Georgia Addiction Counselors Association

Becoming GACA Certified

CAC I and CAC II Certification

Certification is a voluntary process, initiated by any person desiring certification as an addiction counselor. A certificate is awarded by the Board of Directors of the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association upon  recommendation of the Certification Board.

Certification may be awarded to those counselors who demonstrate adequate experience, skills, knowledge, and competency required in chemical dependency/abuse counseling through the process of application/certification. GACA has accepted the following definition: A Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) is a person who, by virtue of specialized knowledge, training, and experience is uniquely able to inform, motivate, guide and assist those persons affected by problems related to chemical dependency abuse.

A Certified Addiction Counselor has a commitment to conduct himself/herself in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association. An addiction counselor is an individual who has demonstrated the professional competence necessary to perform the following tasks in providing chemical dependency treatment to clients and significant others in a variety of treatment settings: screening, intake, orientation, assessment, treatment planning, counseling (individual, family, and group), case management, crisis intervention, client education, referral, report and record keeping, and consultation with other professionals regarding client treatment/services.

CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE

GENERAL INFORMATION

(The following information refers to forms and requirements provided within the Certification Manual/Application. These guidelines are listed here to assist those interested in becoming a Certified Addiction Counselor in getting started prior to receiving the full application. Any instance where "form" is referenced in the guidelines below applies to forms that are provided within the Certification Manual/Application. If you wish to order the Certification Manual/Application please follow this link CERTIFICATION MANUAL ORDER FORM.)

A.     Guidelines for Calculating Experience Hours

One year of full time paid employment at 40 hours a week, where 100% of the time is in counseling and counseling related activities with addiction clients according to the above definition, equals 2,000 hours of paid experience. If less than 40 hours a week is worked, or if less than 100% of the employment time is in addiction-related counseling, that should be reflected on the application.  Volunteer time will only be considered if supervised by a GACA CCS.

GACA is aware that many professionals in many fields are associated with the agencies which treat the chemically dependent person and many persons in these agencies will have conversation with patients with some therapeutic intent. However, this experience or association does not necessarily constitute chemical dependency/abuse counseling.

GACA has accepted the following definition of an addiction counselor. An addiction counselor is a person who by virtue of specialized knowledge, training and experience is uniquely able to inform, motivate, guide, and assist those persons affected by problems related to chemical dependence/abuse. Additionally, an addiction counselor conducts themselves in accordance to the GACA Code of Ethics.

An addiction counselor is an individual who has demonstrated the professional competency necessary to perform the tasks outlined in the 8 counselor skill areas as espoused by NAADAC in providing chemical dependency treatment to clients and significant others in a variety of treatment settings.

In order to be eligible for certification, an applicant must document work experience as a counselor of chemical dependency/abuse clients according to the above definition. Paid experience or time when the applicant functioned as, for example, an aide whose duties may include monitoring activities or attendance, etc., a nurse/doctor with medical responsibilities, an administrator with supervising/management duties, marketing personnel, employee assistance, referral agent, telephone referral agent, etc., do not constitute eligibility toward certification.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to demonstrate that experience meets the criteria for CAC eligibility.

B.     Guidelines for Job Description

As part of the application packet, an official job description is required for each position (even with the same supervisor or agency) listed on your application for certification. It must include: dates of employment, number of hours worked each week, a specific list of duties and responsibilities, and percentage of time spent in each area of responsibility.

C.    Guidelines for Professional Letters of Reference

Two letters of reference, one of which must be from a GACA certified Counselor, that refer to your professional qualifications may be forwarded directly to the GACA office by the people making the reference. In some instances, for expediency, the letters may be included with the application package provided they are sealed in individual envelopes by the writers who will also initial the flaps in two places. Letters from relatives are not acceptable.

D.    Guidelines for Supervisor Evaluation Form

GACA is aware that numerous professionals in many fields are associated with agencies which treat the chemically dependent person and many persons in these agencies will have conversation with patients with some therapeutic intent. However, this experience of association does not necessarily constitute chemical dependency/abuse counseling.

On the Supervisor Evaluation Form, the supervisor is asked to document only that experience which qualifies as chemical dependency/abuse counseling according to the GACA requirements and definition.

A separate evaluation form must be filled out for each position held, even if with the same supervisor or agency.

The supervisor must document the applicant’s experience in the 8 counselor skill groups. Only experience in which the applicant functioned as a counselor/therapist as opposed to an aide or attendant whose function is one mainly of monitoring activity, attendance, etc. should be documented.

