Alcohol and Drug Counselor Requirements in West Virginia
Before new laws restricted the prescription of painkillers, West Virginia was at the epicenter of America’s opioid epidemic. But with fentanyl ravaging communities across the state along with meth, alcohol, and other substances, the fight is far from over. By getting certified through the West Virginia Certification Board for Addiction & Prevention Professionals (WVCBAPP), you can provide the ongoing support your community needs.
The WVCBAPP is a state affiliate of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC), one of the nation’s leading substance use disorder (SUD) counselor certification agencies. In West Virginia, they offer two certification options: Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) certification for professionals with a bachelor’s or less and Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) certification for highly-trained clinical professionals with a master’s degree. Both are vital to bringing recovery services to West Virginians who need them.
Select a West Virginia Alcohol and Drug Counselor Certification Topic Below…
- Alcohol and Drug Counselor Certification Requirements
- Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) Requirements
- Application Process
- Reciprocity
- Other Addictions Certifications Offered by the West Virginia Certification Board
- Additional Information
Alcohol and Drug Counselor Certification Requirements
To become an Alcohol and Drug Counselor in West Virginia, you’ll need at least 300 contact hours of education and/or training. Your education hours should cover each of the 12 domains of ADC practice as outlined by the IC&RC. The 12 domains cover everything from basic assessment to counseling and crisis intervention. You’ll also need at least six hours of education in ethics.
Not all of your classes need to focus totally on substance use disorders, but at least 70 hours do. You can earn hours through an accredited degree program and WVCBAPP-approved providers like River Park Hospital in Huntington or national organizations like the IC&RC.
You’ll also need a couple hundred hours of supervised work. How many you’ll need depends on your highest level of education:
- Master’s degree: 100 hours
- Bachelor’s degree: 200 hours
- Associate degree: 250 hours
- High school or GED: 300 hours
No matter what type of degree you have, you’ll need to spend at least 10 hours working on each of the IC&RC’s 12 domains. At least half of your supervised hours should be done under the guidance of a certified ADC Supervisor or higher. Another type of licensed professional like a social worker or counselor can supervise the remaining portion.
In total, you’ll need six years of experience before being eligible for certification. At least three of those years should be directly related to SUD treatment and can include volunteer experience. The other three years can be made up of just general work experience.
If you have a degree in an SUD treatment-related field, you can qualify with less experience hours. For example, if you have a bachelor’s degree, you only need two years of SUD-related work experience. With a master’s, you only need one.
Finally, you’ll need to pass the IC&RC’s ADC Exam at an approved testing site or at home with an online proctor. The test is made up of 150 multiple choice questions, but 25 questions are un-scored.
Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) Requirements
If you’re shooting for the Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor credential, requirements are a little stricter. You’ll still need 300 education hours (with six in ethics) in the 12 domains, but 180 hours need to be spent learning specifically about substance use disorders. On top of that, you’ll need a master’s degree or higher in a behavioral science, human services, or similar field. The WVCBAPP says qualifying degrees must have clinical applications.
Like ADCs, AADCs in West Virginia need six years of qualifying work experience. Half can be general while the other half should be dedicated to substance use disorder treatment. One of those six years must be completed under supervision after you’ve earned your master’s. 100 of the supervised hours you earn during that time should be completed under the guidance of an ADC Supervisor, AADC Supervisor, or just an AADC. You’ll also need to dedicate at least 10 hours to each practice domain.
At the end of it all, you’ll take the IC&RC’s AADC Exam. Like the ADC Exam, the AADC Exam is made of 150 multiple choice questions, 25 of which are un-scored.
The Certification Application Process
Whether you want to become an ADC or an AADC in West Virginia, you can apply online through the WVCBAPP website. You’ll be asked to attach official transcripts, supervised experience paperwork, a signed copy of the WVCBAPP Code of Ethics, and notarized document that says your application is true and correct.
The WVCBAPP says it typically takes about 30 days to process applications. Once they process your application, you can register for the exam through the WVCBAPP which will then pre-register you with the exam testing company. Then, you’ll figure out a time and place, take the exam, and receive your full certification.
Reciprocity
Because the WVCBAPP is an affiliate of the IC&RC, addiction counselors from other states with IC&RC-affiliate boards can transfer their licenses to West Virginia without meeting any additional requirements. All you have to do is initiate the process through your home board and pay West Virginia’s $150 reciprocity fee.
Other Addictions Certifications Offered by the West Virginia Certification Board
If you want to become an addiction counselor in West Virginia, ADC and AADC certification are your primary choices, but they’re not your only options. The WVCBAPP also offers Certified Criminal Justice Professional (CCJP), Prevention Specialist (PS), and Clinical Supervisor (CS) certifications.
You can become a Certified Criminal Justice Professional with just a high school diploma, but having a degree can reduce your experience hour requirements. The Prevention Specialist credential is available at two levels: one for individuals with 60 semester hours of coursework, the other for those with bachelor’s degrees. And if you want to become a Clinical Supervisor and help new professionals on their journey, you can do that by being either an ADC, AADC, or CCJP, having five years of experience, and completing 30 hours of supervisor training.
To earn any of these credentials, you’ll also need to pass a final IC&RC exam. The content for each is different, but they follow the standard 150 multiple choice question format.
Additional Information
For any and all questions about the certification process, you can contact the West Virginia Certification Board for Addiction and Prevention Professionals through their website or by phone at (304) 768-2942.
Another great resource is the West Virginia Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors. They host training and advocacy events and have their finger on the pulse of legislation affecting counselors.