Counselor Certification

Steps to earn the ACADC Christian Certificate “CDAAC” and the CADTP State Certification “SUDCC”

The credentialing process requires the following 

  • Complete the dual registration process
  • Complete the required 9 hour basic bundle course and receive a passing score on the exam. This includes:
    • Professional and Ethical Standards of Case Management (3 hours);
    • HIPAA, Privacy Rule and Confidentiality of Client Records (3 hours);
    • Analyzing Multiple Relationships between Counselor and Client (3 hours).
  • Successfully complete the CSAC 1 entrance exam and receive the entry level Christian Substance Abuse Counselor credential.
  • Register with CADTP and receive the SUDRC credential.
  • Begin your internship practicum.
  • Complete the 315 hour academic requirement.
  • Complete the required 255 hour field practicum and 2080 hours of AOD work experience.  See the specific sign-off requirements below under “ECPA”.
  • Pass the CDAAC test – Receive your Christian Drug, Alcohol & Addiction Counselor certificate (CDAAC)
  • Complete the required 2080 hours of field experience in a treatment facility that is certified or licensed by the CA-DHCS.  The completion affidavit must be signed by a CA certified AOD counselor or licensed health care provider.  See “ECPA” below.
  • Pass the IC&RC test – Receive your CA state-certified “SUDCC” counselor credential

CSAC I Requirement

The student must register with ACADC, pay the entrance exam fee of $395.00 and complete the CSAC I Entrance Inventory. To register, the student must fill out and submit a completed registration form and enroll to take the CSAC I Exam (included in the registration form). Upon the successful completion of the CSAC I exam (our entry level certificate) and the completion of the registration process, you can move to the phase.  This initial credential qualifies you to begin an internship under proper supervision within a treatment facility that is licensed or certified by the California Department of Health Care Services. The CSAC-1 exam was specifically designed to let us know that you can safely counsel from a Christian worldview. This exam is not a pass/fail. It is designed to show us your level of spiritual understanding and let us know that you have a Christian worldview. If it appears to the inventory examiner that you need help in order to better understand certain principles, you will be contacted by an education counselor who will teach you the important areas one must be operating within as a Christian counselor with a Biblical worldview.

Begin attending required CDAAC classes to meet the 315 hour academic requirement

315 academic hours are required pertaining specifically to alcohol and others drug (AOD).  You can begin to attend classes online or at the Huntington Beach Institute location. If you have prior AOD education, we will evaluate your transcripts and let you know what we can approve and what courses you will need to take in order to meet all ACADC and CADTP requirements.

Field Practicum Tracker Forms

Use the following forms to log and document your internship hours:

Educational Counseling and Progress Accountability – ECPA

Each student must schedule a counseling appointment with an ACADC Education Counselor or Administrator who will initiate a training progress file to track each student and make sure that all ACADC education and practicum requirements are met which include the following:

  • Take and pass the CSAC I Entrance Inventory
  • Take the required 9 hour basic bundle course and receive a passing score on the exam. The 9 hour requirement includes:
    • Professional and Ethical Standards of Case Management (3 hours);
    • HIPAA, Privacy Rule and Confidentiality of Client Records (3 hours);
    • Analyzing Multiple Relationships between Counselor and Client (3 hours)
  • Complete the 315 hour academic requirement.
  • Affidavit verifying completion of the required 255 hour AOD field practicum (must be completed in a licensed and certified AOD treatment facility). The person signing off on these hours must be a state licensed or certified AOD counselor with a level of certification equal or greater than the one you are obtaining or be a licensed health care professional in a AOD clinical supervisor position.
  • Affidavit verifying completion of the required 2080 hours of work experience (must be completed in a licensed or certified AOD treatment facility).  The person signing off on these hours must be a state licensed or certified AOD counselor with a level of certification greater than the one you are obtaining or be a licensed health care professional in a AOD clinical supervisor position.

Required Fees for Dual Certificate Program – $3000.00

  • Registration: $395.00 (due upon registration)
  • Academic: $2605.00 (due when the academic phase begins)

Please Note: The final test and CADTP fees are not included in the above figures. The student has five years to complete the process and will be required to pay the final test fee at the time the test is scheduled.

Quick Contact

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New Life Spirit Recovery
18652 Florida Street, Suite 200
Huntington Beach, CA 92648

866.543.3361
714.841.1906

info@newlifespiritrecovery.com