Certification FAQ
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- How do I get certified?
- Where can I go to school?
- What is the required education?
- How do I complete the online Application for Certification?
- What Items will I need to have completed ahead of time?
- What if I already have a degree, can I use this for hours?
- I have been in the field for many years, can I test in?
- Are there any waivers on the forms needed for certification?
- What if I can't find my supervisor/instructor?
- Who can verify my hours?
- What is grandparenting? Am I allowed to grandparent?
- I did not get my certification renewal invoice, what can I do?
- What are the requirements for recertification?
- What is the difference between CE's(Advanced Hours) and PDH, and how many of each do I need?
- Do I still need to submit copies of my certificates, even though I listed them on the training log?
- Do I have to be a member to be certified?
- Where do I fit in on the career ladder?
- When will I receive my new credential?
- Who has to test to become CCAPP certified?
- What are the costs involved with the credential?
- Who can certify in California and do I have a choice?
- I am certified with another certifying organization; where do I fit in on the CCAPP Career Path?
- Have state requirements for certification changed?
- What does CCAPP's 2017 Career Ladder entail?
To obtain certification with CCAPP, you will need to complete the educational, field practical experience (internship), and work experience to meet the requirements to apply for certification. To apply for certification, you must complete the portfolio process through our online portal called Certemy. CCAPP no longer accepts paper applications.
Click here for tips to start an application in Certemy
You may choose to go to any school that you would like to attend. CCAPP does have a list of the Approved Schools on our webpage, under the Education tab on the home page. You are not required to attend these schools specifically, and CCAPP cannot recommend one school over another. If you would like additional information on these schools, please contact the school that you are interested in attending and speak to a career counselor.
What is the required education?
For the required education, please see our Education tab and click on Academic Content Areas. This outlines the required education that you must complete prior to applying for certification.
How do I complete the online application for certification?
To complete the online application, you will first need to start at the page where the credential you are seeking is listed. The instructions are listed on each credentials landing page. Click Here for the listing of credentials.
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What items will I need to have completed ahead of time?
You will need to have the following information prior to being able to complete your portfolio. Please use our contact form with any questions that you have about the information below.
1. Official Transcripts - Must be emailed to CCAPP from a representative of the school, and cannot come from the student directly. Transcripts can be mailed to the CCAPP Sacramento office in a sealed unopened envelope from the school If your school does not participate in transcript emailing.
CCAPP Credentialing
PO Box 214127
Sacramento, CA 95821
2. Official Transcripts from non-CCAPP approved schools - If you choose to go to a non-CCAPP approved school, you must submit copies of the course descriptions from the school catalog.
3. Internship Evaluation - You will need your supervisor's email address and you will need to assign your Field Practicum Supervisor for this step in your Certemy application. They will then create a supervisor account from an email link that they receive via email, and they will log in and sign the Practicum Log and Internship Evaluation.
4. Practicum Log - you will need your instructor's email address to complete the Practicum Log in your Certemy application. To access this information your Instructor will receive an email once you have entered their information; your supervisor has completed and submitted your internship evaluation and practicum logs. This email will not be sent until this step has been completed.
5. Employment Verification Letter - If you are applying for a higher credential, you will need to obtain a letter from your current employer stating that you are currently employed there. This letter must be on company letter head, and signed and dated within 60 days of submission to the office.
6. Verification of Supervised Counseling Experience - if you are applying for a CADC I/CADC II/CADC III, your supervisor will need to complete the online verification form in Certemy. You will need to assign them as your supervisor in that step of your applicaiton in Certemy.
7. One Peer Recommendation Letter - You will need one email address of a colleague that you currently work with in the AOD profession that is willing to write a recommendation letter for you. This letter cannot be from a supervisor, or from an instructor.
8. Photo - You will need to scan a copy of a passport photo to be included with your portfolio.
9. Required Fees - Total for a member is $339, this includes the exam. Membership is separate from a registry status. To find out if you are a current member in good standing, please search for you neame in the registry listing and look for i_m, which stands for Individual Member. If you are not a member, and would like to apply for membership, please complete the online membership application that you can access here. If you do not want to take out membership, the fees are $648.
What if I already have a degree, can I use this for hours?
Beginning January 1, 2017, degrees will no longer be accepted to reduce hours. Please see question #23 to see which credential you qualify for if you hold an appropriate degree.
I have been in the field for many years, can I test in?
CCAPP Credentialing does not offer a testing in option for counselors. All individuals will need to meet the current requirements for certification. Please use the contact form if you need further assistance.
Are there any waivers on the forms needed for certification?
CCAPP Credentialing does not have any waivers for the required information.
What if I can't find my supervisor/instructor?
