National Credentials:
Why They Are Important
Kathryn Benson, NCAC II, SAP
Chair, NCC AP
What is an Addiction Professional
Credentialing Program?

An addiction credentialing program is
an organized system of baseline
requirements that must be met in
order for a professional to practice
within a given field
Benefits of Certification

Professionalization of the field of substance use
disorders

Proven method by which addiction professionals are
recognized

Constant actualization of skills and knowledge of
addiction professionals

Clients verification that persons offering treatment
services are competent, skilled and knowledgeable

It improves overall quality of services
What is an Addiction Licensing
Board
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Established to:
Enforce effective Substance Use Disorder
practice
Determine adequate practice standards
Protect the public
Develop and maintain performance
standards
Ensure safety of the public
Act on ethical complaints
Licensure Boards
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15 State - Licensing Board for Substance
Use Disorders
51 State – Substance Use Disorder
Credentialing Boards
Nine National Credentialing Boards
-Available to in every state and
territory
-Similar criteria, requirements,
standards
-State Boards recognized within each
state
Accepted Credential Standards
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Should meet national criteria
Should have specific educational
requirements
Should have specific skills set
Should require clinical supervisory
over site
Should require renewal at least every
2 years
Need and Demand for Behavioral Health
Services
Integration of Substance Use
Disorders practitioners as a specialty
profession is essential
 Recognition that SUD Professionals
have supported the medical, mental
health and other behavioral health
professionals is paramount to
integrated care.

Need and Demand for Behavioral Health
Services

Acceptance that the SUD Professional
has emerged into a full fledged
profession
A Specialty Profession
Substance Use Disorders is a
specialty profession requiring:
 Specific training and education
 Specific skill sets
 Core competencies and knowledge
 Practice experience
A Specialty Profession
This profession has its own
 Core competencies
 Scopes of practice
 Career ladder
 Standard of Ethics
Scopes of Practice
The activities of a counselor within the
Substance Use Disorder profession are
based on the practice dimensions
outlined in TAP 21 and include the
following:
 1. Clinical Evaluation
 2. Treatment Planning
 3. Referral
 4. Service Coordination
 5. Counseling
Scopes of Practice
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6. Client, Family, and Community
Education
7. Documentation
8. Professional and Ethical
Responsibility
Scopes of Practice

Category 4: Independent Clinical Substance Use
Disorder Counselor/Supervisor
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Category 3: Clinical Substance Use Disorder
Counselor
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Category 2: Substance Use Disorder Counselor
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Category 1: Associate Substance Use Disorder
Counselor
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Substance Use Disorder Technician
The Substance Use Disorder
Treatment Workforce
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Full-time Employees 
Part-time Employees 
Contracted Employees 
Administrative Staff 
Prevention Specialists

Nurses
Intervention Specialist 

Mental Health
Counselors
Psychologists
Physicians
Social Workers
Criminal Justice
Workers
Clinical Supervisors
Psychiatrists
Peer Recovery
Coaches
Work Force Placements
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Private and Public ( local, state,
federal and international)
Prevention and Treatment
Schools ( elementary, secondary and
post secondary)
Higher Education(Professors,
Researchers
Under Representation of Minorities
in Behavioral Health Workforce

Although minorities make up
approximately 30% of the U.S. population,
they currently account for only
– 24.3% of all psychiatrists,
– 5.3% of psychologists,
– 20% of counselors,
– 8.5% of marriage and family therapists,
– 4.9% of school psychologists, and
– 9.8% of psychiatric nurses (Duffy et al.,
2004).
Certificants by Race
Caucasian 85.1%
African Am. 8.8%
Asian/ Pacific
Is. - 0.6%
Hispanic/Latin
o - 2.6%
Native Am. 1.5%
Other - 1.3%
Eliminating Disparities

Although minorities are a growing
percentage of the nation’s
population, they continue to be
underrepresented in the behavioral
health field.
• We need to attract more minorities
to the behavioral health workforce.
Eliminating Disparities, Cont.

