Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (AADC) 

The IC&RC standards represent the minimum criteria for certification/licensure. Member boards affiliated with the IC&RC may require additional standards that reflect local mandates, regulations, and/or best practices. Please consult with your local IC&RC Member board for specific standards and requirements applicable to your jurisdiction.

Minimum Standards

Experience

2,000 hours of supervised work experience specific to the AADC Domains. 

Education 

Master’s degree in a relevant field. 180 hours of education specific to the AADC Domains. Six hours must be specific to counselor ethics and responsibilities. 

Supervision

100 hours specific to the AADC Domains with a minimum of ten hours in each domain. 

Examination

CBs must require all applicants to pass the AADC Examination. 

Jurisdiction

Individuals must live or work at least 51% of the time in the Member Boards jurisdiction (“at the time of application & testing”) 

Code of Ethics

The applicant must sign a counselor specific code of ethics statement of affirmation that the applicant has read and will abide by the code of ethics. 

Recertification

40 hours of continuing education earned every two years. CBs may renew at different intervals but must require at least 20 hours for every year of certification. 

Click here to review the AADC Domains in the Candidate Guide

CCDPD/AADC Merger: 

During the 2014 AADC Job Analysis, co-occurring competencies were heavily embedded into the AADC examination resulting in the AADC and CCDPD credentials testing duplicative content. As a result of this, the CCDPD and AADC committees are recommending the merger of the two credentials and the discontinuation of the the CCDPD credential. This proposal is to be voted upon during the spring 2016 meeting.   The Proposal for this merger can be found here.