CCAPP Credential · Rung 1 on the SUD Career Ladder
CADC-I.
Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor I
Perfect your purpose. Achieving the Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor Level I certification with CCAPP earns you well-deserved recognition to propel your career forward — proof of your capabilities, your experience, and your commitment to driving positive change and saving lives.
RADT→CADC-I→CADC-II→CADC-III→LAADC
The credential
What is CADC?
A Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) from CCAPP is a certified counselor who helps people with addiction. They meet specific education and ethical standards set by the CCAPP Credentialing Board.
Start here
What brings you here today?
Pick your situation to jump to that pathway. Every pathway below shows its requirements, fees, and the exact Certemy application to start.
Tap an option above to highlight your pathway.
Four pathways
Your CADC-I pathways
Every pathway is open below — collapse the ones you don’t need. Each ends with the exact Certemy application to start.
APPLYInitial Credential — No DegreeFirst certification
The standard route to your first certified credential. Approval to work in state-licensed and certified facilities, recognition of your competencies in any setting, and the pride of saying “I’m a CCAPP CADC-I!”
- Education 315 hours of education from a CCAPP-approved college
- Experience 3,000 hours of supervised work experience, including 255 practicum hours
- Exam Passing score on the IC&RC ADC examination
- Fees Total $250 member | $550 non-member (review $100/$250 + exam $150/$300, both due at submission; members save $198; non-refundable)
ALSO Plus the steps every pathway shares — CCAPP & DHCS codes of conduct, scope of practice, and the Certemy application steps listed below.
GO TO CERTEMY → Start the no-degree application. Already started? Log back into Certemy — do not create a second account.
APPLY+AAInitial Credential — With an AA DegreeFaster with a degree
An Associate’s Degree in behavioral science or an allied mental health profession trims the required experience hours. If that’s you, apply through this pathway instead.
- Education AA degree in behavioral science or allied mental health, including 315 hours of approved education
- Experience 2,080 hours of supervised work experience, including 255 practicum hours
- Exam Passing score on the IC&RC ADC examination
- Fees Total $250 member | $550 non-member (review $100/$250 + exam $150/$300, both due at submission; members save $198; non-refundable)
ALSO Plus the shared steps below — codes of conduct, scope of practice, and the Certemy application.
GO TO CERTEMY → Start the AA-degree application. Already started? Log back into Certemy — do not create a second account.
RENEWRenewal — CADC-I & CADC-I (CA)Keep it current
CADC-I is held by those who passed the IC&RC ADC exam with CCAPP and earned the international credential. CADC-I (CA) is held by professionals who transferred from another credential and aren’t yet eligible for international reciprocity — remove the (CA) by applying for advancement and passing the exam.
- CEUs 50 hours of continuing education, including 9 hours of ethics
- Membership Current and valid for 2 consecutive years before renewal to get the member price
- Fees $100 member | $400 non-member. Expired 30+ days: complete all initial renewal requirements plus a late fee of $70 member / $138 non-member. Non-refundable
ALSO Renewal runs through your existing Certemy account — your renewal application is already waiting there.
GO TO CERTEMY → Log in — your renewal is waiting.
CADC-I RENEWAL → Only if the renewal isn’t already in your account.
CADC-I (CA) RENEWAL → Only for (CA) holders without a renewal in their account.
TRANSFERTransfer to CCAPPFrom another organization
Bring your existing credential to CCAPP. On approval your expiration date stays the same as with your current organization — if you’re expired, you transfer as expired and complete a renewal application.
- Current credential Upload an electronic copy of your current credential with the organization you’re transferring from
- Experience 3,000 hours of supervised work experience, including 255 practicum hours
ALSO CAADE and CADTP transfers: see the notice below before starting any application.
START TRANSFER → Opens the transfer application in Certemy. Already started? Log back into Certemy — do not create a second account.
Every pathway includes
Steps all applicants complete
No matter which pathway you take, these five steps are part of every CADC-I application.
Initial Application
Complete all steps in our online electronic application system, called Certemy.
CCAPP Code of Conduct
Sign the CCAPP Code of Conduct for Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselors. This is a step in the application process in Certemy.
State Code of Conduct
Signed DHCS Code of Conduct for Credentialed Alcohol and Drug Professionals. This is a step in the application process in Certemy.
Scope of Practice
Agree to and sign the scope of practice. Read it carefully! This is a step in the application process in Certemy.
Membership
CCAPP credentials do not include membership. You do not have to be a member, but membership must be current and valid for 2 consecutive years before renewal to get the member price.
Good to know
Exams, timing & paperwork
Before you enroll
Is the school CCAPP approved?
Before you enroll, purchase, or attend a class, make sure it is CCAPP approved! Checking first avoids confusion or anxiety about the school you attended, are attending, or plan to attend.
IC&RC exam rules
Four chances — then a reset
Applicants have four chances to pass the IC&RC exam. After that, completing all three of these earns another four chances:
IMPORTANT: If you requested special accommodations, do not schedule your exam — CCAPP staff will contact you once accommodations are arranged.
Processing
Times
6–8 weeks
Application processing time
Every step must be submitted in full, complete, and accurate. An application is complete when every step has a green bubble — a green bubble with a white checkmark means CCAPP staff verified and approved that step. A red bubble means a rejected step: processing pauses until you correct and re-submit it.
The official reference
ADC/AADC Credentialing Handbook
Full details on the CADC I/II/III and LAADC credentials — requirements, pathways, and policies — in CCAPP’s official handbook.
Attention
CAADE & CADTP transfer applicants
If you are transferring from CAADE or CADTP, do not start any application until you have been issued a CCAPP certificate. Begin at the CCAPP transfer website first.
Need a little help?
Watch the application walkthrough
A step-by-step video guide to the CADC-I application — clearer, easier, and you’ll know exactly what to expect. Questions along the way? Reach out for support.
Recognition
Accredited with NCCA by ICE and approved by DHCS.
CCAPP is the only IC&RC Board in California. IC&RC offers international credentialing with reciprocity among boards in most states and other countries.
Note: Requirements, fees, and hour counts can change. Always confirm current details in CCAPP’s official ADC/AADC Credentialing Handbook before applying, and use one Certemy account for your whole career.