Certified Addiction Professional

Certified Addiction Professional (CAP) Tier 1 Course

We’re excited about your interest in becoming a Tier 1 Certified Addiction Professional (CAP), also known as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor in states outside of Florida. By taking relevant courses at the Academy for Addiction Professionals, you’ll be well on your way to receiving a designation that will open up doors in the recovery industry.

As a CAP/ADC, you will primarily focus on counseling those addicted to drugs and alcohol or abusing a substance. Your role in the treatment of addiction is a primary one and you will be on the front lines of saving lives. This role comes with huge responsibilities which require the utmost in knowledge and ethical behavior. The CAP course and exam, as administered by the Florida Certification Board or local board to your state, seeks to set minimum standards for the treatment of addicts to ensure that everyone receives a high level of care from certified individuals. Passing the exam requires dedication and hard work. CAP candidates will also need to have significant work experience in the industry.

The CAP / ADC course is taught by us at The Academy for Addiction Professionals and the exam and certification is administered by the board in your state. We are a Florida Certification board and NAADAC approved education provider. As such, we can provide our CAP/ADC course to multiple states. You can find out more here.

Certified Addiction Professional Requirements

Below, you will find the requirements necessary to qualify to take the Certified Addiction Professional course and receive certification from the Florida Certification Board. You can learn about other state requirements here. If you have any questions, please fill out the pre-registration form on the right.

Category:	Requirement:
Degree:	Bachelor’s Degree or higher in a specified counseling field. See below for the list of acceptable degrees.
Work Experience:	2,000 hours of addiction related work experience in the past 5 years.
Supervision:	100 hours of on-the-job supervision, delivered and documented by an FCB-approved qualified supervisor. At least 50 hours of supervision must have been individual, one-on-one supervision and/or observation of skills. Administrative supervision is not eligible. Qualified supervisors are a physician or physician’s assistant licensed under Chapters 458 or 459, Florida Statutes; a professional licensed under Chapters 490 or 491, Florida Statutes, an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) licensed under Part 1 of Chapter 464, Florida Statutes, a Masters-level Certified Addiction Professional (MCAP), or a Certified Addiction Professional (CAP). Eligible supervision meets the FCB benchmark for reasonable supervision at the rate of 3 hours per week/
Training:	150 hours of training. At least 190 hours must be allocated, as specified, among each of the professional practice dimensions: Understanding Addiction / Treatment Knowledge – 80 hours Case Management & Referral – 15 hours Client, Family, and Community Education – 15 hours Documentation – 15 hours Application to Practice / Professional Readiness – 25 hours* *At least 6 hours must be allocated to professional ethics
Criminal Background:	Must have a clean criminal history for a minimum of 3 years prior to application for certification, including release from all sanctions.
Recommendations:	3 professional letters of recommendation for certification.
Code of Ethics:	Applicants must attest that they are bound by and will follow the FCB Code of Ethics in their professional practice.
Written Test:	Must earn a passing score on the Florida Specific Exam. Must earn a passing score on the IC&RC AODA Written Exam if international reciprocity is desired. To see the exam requirements, click the following link: addiction exam
Renewal:	20 CEUs each year