Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC)

Registration

The process begins with the individual requesting in writing an application/ registration package, including $25.00 to this address:

P.O. Box 10126 Raleigh, NC 27605.

To register and begin the certification process, the applicant must send the following to the Board:

  1. The completed registration form found in the registration application package;
  2. Documentation of high school graduation, completion of GED, Baccalaureate or advanced degree.
    .(Use transcripts as documentation as appropriate).
  3. A signed supervision contract documenting the proposed supervision process by either a CCS or a CCS Intern.
  4. A signed form attesting to the applicant's commitment to adhere to the Ethical Principles of Conduct of the Board
    (Verification Statements).
  5. A check or money order in the amount of $125.00 (non-refundable) made payable to NCSAPCB.

Once the above is received by the Board, the applicant's materials will be reviewed. If found to be in order, the applicant will be granted registration status.

Substance Abuse Counselor Intern

Early registration with the Board is a requirement for entry level certification. However, should an applicant choose to by-pass early registration and seek the status of a Counselor Intern, he/she must submit all of the materials and fees necessary for registration plus documentation of 300 hours of Supervised Practical Training. Once these materials are reviewed and found to be in order, the applicant will be given a written examination (upon payment of $125.00 written exam fee). If a passing score is achieved, the applicant will be certified as a Counselor Intern.

To be recognized as a Substance Abuse Counselor Intern, a counselor must submit and successfully complete the following:

  1. Completed registration form found in the registration/application package.
  2. Documentation of high school graduation, completion of GED, Baccalaureate or advanced degree.
    (Use transcript as documentation where appropriate).
  3. A signed form attesting to applicant's commitment to adhere to the Ethical Principles of Conduct of the Board.
  4. A signed supervision contract documenting the continuing supervision process by a CCS or CCS intern.
  5. Documentation verifying the successful completion of 300 hours of Supervised Practical Training.
  6. Successful completion of the written examination
    ($125.00 written exam fee plus $125.00 registration fee, non-refundable, if not already registered with the Board).

NOTE: If a passing score is not achieved, the applicant may request a retest and submit a retest fee of $150.00 (non-refundable), after a period of three (3) months. Once an individual has been recognized as a Substance Abuse Counselor Intern, he/she may function as a counselor under the supervision of a Board approved supervisor at a ratio of 1 hour of supervision for every 40 hours of practice.

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Certified Substance Abuse Counselor

A Substance Abuse Counselor Intern may seek full certification as a Substance Abuse Counselor after completing the equivalent of three (3) years full time, supervised paid or volunteer experience as a Substance Abuse Counselor. This experience may be full-time or part-time but must amount to 6000 hours of practice not to be earned in less than thirty-six (36) calendar months. He/she must also complete 270 clock hours of Board approved education/training. Once the Board reviews and approves the applicant's experience and successful completion of education, a competency based testing procedure will complete the certification process.

The following is a review of the requirements for certification as a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor:

  1. The equivalent of three (3) years full time paid or volunteer supervised experience (6,000 hours) obtained as defined above. Experience must also be obtained in a setting, program or facility whose function is treating alcohol and drug abuse. If a work setting is not exclusively substance abuse focused, the applicant may accumulate experience proportional to the direct or indirect substance abuse services they perform. For example, with a 75% substance abuse counseling caseload, the applicant would need 4.5 years experience, with a 50% substance abuse caseload, the applicant would need 6 years experience.
  2. 270 clock hours of Board approved education/training in the following ratio: 190 hours substance abuse specific (SAS), and up to 80 hours may be directed toward general skill building (GSB). No more than 25% of the 270 hours (67.5 hours) may be inservice education received within your organization by staff of the same employment. All applicants for certification as a Substance Abuse Professional must document twelve (12) hours HIV/AIDS training/education and six (6) hours professional ethics training/education.
  3. A $100.00 oral examination/case presentation fee plus a $125.00 written exam fee and $125.00 registration fee (non-refundable), if not already paid previously.
  4. Successful completion of a competency-based examination administered by the Board only after the above has been reviewed and approved.
  5. Completed evaluation forms must be submitted by three (3) references: Supervisor, Co-Worker, and Colleague. These evaluations must be mailed directly to the Board by the individuals completing the forms.

Upon successful completion of the oral examination/case presentation a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor certificate and number will be awarded.

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