Becoming an Addictions Counselor in California

Transcription

1 2013 Becoming an Addictions Counselor in California

2 The Process Under control of the California State Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Services

3 Education/Training Under current regulations, there are no education or training requirements to be hired as a counselor. However..

4 The Five-Year Rule Once hired as a counselor you must become a fully certified counselor within 5 years

5 DHCS Does Not Certify DHCS does not certify counselors. It oversees certifications issued by six state approved, private certifying bodies

6 Certifying Organizations Alphabetically: Addiction Counselor Certification Board of California (ACCBC) Affiliated with the California Association for Alcohol/Drug Educators (CAADE) American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders (AAHCPAD) Board for Certification of Addiction Specialists Affiliated with the California Association of Addiction Recovery Resources (CAARR)

7 Certifying Organzations Breining Institute (TBD) California Association of Drinking Driver Treatment Programs (CADDTP) (6/30/13) California Certification Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors Affiliated with the California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC)

8 Registration Once you start working, you must register with one of the six approved certifying bodies within 6 months Normally you would register with the organization you plan on using for certification Once registered you should use your registration number on all public displays of yourself as a counselor (business cards, websites, etc.) cont.

9 After Registering, cont. You must have a clinical supervisor at all times. Once registered the five year clock starts ticking, and during this time you must start/finish school, take an approved test from a certifying body, and complete at least 2080 hours of work experience. (some certifying bodies may require more)

10 Which Certification? ADP/State Regulations require only 155 hours of education Each Certifying Organization sets its own requirements with at least that minimum You choose which CO you want to register with. Choose carefully! The only classes accepted by all certifying bodies are those offered by CAADE accredited community colleges and universities

11 Which Certification? Certifications can be divided by high, medium, and low education requirements Regulations went into effect in 2005 Prior to that there were NO requirements

12 CAADE / ACCBC The highest level certification in California is offered by the Addiction Counselor Certification Board of California (ACCBC: est by CAADE) California Association for Alcohol/Drug Educators (CAADE) Accredits about 40 community colleges and Universities in California, Nevada and Arizona

13 CAADE / ACCBC The highest education requirements: 36 units ( classroom hours) Regionally accredited colleges/universities only -- Fully transferrable units Financial aid, low cost CERTIFIED ADDICTIONS TREATMENT COUNSELOR Tiers: I, II, III, IV, V, N (by degree level)

14 Medium Certifications 315 classroom hours (270+45) CAADAC (credential: CADC II) Others include: American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders (credential: CAS-CA) California Association of Drinking Driver Treatment Programs, CADDTP (CAODC)

15 Lowest Certifications based on minimums 155 hours of education Breining Institute (credential: RAS) California Association of Addiction Recovery Resources (CAARR) (Credential: CAS)

16 All Certifications Require Fieldwork experience while enrolled in school A signed code of ethics / scope of practice Written exam 40 hours of continuing education every two years

17 What about some new laws? Many attempts at changing the current law; none have succeeded Even if a new law is passed it would not go into effect for years Requirements will only go up; safest thing to do is stay in school

18 What Might Happen? DHCS will most likely advocate for an increase in the education standards The National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission is standardizing requirements on a national level

19 What Might Happen? Educational Requirements are going up National trend is for Federal government to require states to require degrees CAADE is leading the way with the Tiered Certification system

20 What is CAADE fighting for? Higher standards, Higher standards, Higher standards Better salaries for addiction counselors Tiered system of certification that is incremental Rewards people who stay in school while allowing counselors to be working as they advance up the degree tiers

21 What is CAADE fighting for? Requirements such as full certification for intervention and prevention counselors High standards for the Licensure level (Master s degree) Standardized education Fully accredited or certified schools No criminal background exclusions but better oversight for public safety

22 BTW As a counselor, you are legally and ethically required to report ethics violations You must report to DHCS; reporting to the certifying body is optional You can report anonymously, or ask that your name be withheld Failure to do so can result in sanctions for you! tml

23 The Addictions Counselor of the Future Will be educated and licensed

24 The Addictions Counselor of the Future Will have more education National trend: degrees

25 The Addictions Counselor of the Future Will be trained in Mental Health

26 The Addictions Counselor of the Future Will be well versed in evidence-based practices

27 The Addictions Counselor of the Future Will be familiar with both 12step and non-12step

28 The Addictions Counselor of the Future Will specialize: Special populations Criminal Justice Women Adolescents CODs Seniors

29 The Addictions Counselor of the Future Will work comfortably with multi-disciplinary staff

30 The Addictions Counselor of the Future Will be comfortable with MAT

31 The Addictions Counselor of the Future Will be familiar with pain management tools, e.g. Suboxone

32 The Addictions Counselor of the Future Will have better continuing education

33 The Addictions Counselor of the Future Will meet a higher standard of care

34 The Addictions Counselor of the Future Will meet a higher standard of ethics

35 Preliminary National Study.Substance abuse treatment professionals have the highest rate of ethical violations among all other human service professionals.

36 Certified Addiction Counselors had a 12.4% higher rate of ethical violations compared to Licensed Social Workers, a 17.1% higher rate than Licensed Psychologists, an 18.8% higher rate than Licensed Professional Counselors, and a 26.3% higher rate than Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. From: Ethical Violations: A Quantitative Study Comparing Human Service Professions John Gallagher, MSW, LAODAC, 2008