E.     Guidelines for Supervised Practical Experience (SPE) Form

      Supervised Practical Experience (SPE) must be done by a GACA Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS).  It is supervision which teaches chemical dependency/abuse counseling. This experience may be academic, as in practicum, or may be a part of eligible work experience. The supervision may include one-on-one or group. The fact that an applicant worked under administrative supervision does not in itself satisfy this requirement. The reporting function is to be distinguished from the learning function. Thus, attendance at staff meetings to report on client progress may not be considered supervision. The supervision should include activities designed to provide education in specific skill groups and be monitored by a CCS who provides timely positive and negative feedback to assist in the development of supervised knowledge and competence.

      On the SPE form, the supervisor will indicate the amount of time and type of supervision, including only the time spent in supervision – not the time spent performing the skill. Only the person who does the actual supervision may sign the form. The SPE form should be mailed directly to the GACA office by the CCS.  If you have any questions, please call the GACA office.

F.      Guidelines for Educational Clock Hours

1.       Certification:       180 clock hours for CAC Level I (must include at least 100 hours in last 5 years)

                                     270 clock hours for CAC Level II (must include at least 160 hours in last 5 years)

2.     All education hours for certification or recertification must have GACA or NAADAC provider numbers on the certificate, except as noted below for in-service and college credit. NAADAC providers based in Georgia must have a GACA provider number. (Note: NAADAC providers, inservice, and college credit cannot account for more than 80% of the required hours for certification or recertification.  At least 20% of the required total clock hours must have a GACA provider number.)

3.      In-service – not more than 20% of the certification/recertification hours may be in-service provided by the employer. (a maximum of 36 clock hours for CACI and 54 clock hours for CACII)

a    These hours must be documented as in-service and have the signature of the program director or education director of the institution.

b      These hours must be directly related to counseling skills and/or knowledge needed to keep up to date in the field of addiction. (Defensive driving, hand-washing techniques, etc. cannot be counted as in-service hours for certification.)

c         Group therapy/seminars in which the applicant participated while in treatment at a facility cannot be counted for certification.

d       Films and video tapes counted as in-service must have documentation from program director/education director that viewing was supervised and content discussed with supervisor.

No more than 10% of educational hours for initial certification can be home study or internet courses.

4.      College Courses –  not more than 50% of the certification/recertification hours may be college credit.  (That is a maximum of 90 clock hours for CACI and 135 clock hours for CACII)

a        College courses must be in subjects that have specific relevance to the field of counseling and/or addiction. (Core courses such as English, Science and Math cannot be counted for certification.)

b       One (1) semester hour equals fifteen (15) clock hours. One (1) quarter hour equals ten (10) clock hours. One (1) trimester hour equals five (5) clock hours.

c        An official transcript noting course date, grade, and credit hours earned is required when using college course for clock hours credit. The official transcript must be mailed directly to GACA or included with the application in a sealed envelope directly from the college or university.

d        The college must be accredited and listed on the Council for Higher Education Accreditation web site. (www.chea.org)

5.      Continuing education must be sponsored by an organization, group or individual recognized as knowledgeable in the field of chemical dependency/abuse.

a        Courses must be specifically relevant to chemical dependency/abuse.

b        One (1) C.E.U. equals ten (10) clock hours. 

6.      Ethics Education – Six (6) hours of ethics education must be documented. GACA has determined that the following areas should be minimally covered in the six hours of education: legal issues, client welfare, professional competence, development, supervision, therapeutic boundaries, financial issues, personal wellness, conduct relationship to other counselors and code of ethics, etc.

7.      AIDS/HIV Education – Three (3) hours of AIDS/HIV education must be documented.

8.     Cultural Competency – At least 10% of the required education hours must be related to the development of cultural competency. (At least 18 clock hours for CACI and 27 clock hours for CACII) This should be training in areas such as: People of Color, Women, Adolescents, Geriatric, Gay/Lesbian, Physically Challenged, Cultural Diversity, Criminal Justice, religion, veterans, or other special populations as they are challenged by substance abuse.

9.      Basic Skills Courses – Each candidate should be well educated in the basic counselor skills. Courses should cover basic counseling knowledge and skills as outlined in Section IV. STANDARDS FOR CERTIFICATION.

G.      List of NAADAC Member States and agencies using the National Certification Examination

            Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kansas Board of Behavioral       Health, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, and Wyoming.