Only 10.4% of those (12 and older)
who needed treatment for a drug or
alcohol use problem in 2007 received
it at a specialty facility.
• We need to expand access to
underserved areas and populations
with culturally appropriate services
and treatment.
Certificants by Age
30 and below 1.8%
31 to 40 - 7.3%
41 to 50 21.7%
51 to 60 42.1%
61 and above 27.0%
Certificants by Certification/Licensure
AODA Counselor - 54%
Prevention Specialist - 3.8%
Clinical Supervisor - 13.0%
Licensed Prof Counselor - 21.6%
Rehabilitation Counselor - 1.3%
Social Worker - 13.7%
Psychologist / Psychiatrist - 2.2%
Nurse - 3.2%
Physician - 0.2%
Clergy - 2.9%
Other - 7.7%
Certificants by Work Setting
Hospital - 9.6%
Residential Facility - 13.9%
Local/State/Federal Agency - 17.2%
Private Practice - 33.8%
Criminal Justice System - 5.0%
Other - 20.5%
Challenges
Inadequate college/ university
specific education/preparation
 Lack of ability to obtain student loan
and loan forgiveness
 Inadequate supervision
 Licensing/credentialing requirements
vary from state to state
 Inadequate salaries

Challenges Continued
1. Acceptance of career ladder that is tied to
scopes of practice
2. Reduce stigma for patients & professionals
3. Minority recruitment
4. Adding addictions professionals to national
Service Health Core
5. Promotion & Recognition at the agency
and state level to enhance recruitment
6. Resources for one-stop treatment cent
Challenges Continued
7. Training with technology transfer
for Evidence Based Practices
8. Salary & Benefit enhancement
9. Outcome and monitoring systems
for agency Programs (computerized &
software support)
10. Increase funding at the state level
11. Increase funding at the agency
level
Overcoming Challenges
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Building Capacity for HBCU, HIS, and
Tribal, PBS/PBI by providing
technical assistance in increasing
degree programs
Offer both on-line and traditional
courses and degrees
Provide regional leadership
conferences for faculty and students
in the field.
Overcoming Challenges Cont.
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Provide regional curriculum
development workshops through the
use of technology (webinars) in
developing curricula, training
workshops, etc.
Incorporation of Core Competencies
in current Syllabi
Incorporation of evidence-based and
emerging best practices into course
syllabi
Overcoming Challenges Cont.
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Incorporation of infusion into nonsubstance abuse /mental health
offerings in all curricula
Integration of HIV/AIDS and
substance abuse (relationship of
alcohol and other drug use and
mental health to HIV/AIDS) in
curriculum development
Overcoming Challenges, Cont.
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Research and compilation of a
database on the licensure process for
each State
Research and compilation of a
database on the certification process
for each State
Research and compilation of a
database that matches national
accreditation body requirements with
State requirements
Overcoming Challenges, Cont.
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Provide training assistance
opportunities for faculty and
practitioners ready to take licensure
and/or certification examinations in
substance abuse, including mock
examinations, refresher courses, and
assistance with completing
applications
Overcoming Challenges, Cont.
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Creation of a database of
employment opportunities,
cooperative agreement availability,
and substance abuse internship
opportunities at the national and
State levels and with communityand faith-based organizations
serving substance abuse and
behavior health agencies
Overcoming Challenges, Cont.

