Therapists (PCATs)
- Certified Addictions Therapists (CATs)
Applicants must have graduate degrees, either a doctoral degree or master’s that meets board requirements. The master’s degree should be in addiction studies or in another field related to mental health or human services.
Qualifying master’s degree focus areas include the following:
- Behavioral science
- Counseling and guidance
- Family and child studies
- Family and consumer studies
- Health science
- Healthcare administration
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Psychometry
- Rehabilitation services
- Social sciences
- Social work
Pastoral ministries is an acceptable field if the focus was on counseling or addictions. Sociology or interdisciplinary studies is also acceptable if there was a focus on addictions.
Applicants with other degrees may be certified if they complete additional qualifying education outside the degree. They will need a minimum of five graduate courses in areas acceptable to the Board. These may include abnormal psychology, addiction studies, behavior modification, counseling, cultural sensitivity, developmental psychology, group processes, and professional ethics, among others. Acceptance of coursework is at the discretion of the board.
Applicants must be employed within the state mental health system. Evidence must be provided that a background check has been carried out, and personnel officers may verify that appropriate checks have been done. The process will typically include checking the Motor Vehicle Registry and Child Abuse Registry as well as screening for criminal history.
Applicants will need to complete training to receive full certification. The Department of Mental Health Addictions Therapist Web-based Training Component includes online courses with built-in examinations. Training may be completed through the Department of Mental Health or another vendor.
Applicants will also need to document two years of full-time experience. The PCAT certification is issued for only two years at a time and is not renewable. It may be extended in extenuating circumstances at Board discretion. Provisional credentials are not generally issued to the same individual more than two times, but exceptions may be made.
Active status as a Certified Addiction Therapist (CAT) is held only while working within the system.
The Addictions Therapist (CAT) Application Process
Applicants often first apply for PCAT status and then upgrades to CAT after meeting additional requirements.
Some individuals may qualify for CAT when first applying; an application may be held if requirements have not all been met. A $75 fee is due upon first application. There is no fee to upgrade from PCAT to CAT. Documentation of work experience will be required.
The application is found at the back of the DMH Addictions Therapist Standards and Requirements handbook.
The application must be notarized. Verification of employment must be included. Most application materials are to be included together in a single envelope with the exception of transcripts, which can either be included in a sealed envelope in the application package or arrive separately.
Additional Information
Contact the Mississippi Association of Addiction Professionals (MAAP) at 601-228-1858 or at [email protected] with any questions on MAAP certification.
Contact the Mississippi Department of Mental Health Division of Professional Licensure & Certification at 601-359-5360 or [email protected] concerning PCAT and CAT certification.