CAC RECERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
CHANGES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2006

Continuing Education Hours:

Copy of certificates documenting 60 education/training hours between expiration date and same date two years prior and which meet the following criteria:

Total hours must include: 6 hrs Ethics, 3 hrs HIV/AIDS specific education (not general infectious disease or combination), and 6 hrs Cultural Diversity [Defined as people of color, women, adolescents, geriatrics, gay/lesbian, physically challenged, cultural diversity specific, criminal justice, religion, veterans or other special populations as they are challenged by substance abuse. NOTE: Ethics, HIV/AIDS and/or Cultural Diversity taken within a general conference or workshop must have clear indication that these specific courses were taken].
 

Clinical Supervision Hours remain unchanged: During the preceding term of certification the applicant must have received twenty-four (24) hours supervision by a GACA Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) unless the applicant holds a current GACA CCS credential along with a current CACII.  Time claimed when the CCS credential was expired will not be honored.

As recertification applications have been mailed prior to these changes, counselors recertifying in January, February or March of 2006 may recertify by new or old requirements as new requirements are more generous.

UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF GACA PROVIDER EDUCATION NUMBERS

The GACA Training & Education Committee and the Certification Board have developed a standard to ensure that continuing education hours presented toward initial certification and certification renewal fall within the guidelines of the Eight Counselor Skill Groups for Addiction Counselors.  Education Providers who submit application for a GACA Provider Number are assured that approved courses will satisfy the  requirement designated "must have a GACA Provider Number".  NAADAC Providers headquartered in Georgia are encouraged to apply for a GACA Provider Number so that courses may qualify for the “GACA Provider Number Required” category.  See requirements page under “CAC Certification” and “Education Providers”.  NAADAC Providers headquartered outside Georgia and “Other” providers are not required to have a GACA Provider Number, but training will NOT be credited under the  “must have a GACA Provider Number”  requirement category. 

GACA Provider Number:  A number issued ONLY by the GACA Training & Education Committee   (NOT NAADAC) that signifies a course, training, or conference that has been reviewed by the Committee and is guaranteed to meet certification/recertification requirements for GACA credentials.   This number MUST appear on training certificates to be counted for credit.

NAADAC Provider Number:  A number issued ONLY by the NAADAC Provider Education Committee (NOT GACA) that signifies that approved providers have applied and been approved through the NAADAC process.  Does NOT satisfy GACA Provider Number category for certification/recertification

GACA Approved:  GACA will accept relevant counseling-related continuing education hours  under categories that do NOT require a GACA Provider Number.

Example:

Initial Certification:  CACI requires a minimum of 36 training hours with a GACA Provider Number; CACII requires a minimum of 54 training hours with a GACA Provider Number

Recertification:  CACI and CACII requires that 24 of the 60 training hours have a GACA Provider Number, be addiction specific, and be classroom face-to-face hours.  The remaining 36 hours may be from “other” providers or sources but must be related to counseling.