Expose students to strong mentors
and career opportunities in
behavioral health.
SAMHSA Response:
Minority Fellowship Program
(MFP)
SAMHSA program supported by
all three centers, CSAT, CSAP, CMHS.
 Purpose: to facilitate the entry of
ethnic minority students into mental
health careers and
increase the number of psychologists,
psychiatric nurses, psychiatrists, and social
workers trained to teach, administer, and
provide direct mental health and substance
abuse services to ethnic minority groups.
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SAMHSA Response (CSAT)
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207 grantees who target African
American/Black populations:
• Minority AIDS Initiative: Targeted
Capacity Expansion- HIV/AIDS and
HIV/AIDS Outreach
• Addiction Treatment – Homeless (ATHM)
• Young Offenders Reentry Program
(YORP)
SAMHSA Response, CSAT,
Cont.
Access to Recovery (ATR)
 Treatment Drug Courts (TDC)
 Pregnant & Postpartum Women
(PPW)
 Recovery Community Support
Program (RCSP)
 Screening, Brief Intervention &
Referral to Treatment
(SBIRT)
HISTORY OF THE
CERTIFICATION
PROCESS IN THE
UNITED STATES
History of Certification
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People working in the addiction counseling
profession wanted their skills and knowledge
to be acknowledged and obtain professional
recognition for their work.
A voluntary certification process began in the
early 1970s.
Certification procedures and eligibility were
established by independent professional
boards.
History of Certification
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The US government began in the late 1970s to
include requirements for persons to demonstrate
that they held and had obtained credentials to
practice within the facilities receiving Federal
funds.
Until the 1980s, this was a voluntary process,
and presently in 5 states, the voluntary status
remains. Nevertheless, treatment facilities within
those states require their personnel to be
licensed.
Different states establish different eligibility
requirements for certification or licensing.
THE NATIONAL
CERTIFICATION
COMMISSION (NCC)
National Certification Commission
for Addiction Professionals
(NCC AP)
Under the banner of NAADAC, the
Association for Addiction Professionals,
the National Certification Commission for
Addiction Professionals (NCC Ap) operates
as an independent body for all matters
involving the Association’s alcohol and
drug abuse counselor certification and
specialty endorsement opportunities at
the national/international level.
National Certification Commission
(NCC)
The NAADAC/NCC AP is building the
profession by ensuring high standards
of excellence for certification/licensure
and by providing quality continuing
education.
History of the NCC AP
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Established in 1990 under the auspices of
NAADAC, The Association for Addiction
Professionals
The NCC AP has independent autonomy in the
development and promulgation of our
standards for testing, including:
 who qualifies for the exams
 content
 administration
 scoring
 Appeals
 Development of new Credential Products
Mission of the NCC AP
The purposes and benefits of the NCC AP’s
national certifications are:
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to focus on the individual counselor and to
provide a formal indicator of the current
knowledge and competence at the national
level;
to provide a national standard that is
generally higher than the state requirements
and encourages professionals to continue to
learn for the sake of their clients;
Mission (cont.)
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to afford a means of establishing,
measuring, and monitoring the
requirements for knowledge in the
profession; and
to provide assistance to employers, health
care providers, educators, government
entities, labor unions, other practitioners,
and the public in the identification of quality
counselors who have met the national
competency standards.
Certification Opportunities
The NCC AP instituted three
credentials for alcoholism and drug
abuse counselors:
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National
(NCAC I)
Certified
Addiction
Counselor
National Certified Addiction Counselor
(NCAC II)
Master Addiction Counselor (MAC)
NCAC I Requirements
 Current state certification/licensure as an alcohol
and/or drug abuse counselor.
 Three years' full-time or 6,000 hours of supervised
experience as an alcohol and/or drug abuse counselor.
 270 contact hours of education and training in
alcoholism and drug abuse or related counseling
subjects, including 6 hours of ethics training and 6
hours of HIV/AIDS training.
 Passing score on the NCAC I written examination within
4 years of application.
NCAC II Requirements
 A Bachelor's level college degree from a regionally
accredited institution of higher learning.
 Current state certification/licensure as an alcohol and/or
drug abuse counselor.
 Five years full-time or 10,000 hours of supervised
experience as an alcohol and/or drug abuse counselor.
 450 contact hours of education and training in
alcoholism and drug abuse or related counseling
subjects, including 6 hours of ethics training and 6
hours of HIV/AIDS training.
 Passing score on the NCAC II written examination within
4 years of application.
MAC Requirements
 Master's Degree in the healing arts or related field with
in-depth subjects applicable to the alcohol and drug
abuse treatment arena, by a regionally accredited
institution of higher learning.
 Current state certification/licensure in alcohol and/or
drug abuse counseling or a related healing art.
 500 contact hours of specific alcohol and drug abuse
counseling training.
 Three years full-time or 6,000 hours of supervised
experience, two years or 4,000 hours of which is post
master's degree.
 Passing score on the MAC written examination within 4
years of application.
NAADAC NCC Certificants-December
31, 2011
TAS
0.4%
MAC
37.8%
NCAC I
27.4%
NCAC II
34.4%
Specialty Opportunities
The NCC AP also offers two specialty
opportunities that allow nationally certified
addiction counselors to demonstrate their
knowledge base in a particular area of
expertise:
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Tobacco Addiction Specialist (TAS)
Adolescent Specialist Credential(ASC)
Specialties
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Student Assistance Professional
Endorsement
Peer Recovery Specialist Credential
Co-Occurring Proficiency
Endorsement
Clinical Supervision Endorsement
Other Opportunity
NAADAC offers the training and
validated examination for the
Department of Transportation’s
Substance Abuse Professional
Qualification. (SAP)
SAPs by Region - December 31, 2010
At Large
0%
South West
20%
Mid Altantic
10%
Mid Central
12%
Mid South
9%
South East
23%
North Central
7%
North West
7%
North East
12%
Examination Skill Groups
1)
treatment admission (screening, intake and
orientation)
7)
clinical assessment
ongoing treatment planning
counseling services (individual, group, family,
crisis intervention and client education)
documentation
case management
discharge and continuing care
8)
legal, ethical and professional growth issues
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Training Groups
1)
treatment admission (screening, intake and
orientation)
7)
clinical assessment
ongoing treatment planning
counseling services (individual, group, family,
crisis intervention and client education)
documentation
case management
discharge and continuing care
8)
legal, ethical and professional growth issues
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Examination Domains
NCAC I
NCAC II
MAC
# of questions
250
250
200
Pharmacology
30%
25%
35%
Counseling
practice
40%
25%
30%
Theoretical
base of
counseling
15%
25%
0%
Professional
issues
15%
25%
35%
Examination Development

