CADC
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor
Overview of CADC Requirements
Experience
Up to 6,000 hours (depending on level and focus of degree), full- or part-time clinical counseling experience working with substance use disorder clients.
Education
300 education hours. Of these hours, 180 must be specific to substance use disorders and the additional 120 may be related to the ADC Domains.
Specific substance use disorder education for the CADC must be in the IC&RC ADC Domain topics and must be specifically focused on alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drug use issues. Key words in course titles are: substance abuse, substance use disorder, drug addiction, chemical dependency, alcohol, tobacco, drug use, or co-occurring disorders. General courses in clinical theory and therapeutic methods will count as related to SUD specialty services.
Supervision
Up to 300 hours (depending on level and focus of degree), of direct supervision in SUD services, specific to the IC&RC/ADC Performance Domains (with a minimum of 10 hours in each Domain.
Testing
IC&RC/ADC, Alcohol and Drug Counselor examination – or AADC exam (if you’re working on future Master’s degree.)
Code of Ethics
Sign and adhere to the current IRBO Code of Ethics.
Residency
Must live or work within the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico fifty-one (51%) percent of the time.
Application
When all requirements have been completed, submit your CADC application to IRBO for review. All documentation must be on copies of the forms provided and in the format specified in the application forms and instructions. Please note, all requirements must have been completed within the previous ten years of submitting the application.
Fee
Submit the non-refundable application fees with application.
Initial Certification
Once approved, the initial CADC certification period will be for two (2) years.
Renewal
Renewal at the end of the two (2) year period requires submission of the Renewal Application and proof of completion of at least 40 hours of continuing education, with at least 20 being SUD specific.
CAADC
Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor
Overview of CAADC Requirements
Experience
2,000 hours, full- or part-time clinical counseling experience, post Masters degree, working with substance use disorder clients.
Education
Master’s Degree or higher, or license at a Master’s level, in psychology, social work, counseling, psychiatric nursing, addiction science, or marriage and family therapy, with a clinical application. 180 total education contact hours. 180 education hours that are specific to substance use disorders.
Education for the CAADC must be in the IC&RC AADC Domain topics and must be specifically focused on alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drug use issues. Key words in course titles are: substance abuse, substance use disorder, drug addiction, chemical dependency, alcohol, tobacco, drug use, or co-occurring disorders. General courses in clinical theory and therapeutic methods will not count if not specific to SUD specialty services.
Supervision
100 hours of direct supervision in SUD services, post-Master’s degree, specific to the IC&RC/AADC Performance Domains (with a minimum of 25 hours in each Domain.
Testing
IC&RC/AADC, Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor examination
Code of Ethics
Sign and adhere to the current IRBO Code of Ethics.
Residency
Must live or work within the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico fifty-one (51%) percent of the time.
Application
When all requirements have been completed, submit your CAADC application to IRBO for review. All documentation must be on copies of the forms provided and in the format specified in the application forms and instructions. Please note, all requirements must have been completed within the previous ten years of submitting the application.
Fee
Submit the non-refundable application fees with application.
Initial Certification
Once approved, the initial CAADC certification period will be for two (2) years.
Renewal
Renewal at the end of the two (2) year period requires submission of the Renewal Application and proof of completion of at least 40 hours of continuing education, with at least 20 hours being SUD specific.