Educational Requirements:

• Master’s Degree: The applicant must have a master’s degree.
• 180 hours of alcohol and drug counseling-specific education are required. These hours must be formally documented and should cover topics related to the knowledge and skills necessary for the field.

Work Experience Requirements:

• 2,000 hours of supervised alcohol and drug counseling-specific work experience are required.
• All supervised work experience must be completed within six years of applying for certification.
• Clinical supervision must be provided in a formal manner, commonly one-on-one or small groups on a regular basis, including direct observation of the counselor’s clinical work.

Ethics and Responsibilities:

• The applicant must sign the Code of Ethics provided by ABCAC, which includes various principles like non-discrimination, responsibility, competence, legal standards, and client welfare.
• There is also a requirement for 6 hours of education in Professional Ethics and Responsibilities and 4 hours in HIV/AIDS Education.

Letters of Recommendation:

• Two letters of recommendation are optional but strongly encouraged. These letters can be sent by individuals who are familiar with the applicant’s work.

Supervision Log and Evaluations:

• A Supervised Work Log and a Counselor Evaluation Form must be completed by the immediate supervisor and sent directly to ABCAC.

Examination Requirement:

• The applicant must pass the IC&RC exam for Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor certification.

Application Process:

• The completed application form, including all necessary documentation like certificates from training programs, transcripts of education, and supervision logs, must be sent to ABCAC.
• A $375.00 non-refundable processing fee is required, which covers the application manuals, processing fees, the IC&RC exam, and two years of certification. If the applicant has already passed the IC&RC exam, the fee is $200.

Additional Notes:

• All experience and education must be documented thoroughly.
• A Code of Ethics must be signed and adhered to, including aspects like confidentiality, public statements, client welfare, and competence.

For more detailed guidance, the applicant should refer to the specific supplemental manual related to AADC, which will provide the exact forms and detailed instructions for completing the certification process.