Contracted The Professional Testing Corporation
(PTC)

Psychometric Expertise
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Testing Administration
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Test items developed by the iNCC Commissioners

Item writing program
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Each iteration is different

Results compiled and analyzed
Examination Security
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Secure area at The Professional
Testing Corporation (PTC)
Controlled access to computer exam sites
Permission card
Photo ID
General computer site proctoring
procedures
 Signature comparison
 Each examination iteration is different
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Ethical Standards and Principles
NCC AP offers Ethics Standards for the Profession
based on the following principles:

Non-Discrimination
Competence
Responsibility
Legal & Moral Standards
Public Statements
Client Welfare
Client Relationships
Inter-professional Relationships
Publication Credit
Confidentiality
Remuneration
Societal Obligations
These core standards are enforced by
credentialing bodies nationwide and abroad.
The Importance of
Maintaining
Your Professional
Standing
Importance
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Protection
Protection
Protection
Protection
Protection
of
of
of
of
of
the profession
your clients/patients
your colleagues
your agency
your practice
Preparing for the Changing Landscape

Better information dissemination

More clarity in public announcements
concerning decisions made at the national level

Equal acceptance of ALL professions

Equal engagement in the planning for the
future
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Use of curricula developed for higher
educational programs (NASCC) – SAMHSA
sponsored
Understanding the role certificants can play in
Peer Recovery, Peer Coaching
The Future
Integration of all services
 TA Center
 Clear career paths in this new
landscape for all professions
 Building of a collaborative, collegial
workforce

Questions
Thank you for your attention.
For more information:
NCC AP
Donna Croy, Certification Administrator
donna@naadac.org
800-548-0497 x 111