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 educational requirements for the LCADC (Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor) and CADC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor)—N.J.A.C. 13:34C-2.3—both require 270 hours of alcohol and drug education. 

• The CADC requires a bachelor’s degree or an associate degree or a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency. 

• The LCADC (N.J.A.C. 13:34C-2.3b) must possess a master’s degree or a doctorate in addictions or a counseling-related field from an accredited institution of higher learning. 

• Both credentials require similar hours of supervised practice.

The CADC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor) certification and the LCADC (Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor) license are both granted by the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs, State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners’ Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee (ADCC/the Committee) to alcohol and drug counselors in the State of New Jersey. 

The primary difference between the CADC and the LCADC is that the LCADC is permitted to conduct unsupervised independent practice whereas the CADC is required to practice under the supervision of an approved supervisor. Both the LCADC and the CADC can make assessments; however, the CADC cannot make diagnoses. LCADCs are permitted to supervise CADCs, alcohol and drug counselor interns, and credentialed interns; the CADC cannot supervise.

The LCADC/CADC statutes and regulations may be found on the Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee website: http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ (Click Alcohol and Drug Committee; Click Laws and Regulations.

The application for the LCADC and CADC can be found on the Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners’, Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee website: http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ (Click Alcohol and Drug Committee; Click Applications and Forms; Click Application for Licensure or Certification as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor (Regular Application)

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.

One can receive credit only if the supervisor meets the requirement as set forth in N.J.A.C. 13:34C-6.2. The following individuals may be qualified clinical supervisors of alcohol and drug counseling interns and credentialed interns: 

• A New Jersey-licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor (LCADC) i. A New Jersey-licensed physician, who is certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) or a psychiatrist with added qualifications in chemical dependency from the American Psychiatric Association; and 

• A New Jersey certified advanced practice nurse, licensed psychologist, licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), or licensed professional counselor (LPC), all of whom shall be certified as a clinical supervisor by IC&RC (CCS), unless dually licensed with an LCADC 

PLEASE NOTE: As of 2018, there are changes being considered for supervisory credentialing requirements; any changes would be announced well in advance of implementation, and would not affect those candidates with an already-approved plan of supervision

Yes. The 3,000 hours of related work experience may include the 300 hours of supervised practical training. Documented work experience as a counselor, intern, trainee, or volunteer may be valid for five years as long as it includes the 12 core functions of alcohol and drug treatment. The documented and supervised hours must be under the clinical supervision of an approved supervisor.

Practicum hours may only count if they are received under the following conditions: 

• under the supervision of a qualified clinical supervisor according to N.J.A.C. 13:34C-6.2-2; 

• took place at an agency setting providing alcohol and drug treatment; 

• and the internship and supervised hours incorporate the 12 core functions of alcohol and drug counseling. In some instances, if the supervision plan is pre-approved, a SAC or other school employee may be able to count a portion of their hours with ADCC approval.

The applicant would need to do everything possible to prove that they have tried to contact the supervisor. If all avenues have failed, the applicant may complete an affidavit verifying their search for ADCC consideration.

Yes, every time you change supervisors and/or place of employment you must resubmit an updated Proposed Plan of Supervision. Additionally, the supervisor should notify ADCC when they are no longer supervising the counselor intern. N.J.A.C. 13:34C-6.2 l) All qualified clinical supervisors of alcohol and drug counselor interns shall obtain ADCC approval prior to commencing the supervisory relationship with the alcohol and drug counselor intern. A qualified clinical supervisor shall submit evidence, on forms provided by the ADCC, that he or she has satisfied all applicable requirements of this subchapter. 

Please note that the ADCC sends an approval letter to both the CADC/LCADC intern and the qualified clinical supervisor to inform them that the Proposed Plan of Supervision has been approved. Experience hours cannot be counted until this plan has been approved.