The Invest in You Clinical Workforce Training program by NJPN and NJ-DMHAS offers professional development opportunities and certifications for individuals of all career levels. The general stages of addiction counseling certification are:

Step 1: Obtaining an ADC intern position.

• Your journey to credential begins with securing an ADC (Alcohol Drug Counselor) internship at a DMHAS (Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services) licensed SUD (Substance Use Disorder) Treatment Agency.

Step 2: Approval of Proposed Plan of Supervision with DCA-ADCC.

• You will need to submit your application for your Plan of Supervision through DCA-ADCC.

Step 3: Sign up with NJPN for Training and Complete Coursework.

• NJPN offers initial addiction counseling certification or licensure courses that fulfill all educational hours by the state of NJ.

Step 4: Earn your Certification or License by Passing Your Exam.

• In order to practice as a certified or licensed addiction professional in NJ, you must pass the oral and written alcohol drug counselor exams. 

Step 5: Maintaining Your Credentials.

• NJPN makes it easy to keep your certification or license current with our mandatory and advanced renewal continuing education trainings.  

Specialize: Nurture the Next Generation by Becoming a Certified Clinical Supervisor or Addiction Course Trainer.

• Clinical Supervision: Invest in yourself and your community to a greater degree by becoming a Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) for the next generation of addiction professionals.

• NJPN Addiction Course Trainer: Help expand the substance misuse treatment and recovery workforce—join the NJPN Clinical Workforce team as an “Invest in You” course trainer for our L/CADC students.

The Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) credential is intended for use within licensed alcohol and drug counseling programs. The CCS is not a clinical practice credential and should only be used for work within healthcare or counseling settings. Private practice counselors must have a license approved by the Division of Consumer Affairs to provide independent counseling. 

The CCS requires five (5) years’ experience working in the field of chemical dependency. These five years’ are to be immediately prior to the date of application. Also, a minimum of three (3) years clinical supervisory experience in the field of chemical dependency within ten (10) years immediately prior to the date of application is required. The CCS applicant must document a minimum of 30 hours of clinical supervisory course work (previously approved by APCBNJ) within ten (10) years immediately prior to the date of the application. In-service training will not be accepted. The CCS application can be found at http://certbd.org.

Tuition-Based courses are available for professionals who do not meet scholarship requirements. These professionals may include: Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) and Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs).

To qualify for a scholarship, students must work at a Division of Mental Health and Addiction Service (DMHAS) licensed substance use disorder (SUD) treatment agency, as these scholarships are funded by DMHAS. For those pursuing initial licensure or certification as a Licensed/Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (L/CADC), students must have an active proposed supervision plan and be in a clinical role that provides experience in the 12 core competencies.

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.

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