Delaware Education Requirements & Certification for Substance Abuse Counselors

Overview

In Delaware, the state government recognizes Counselor I and Counselor II status for Delaware substance abuse professionals, with the former a higher position than the latter. However, a substance abuse counselor can receive Counselor II status while he or she is working to meet Counselor I requirements. Individuals seeking Counselor II status may work at this level while fulfilling Delaware or national certification, or If they have worked in this field for less than five years. Those enrolled in qualifying practicums or internships may also receive Counselor II status.

Delaware Licensing & Certifications for Associates & Independent Counselors

Delaware offers two types of substance abuse counselor certification. The Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor(CADC) receives certification via a third party system, while the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) is state-sanctioned and requires an advanced degree.

The Delaware Certification Board (DCB), a nonprofit, private organization, establishes certification standards and monitors such standards for substance abuse counselors and other professionals in the field of behavioral health. Since the DCB is part of the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium, credentialed counselors may move to another state and receive automatically another state’s accreditation or licensure.

DCB Application

The application for CADC certification is available on the DCB website. The application includes a verification form filled out by the supervisor and a release that requires notarization. All candidates must provide their current job description, signed by their supervisor, and any relevant training certificates. Employment is verified via a letter written on the employer’s letterhead. At least three weeks before submitting the application, DCB recommends candidates ask to have their official transcripts sent from their academic institutions. Currently, certification fees are $350.

Once the application is approved by the DCB, the candidate may schedule an examination at one of the several computerized testing centers located throughout the state “on-demand.” Should the candidate not pass the initial examination, he or she must pay a $150 re-examination fee when taking the test again.

Background Checks

All candidates are subject to criminal background checks and fingerprinting. Delaware residents should have their background checks performed at one of three locations listed in the application. Kent County location allows walk-ins, but appointments are necessary at New Castle or Sussex County. or New Castle County. Bring the authorization form found in the packet and pay the fee, currently $69, to the location of your choice.

CACREP Accredited Online Certification

Two types of accreditation are recognized in the United States; institutional and specialized. Institutional accreditation takes the entire institution into account while the specialized focus on professional preparation programs. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is a specialized accreditation that focuses on master’s and doctoral degree programs in counseling at colleges and universities worldwide. Only already-accredited institutions are eligible for CACREP review. The review for accreditation will center on programs offering graduate degrees in counseling.

Choosing a CACREP-accredited program ensures that the program meets the highest of quality standards. Many counseling specialties are accredited bythe CACREP, including addiction counseling. Accredited addiction counseling programs prepare individuals to work with those affected by addictive behavior and their families. Addictive behaviors include alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, sex, and anything else that negatively affects your personal or work life by creating addiction behaviors.

CACREP-accredited programs will focus on treatment models and the phases of addiction including prevention, recovery, and relapse prevention. These 60-semester hour programs will include the application of interventions. When students choose a CACREP-accredited program they can be confident that:

Counselor Testing & Examination Process

Candidates must take the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium Examination for Alcohol and Drug Counselors. The exam’s questions are in a multiple choice format, and the candidate must choose between four possible responses. Of the four, only one answer is considered the best, and candidates receive credit only if they choose that response.

Clinical Supervision Explained

Delaware requires a substantial amount of clinical supervision before someone may qualify as an addiction counselor. Approved supervisors may be mental health counselors, chemical dependency professionals, psychologists, psychiatrists, clinical social workers or marriage and family therapists, all of whom are currently licensed. However, Delaware does not approve school psychologists or counselors as mental health counsel supervisors.

The amount of clinical supervision necessary depends on education level. Those lacking a bachelor’s degree must put in 6,000 hours of supervised work experience in alcohol and drug addiction, although the hours are reduced to 5,000 for those who have earned an associate degree. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree must put in 3,000 hours, while those with a master’s degree must put in 2,000 hours. More than half of these hours – a minimum of 51 percent - of such work experience entails providing clients with direct addiction counseling.

For an LADC, at least half of the 3,200 hours, or 1,600, must take place under a DCB-approved supervisor’s direct supervision. These 1,600 hours must be completed within four years. One hundred of those hours must include “face-to-face” supervisor consultation, and of those 100 hours, not more than 40 may take place under group supervision. Group supervision is considered face-to-face time between the candidate, the supervisor and up to five other people under supervision.

Renewal and Continuing Education

Recertifications are necessary for CADCs every two years, and there are continuing education requirements of 40 hours of approved education every two years. This includes 20 hours of addiction-specific education and three hours in professional ethics and responsibilities. All educational hours require documentation, such as a transcript, sent to the DCB.

LADC licenses are renewable every other year, and expire in even years.

Potential Counselor Career Path Options

Associations & Organizations

Professional associations for Delaware substance abuse counselors include the Delaware Association for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (DAADAC), whose goals are to “organize a constituency of professionals with unified goals in the prevention and treatment of alcoholism, drug addiction, and co-occurring disorders who primarily live and/or work in the State of Delaware.” DAADAC also advocates for the profession’s recognition and promotion in law and public policy.