Substance Abuse Counselor Requirements in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has become the face of the opioid epidemic in recent years, largely due to the infamous Kensington neighborhood in Philadelphia. It’s no secret that drug addiction is prevalent in major cities like Pittsburgh and Philly, but it’s also permeated the state’s suburbs, small towns, and expansive rural areas, too, with tranq (Xylazine), meth, street-grade fentanyl, , and other opiates behind much of the addiction crisis here. But there’s also plenty of hope to be had, thanks to state, city, and private efforts aimed at educating, counseling, and providing treatment for those with substance use disorder. And at the core of these efforts are substance abuse counselors, whose commitment to addiction recovery is second to none.
Substance abuse counselors in Pennsylvania are regulated and credentialed by the Pennsylvania Certification Board, a member board of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC), at three levels:
- Certified Associate Addiction Counselor (CAAC)
- Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC)
- Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC)
Select a Pennsylvania Substance Abuse/Addiction Counselor Topic Below…
- Minimum Requirements
- The Pennsylvania Certification Board Application Process
- Professional Counselor Licensure
- Additional Information
Minimum Requirements
Certified Associate Addiction Counselor (CAAC) Requirements
To become a CAAC, you must have a high school diploma or GED, along with the following:
- One year (2,000 hours) of experience in drug and alcohol counseling
- 300 hours of work experience under the supervision of a qualified supervisor
- 300 hours of education and training, which must include at least 100 hours in SUD and at least 6 hours in SUD ethics
- A passing score on the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) Requirements
To become a CADC, you must have the following:
- A bachelor’s degree
- Two years (4,000 hours) of experience in drug and alcohol counseling for applicants with a relevant bachelor’s degree OR three years (6,000 hours) of experience in drug and alcohol counseling for applicants with a non-relevant bachelor’s degree
- 200 hours of work experience under the supervision of a qualified supervisor
- 300 hours of education and training, which must include at least 100 hours in SUD and at least 6 hours in SUD ethics
- A passing score on the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam
Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) Requirements
To become a CAADC, you must have the following:
- A master’s degree in a relevant field
- One year (2,000 hours) of experience in drug and alcohol counseling
- 100 hours of experience under the supervision of a qualified supervisor
- 180 hours of education and training that includes at least 6 hours in SUD ethics
- A passing score on the IC&RC Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) exam
The Pennsylvania Certification Board Application Process
Applicants for CAAC, CADC, or CAADC certification can apply online or download and print an application and mail, fax, or email it to the Board. Allow for 10 business days for processing.
Once your application is approved, you’ll receive word from the Board with instructions for registering for and taking the appropriate exam. You can learn more about taking the ADC or AADC exam through the Board’s candidate guides:
Licensure through the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors
Master’s level addiction counselors may be licensed as professional counselors through the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors.
Pennsylvania recognizes a number of professional counseling specializations. Licensure requires, at the minimum, a 60-semester hour master’s (or a 48-semester hour master’s with additional coursework to make up the difference) in counseling or a closely related field, along with coursework in Board-mandated areas
You must have at least 3,000 hours of supervised experience (you can begin accruing these hours after you’ve earned at least 48 graduate semester hours) and pass an approved exam.
The Pennsylvania Board accepts a number of examinations as license-qualifying, including the IC&RC Advanced Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor (AADC) exam and the National Board for Certified Counselors Master Addictions Counselors (EMAC) exam.
Additional information
The Pennsylvania Certification Board can be contacted by phone at 717-540-4455 or [email protected].
The State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors can be reached at 1-833-DOS-BPOA or [email protected].
The Pennsylvania Association for Addiction Professionals is an additional professional resource.