Substance Abuse Counseling Certification in Florida

Florida has three levels of certification for Substance Abuse Counseling. The lowest tier is known as the Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS), the second tier is known as the Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) and the highest level is known as the Certified Addiction Professional (CAP). Below you will find the requirements for each level of certification.

Are you interested to learn about Addiction and Substance Counseling education? See schools both local and online who educate to further become a counselor or other type of professional in related career fields. You can request information, with no obligation, to begin or continue a degree program.

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CAS Level Certification

You must pass a criminal background check.
150 hours of training in core areas of A&D treatment: Clinical Evaluation (ten hrs); Treatment Planning (five hrs); Referral to other A&D specialists (five hrs); Service Coordination (five hrs); A&D Counseling of Clients (twenty hrs); Client, Family, and Community Education (five hrs); Case Documentation (five hrs); Professional and Ethical Responsibilities (fifteen hrs); Understanding Addiction/Treatment Knowledge (thirty-seven hrs); Application to Practice/Professional Readiness (thirty-seven hrs); HIV/AIDS (four hrs); Domestic Violence (two hrs).
2,000 hours of supervised experience in A&D treatment.
100 hours must be direct supervision.
Three professional letters of recommendation.
Pass a Florida specific A&D examination.
Sign the FCB’s Code of Ethics.
You can find the application here.
You can find certifications here

CAC Level Certification

You must accumulate 6,000 hours of supervised experience in A&D treatment.
If you have an Associate’s degree in Behavioral Sciences or higher you will only need 4,000 hours of supervised experience.
You will need 250 hours of training in core areas of A&D treatment: Clinical Evaluation (twenty-five hrs); Treatment Planning (fifteen hrs); Referral to other A&D specialists (five hrs); Service Coordination (five hrs); A&D Counseling of Clients (thirty hrs); Client, Family, and Community Education (ten hrs); Case Documentation (ten hrs); Professional and Ethical Responsibilities (thirty hrs); Understanding Addiction/Treatment Knowledge (fifty-seven hrs); Application to Practice/Professional Readiness (fifty-seven hrs); HIV/AIDS (four hrs); Domestic Violence (two hrs).
If you have a HS diploma or GED you will need 300 hours of direct supervision.
If you have an Associate’s degree or higher this is reduced to 150 hours of direct supervision.
You will need 3 professional letters of reference.
Must sign the FCB Code of Ethics.
Pass a Florida specific A&D examination.
You can find the application here.
You can find certifications here.

CAP Level Certification

You need a Bachelor’s degree in a Behavioral Science from a Council of Higher Education Accredited University or College.
You will need 6,000 hours of supervised A&D experience.
If you have a Master’s or Ph.D. in counseling you will only need 4,000 hours.
You will need 350 hours of training in core areas of A&D treatment: Clinical Evaluation (thirty-five hrs); Treatment Planning (twenty hrs); Referral to other A&D specialists (five hrs); Service Coordination (five hrs); A&D Counseling of Clients (fifty hrs); Client, Family, and Community Education (fifteen hrs); Case Documentation (fifteen hrs); Professional and Ethical Responsibilities (thirty hrs); Supervision (fifteen hrs); Understanding Addiction/Treatment Knowledge (seventy-seven hrs); Application to Practice/Professional Readiness (seventy-seven hrs); HIV/AIDS (four hrs); Domestic Violence (two hrs).
If you have your Bachelor’s degree you will need 300 hours of direct supervision.
If you have your Master’s or Ph.D. in Counseling you will only need 200 hours of direct supervision.
You will need 3 professional letters of reference.
Must sign the FCB Code of Ethics.
Pass a Florida specific A&D examination.
Pass the IC&RC/AODA Exam