If you are unable to locate your supervisor or practicum instructor, all individuals wiill be required to conduct a thorough search for your supervisor. The office will conduct their own search for your supervisor. Most of whom can be located through a google search. If you are still unable to locate the individual(s) use the contact form for further assistance.
The person that can verify your hours, must be certified with CCAPP as a CADC I, CADC II, CADC III, CCS, or LAADC/LAADC-S, or meet the definition of an appropriate supervisor. The applications clarify this information further on the hours verification form of who can supervise whom for the credential in which applicants are applying. We do not accept letters from HR as verification of hours. This step in Certemy will not be complete until this information has been received correctly in Certemy.
What is grandparenting? Can I grandparent?
Grandparenting is when an organization allows applicants to receive a credential when they have not met all of the requirements normally required for approval (most often a testing requirement is waived). CCAPP is not offering any grandparenting opportunities.
I did not get my certification renewal invoice, what can I do?
CCAPP no longer sends out renewal invoices. All applications are now electronic using Certemy. If you are due for renewal login to Certemy or visit the renew a credential page here.
What is the requirements for recertification?
Applicants for renewal will need 40 Continuing education units by a CCAPP approved provider in alcohol and drug counseling to include six hours specific to counselor ethics, and 10 Professional Development hours that can be completed anywhere and are trainings that the applicant has attended that enhance professionalism. Online CEs must not exceed 8 hours in a single day.
What is the difference between Ce's(Advanced Hours) and PDH, and how many of each do i need?
CEs are obtained by an approved CCAPP Provider. For the current list of approved provicers, click here. You will need 40 hours in SUD education, including 6 hours specifically in counselor ethics, and the other 10 can come from anywhere and are considered Professional Development Hours (PDH). The PDH trainings must in some way, assist you professionally, such as additional school education that was not previously used to meet education requirements. PDHs can include CEs that exceed the 40 hour requirement or obtained from a non-approved provider. To submit school educational hours for PDH, you will need to submit an unofficial copy of your transcript showing successful completion of the course within the last 2 years for a maximum PDH credit of 10 hours. You can take all of training hours as approved CE hours, but you cannot take all PDH trainings to meet the requirements for certification.
Do I still need to submit copies of my certificates, even though I listed them on the training log?
Yes, you will need to submit copies of your trainings to the office with your renewal application, or you will need to scan and upload these to the online renewal application.
If you were Registered or Certified with Breining prior to 8/28/2014, you can transfer your registry only. You will be required to meet all CCAPP requirements if you choose to certify with CCAPP. Transferring your registry status to another certifying organization will not extend theh five year limit on registry, and you will still expire at your five years from the time that you became initially registered with another board. Please visit the transfer landing page for detailed information on transferring a credential from another DHCS approved certifying organization.
Do I have to be a member to become certified?
No. However, there are significant discounts for certification, testing and conferences, as well as many individual benefits for becoming a member. You may apply for membership by clicking here.
When will I receive my new credential?
Certificates will be sent out in no specific order as they are able to be processed. Please be sure you entered your current contact information in your application. Credentials CANNOT be processed without this information. Counselors and registrants must continue to keep credentials current in order to stay in compliance with DHCS regulations.
If you need to verify your new credential before receiving the paper certificate, please check your digital wallet in Certemy. You may also view the registry listing by searching your name on CCAPP’s verification page.
Who has to test to become CCAPP certified?
Applicants who are not previously certified must pass the test required for the level being applied for. Applicants applying for a transfer must complete the transfer application on our home page, and click on the tile for transfer to CCAPP and at that time, will be notified of testing options given the information provided in the application.
Who can certify in California and do I have a choice?
There are three certifying organizations with authority to certify counselors for the purpose of working in a facility licensed or certified by the Department of Health Care Services. Counselors may choose, at any time, to transfer certification to another organization. Be aware that phrases such as "transitioning to" or promises of certification at a future date are not valid for documenting certified status with the Department of Health Care Services. You must have written documentation attesting to your CURRENT, not future status, to comply with regulations. All CCAPP credentials are valid in the state of California. All transfers accepted by CCAPP are provided with documentation to meet state regulations within 30 days of receipt of the application.
I am certified with another certifying organization; where do I fit in on the CCAPP Career Path?
Applications for transfer are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Every effort is made to award the applicant the highest level of certification given current education, supervised work experience and testing levels. To find out where you nmay fit into our current career path, please use the contact form.
Have state requirements for certification changed?
No. CCAPP is no longer able to accept certification transfers from individuals who were certified by a certification organization that is no longer approved by DHCS. All applicants are required to apply, take, and pass the IC&RC examination for the credential that they wish to apply for. To view the department's bulletin regarding any regulatory or compliance updates click here. This link takes you to the official website of the state regulatory authority for California and should not be ignored.
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