Certifications & Trainings
Subtitle
Addiction Training for Every Stage of Your Career
Invest in your future and make a positive, lasting impact on NJ's communities.
No matter if you're new to addiction counseling or are already a skilled practitioner, our professional development opportunities in substance use disorder treatment or recovery support will help you reach the next stage in your career.
We offer courses and trainings to earn or maintain NJ Division of Consumer Affairs—Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee (DCA-ADCC)-approved credentials, including:
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Chemical Dependence Associate (CDA)
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Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC)
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Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC)
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Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS)
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Approved Clinical Supervision (ACS)
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Advanced and Mandatory Renewal Trainings
Your journey to credential begins with securing an ADC (Alcohol and Drug Counselor) internship at a DMHAS (Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services) contracted SUD (Substance Use Disorder) Treatment Agency.
Obtaining an ADC Intern Position.
You will need to submit your application for your Plan of Supervision through DCA-ADCC.
Approval of Proposed Plan of Supervision With DCA-ADCC.
NJPN offers initial SUD counseling certification or licensure courses that fulfill all educational hours required by the state of NJ.
Sign up with NJPN for Training and Complete Coursework.
In order to practice as a certified or licensed addiction professional in NJ, you must pass the oral and written ADC exams.
Earn your Certification or License by Passing Your Exam.
NJPN makes it easy to keep your certification or license current with our mandatory and advanced renewal continuing education trainings.
Maintaining Your Credentials.
The Path to Certification
Advancing Your Addiction Counseling Career, Made Simple
Certifications
CADC
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADC) assist those with with substance use disorders by providing individualized treatment, support and motivation along their journey toward wellness. CADC practice under the supervision of an approved supervisor and can make assessments.
Initial Certification
LCADC
Permitted to conduct unsupervised independent practice, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (LCADCs) assist those with substance use disorders by providing individualized treatment, including assessments and diagnoses, as well as support and motivation along their journey toward wellness.
Initial Licensure
CPS
Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) has demonstrated competence related to alcohol, tobacco and drug prevention and who provides services that build capacities of individuals and systems to promote healthy environments, lifestyles, and communities. CPS ensure that prevention policies and programs focus on public safety and well-being through primary prevention and the latest evidence-based practices. Note: Must possess a bachelor's degree in a human services-related field.
Initial Certification
Trainings
Mandatory Legal Standards
NJPN conducts Mandatory Legal Standards trainings both virtually through Zoom and in-person. These sessions fulfill the initial and bi-annual renewal requirements for a Committee-approved Legal Standards course (for more information refer to: N.J.A.C.13:34C-5.2 d).
Mandatory Renewal Training
Cultural Humility Trainings
NJPN hosts Cultural Humility trainings designed to foster understanding, respect, and sensitivity towards different cultures, particularly within the context of prevention work. These trainings may focus on developing self-awareness, recognizing biases, and promoting open dialogue to enhance cultural competence among participants.
Cultural Humility Training
SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES
Resources for Success
Students have access to tools and guidance that support their addiction counseling training.
FAQ
Have Questions?
DMHAS is the state mental health authority (SMHA) and the Single State Authority on Substance Abuse (SSA) that plans, monitors, and evaluates New Jersey's mental health and substance use prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery efforts. DMHAS does not grant licenses or certification to alcohol and drug counselors. However, DMHAS does publish residential and outpatient treatment regulations that detail the qualifications required to work at a DMHAS-licensed facility.
What is the role of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) in the certification and licensing process?
The International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) sets the international standards of practice in addiction counseling, prevention, and clinical supervision through testing and credentialing of addiction professionals. Incorporated in 1981, and currently headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, IC&RC is a voluntary membership organization comprised of certifying agencies involved in the credentialing or licensing of alcohol and other drug abuse counselors, clinical Supervisors, prevention specialists, co-occurring professionals and criminal justice professionals.
For further information, visit their website at http://www.IC&RCaoda.org/about.asp
What is the IC&RC?
The Addiction Professionals Certification Board of New Jersey’s (APCBNJ) primary mission is to ensure the competency in addictions and other behavioral healthcare professionals using educational, experiential, testing, and ethical measures. Its scope is to enhance the professionalism of addictions and other healthcare professions by offering quality certification products to provide and monitor accepted ethical standards for consumer protection and to provide addiction and behavioral health cross training.
APCBNJ schedules and administers the written and oral exams and reviews transcripts to determine if a course qualifies towards the required 270 hours of education in the event the education was obtained at an agency that is not an approved CADC educational provider approved by the APCBNJ. For more information about APCBNJ please visit http://www.certbd.org
What is the role of the APCBNJ and what do they do?
The Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs, State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners’ Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee (the Committee) was established on January 9, 1998 pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:2D-1 et seq. The purpose of the Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee is to:
protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of New Jersey;
regulate the practice of alcohol and drug counseling;
take action against unprofessional, improper, unauthorized, or unqualified practice of alcohol and drug counseling and guard against unprofessional conduct by the licensed individuals who practice alcohol and drug counseling;
and to review applications for certification and licensure and to ensure that the minimum requirements have been met.
For further information, visit: http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/alcohol/
What is the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners’, Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee (ADCC)?