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.

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.

No. The Legal Standards Related to the Practice of Alcohol and Drug Counseling in New Jersey course is a specialized renewal course that is only offered by approved trainers and is for individuals who already have their LCADC or CADC.

Yes, during the initial renewal period, LCADCs/CADCs must satisfy six hours in legal standards related to the practice of alcohol and drug counseling. Three hours of cultural competence training is required every biennial period (once every two-year period). Currently up to 50% of continuing education hours can be earned via distance learning (online, virtual, webinar,etc). That percentage may be subject to change. It is important to verify up-to-date limits.

LCADC: Forty hours of continuing education earned every two years. 

CADC: Sixty hours of continuing education earned every two years.

The ADCC requires licensees or certificate holders seeking a return to active status to submit a completed renewal application, a renewal fee, and an affidavit of employment and evidence of having completed the number of continuing education renewal hours required for license or certificate renewal for the biennial period. The applicant must have completed the continuing education renewal hours within three years prior to the date of the application.