To start, there is no single Addiction Counselor Exam; rather, there are several exams for various national, international, and state-specific certifications. First and foremost, make sure to check with your state board to ensure you are pursuing the right certifications. Addiction Counselor exams evaluate your requisite knowledge and skills in addiction counseling. If your goal is to become a certified Addiction Counselor, then taking an Addiction Counselor exam is the right next step for you.
Addiction Counselor Test Study Guide with Practice Questions
The National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, or NAADAC, offers several Addiction Counselor exams, including the National Certified Addiction Counselor, Levels I and II (NCAC I, NCAC II), and Master Addiction Counselor (MAC), in conjunction with the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).
Additionally, the American Academy of Health Care Providers offers the Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) certification, and the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium, or IC&RC, offers several Addiction Counselor exams.
In your state, you may also need to take the Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC), Certified Addiction Professional (CAP), or California Association of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC).
Again, make sure to check with your state to ensure you are getting the right certifications to become a certified Addiction Counselor in your state.
What are the fees and eligibility requirements?
For national Addiction Counselor exams, you will find pertinent information below on fees, eligibility, and renewals. For state exams or IC&RC, you must contact your state board for more information on fees, eligibility, and test dates.
National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I
The initial fee for the NCAC I is $235. Renewals cost $200 every two years. For certification, in addition to passing the NCAC I exam within four years of application, you must have a GED or high school diploma at minimum, plus current credentialing or licensure as a Substance Use Disorder/Addiction counselor issued by your state.
You also need at least 6,000 hours of supervised experience in the field, and 270 hours of contact education and/or training in a related area, with at least half of those hours completed face-to-face, including six hours related to HIV and pathogens training completed within six years of application.
National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II
The initial fee for the NCAC II is $235. Renewals cost $200 every two years. For certification, in addition to passing the NCAC II exam within four years of application, you must have a Bachelor’s degree or higher in an addiction-related area, plus current credentialing or licensure as a Substance Use Disorder/Addiction counselor issued by your state.
You also need at least 10,000 hours, or five years, of supervised experience in the field, and 450 hours of contact education and/or training in a related area, with at least half of those hours completed face-to-face, including six hours related to HIV and pathogens training completed within six years of application.
Master Addiction Counselor (MAC)
The initial fee for the MAC is $235. Renewals cost $200 every two years. For certification, in addition to passing the MAC exam or EMAC within four years of application, you must have a Master’s degree or higher in an addiction-related area, plus current credentialing or licensure as a Substance Use Disorder/Addiction counselor or Professional Counselor (mental health, social worker, marriage and family therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, etc.), issued by your state.
You also need at least 6,000 hours, or three years, of supervised experience in the field, and 500 hours of contact education and/or training in a related area, with at least half of those hours completed face-to-face, including six hours related to HIV and pathogens training completed within six years of application.
Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS)
The initial application fee for the CAS is $140; once the application is processed, an additional fee of $275 will be assessed for the exam. To earn CAS certification with a Master’s degree or higher, you need at least 6,000 hours, or three years, of supervised experience in the field, and 270 hours of education/training, including 60 hours in the specializations of alcohol, drugs, sex addiction, eating disorders, and gambling disorders. You must also have 30 hours of education/training in special populations, HIV and pathogens, sexual harassment, and ethics.
Additionally, you will need three professional recommendations, with at least one coming from a clinical supervisor who can attest to your knowledge and skills. If you do not have a Master’s degree or higher, you will need 10,000 hours, or five years, of supervised experience in the field, in addition to all of the previously mentioned eligibility requirements.
Test Preparation
Gaining an in-depth understanding of the eligibility requirements and necessary steps to take toward earning your Addiction Counselor certification is important.
Once you know which exam you plan to take, getting enough sleep and caring for yourself physically will help you feel confident and prepared on exam day. However, in terms of preparation, the most effective way to ensure you do well on your Addiction Counselor Exam is to prepare using the best exam preparation materials on the market.
Mometrix Test Preparation provides a comprehensive Addiction Counselor Exam study guide: Addiction Counselor Exam Secrets. In this guide, you get actual exam questions from the Addiction Counselor exams discussed here. These real test questions give you the insight you need to perform well on your exam.
The Addiction Counselor Exam Secrets study guide was written by Mometrix’s qualified standardized test researchers, who have uncovered the secrets of the Addiction Counselor exams so that you can reduce your stress, perform your best, and earn your Addiction Counselor certification.
In addition to the Addiction Counselor Exam Secrets study guide, Mometrix also offers the Addiction Counselor Exam Flashcards, which includes additional Addiction Counselor Exam Practice Test questions. Read the Addiction Counselor Exam Secrets study guide, assess your knowledge with the Addiction Counselor Exam Flashcards and Practice Test, and get the test scores you need to earn your Addiction Counselor certification.