In our state, the North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board offers a variety of credentials for professional substance abuse counselors.   The most common are the Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS).

Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC)
Certification is a process that assures that a credentialed person has demonstrated a measurable level of competency and provides professional recognition for achievement of  these competencies.   CSAC certification is obtained by meeting education and training requirements, obtaining practice experience under the guidance of a qualified supervisor and successfully completing the certification examination.  CSAC must also engage in ongoing professional development and adhere to ethical standards established by the profession.  Requirements for this credential can be obtained here on the NCSAPPB website.

Licensed Addiction Specialist (LCAS)
North Carolina is one of only a limited numbers of states in the nation where it is possible to be licensed in addiction counseling.   Licensure is an important credential.  It is a standard for independent practice that is regularly recognized for the third party billing of addiction treatment services.  To obtain a LCAS, a candidate must have completed at least a master’s degree in a human services field with a clinical application or be a member of a professional discipline that has been granted deemed status by the NCSAPPB.   Requirements for licensure in North Carolina are listed on the NCSAPPB website here.

Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS)
Another important credential in North Carolina is the Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS).  Many of our publically funded programs cannot be reimbursed for specific services unless there is a CCS providing clinical oversight.  Examples would be Substance Abuse Comprehensive Outpatient Treatment (SACOT), Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Programs (SAIOP).

The skills demonstrated by a CCS are also important when a program is seeking to implement an evidence-based program.  Examples would include MATRIX, a model program for the treatment of stimulant abuse, which requires that a clinical supervisor is trained to provide the leadership that promotes adherence or fidelity to the model program.    To see the requirements for becoming a CCS, click here.

Additional Resources:
There are many resources for learning about preparing to be credentialed as an addiction professional:
The Addiction Technology Transfer Centers are a federally funded network for professionals.
Addiction Counseling Competencies: The Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes of Professional Practice (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Assistance Protocol 21 – TAP 21). Visit www.samhsa.gov