The Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) credential represents the standard for professional practice in substance use disorder treatment across Oregon. This certification, overseen by the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO), formerly the ACCBO, is required for individuals who provide clinical services to clients with addiction issues. Achieving this designation signifies that an individual has met requirements for academic preparation, supervised practical experience, and demonstrated competency through examination. The process ensures that practitioners entering the field possess the necessary skills to deliver effective and ethical care.
Understanding the Certification Tiers
The MHACBO utilizes a tiered system, offering three distinct levels of certification: CADC I, CADC II, and CADC III, which reflect increasing levels of education and professional experience. These tiers determine the specific quantity of education and practical hours candidates must document to qualify. As professionals advance their careers, they can pursue higher-level certifications that correspond to a broader scope of practice.
The CADC I is the entry-level designation, requiring a high school diploma or GED. CADC II certification requires a bachelor’s degree in a behavioral science or a determined equivalency. The highest tier, CADC III, is reserved for those who have completed a master’s degree in the human arts or a related discipline. Each progressive tier builds on the foundational requirements of the lower level, demanding an increase in both supervised experience and academic preparation.
Required Education and Training
The path to CADC certification mandates the completion of specific clock hours in addiction-focused didactic education from accredited or board-approved institutions. For the CADC I credential, candidates must document a minimum of 150 hours of instruction dedicated to alcohol and drug-specific content. This foundational coursework must cover core domains, including basic counseling skills, group counseling techniques, and the pharmacology of alcohol and other drugs.
Candidates pursuing the CADC II or CADC III levels must complete 300 hours of alcohol and drug-specific education. This higher-level curriculum expands upon foundational topics to include complex areas such as clinical evaluation using standardized tools like the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria. The required training must also address essential subjects like counseling diverse populations, co-occurring disorders, and the ethics of professional practice.
Specific instruction must be included in areas like HIV/AIDS risk assessment and reduction. While much of the education can be completed through distance learning, certain core subjects, such as basic counseling skills, have historically required an in-person or live, interactive format. All education hours must be verified by official transcripts or certificates of completion. The CADC III requires the inclusion of science-based best practices in the 300 hours of education.
Documenting Supervised Clinical Experience
Formal education must be supplemented by a substantial period of supervised practical experience, which provides an opportunity to apply learned competencies in a professional setting. The total number of required supervised hours is directly tied to the certification level sought: CADC I requires a minimum of 1,000 hours; CADC II requires 4,000 hours; and CADC III requires 6,000 hours. This supervised practice must be accrued in a setting that provides clinical services to clients with substance use disorders.
These hours encompass all working time, including direct client contact, indirect service hours such as documentation, and other activities aligned with the addiction counseling competencies. The experience must also include minimum hours across specific categories of competency, which is detailed on the required documentation forms.
All accrued experience must be verified by a qualified clinical supervisor who meets the standards outlined by the Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) and possesses an advanced addiction counselor certification, such as a CADC II, CADC III, or a Master Addiction Counselor (MAC). The applicant must utilize the official Supervised Experience Form to document the hours, ensuring the supervisor attests to the accuracy of the work performed and the candidate’s adherence to the competency domains. This documentation is submitted to the MHACBO.
Passing the Required Examination
After meeting the educational and supervised experience requirements, candidates must successfully pass a standardized written examination to demonstrate their mastery of the field’s core knowledge. Oregon utilizes examinations developed by the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC). The specific IC&RC examination required depends on the certification tier the candidate is pursuing.
For the entry-level CADC I, applicants sit for the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination. Candidates pursuing the CADC II are required to pass the National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II (NCAC II) examination. The highest tier, CADC III, mandates successful completion of the Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) examination. Eligibility to sit for the exam is granted by the MHACBO only after a preliminary review confirms the candidate has completed all prerequisite education and experience documentation.
The Application and Background Check Process
The final stage involves a detailed administrative review by the MHACBO after all other requirements have been satisfied. Applicants must compile and submit a final packet, which includes official transcripts verifying all required education hours and the signed Supervised Experience Forms. This application is accompanied by the required fee.
A mandatory criminal background check is required for all applicants to ensure compliance with Oregon state law regarding exclusionary offenses defined by the relevant Oregon Revised Statutes. Candidates must also sign and submit the MHACBO Code of Ethics Agreement, formally committing to uphold the professional and ethical standards. The MHACBO conducts a thorough review before issuing the final CADC credential.
Maintaining Your Oregon CADC Credential
The CADC credential must be renewed periodically to remain active and in good standing with the MHACBO. Certification is valid for a two-year cycle, requiring professionals to engage in continuous learning. The primary requirement for renewal is the completion of 40 hours of continuing education units (CEUs) during each two-year renewal period.
These CEUs are divided into two categories: a minimum of 20 hours must be Category I (education specifically focused on alcohol and drug counseling). The remaining hours can be Category II (broader counseling and behavioral health topics). The MHACBO mandates that the 40 CEUs must cover specific subject matter, including a minimum of six hours in professional ethics and two hours of training dedicated to suicide prevention.