Becoming an Addiction Professional Licensure and Certification in

Becoming an Addiction Professional: Licensure and Certification in Virginia Kevin Doyle, Ed. D. , LPC. LSATP 2014 Virginia Summer Institute for Addiction Studies

Goals of the Presentation Ø Participants will learn about the various licenses available to professionals who work with clients with substance use problems Ø Participants will learn about the various certifications available to professionals who work with clients with substance use problems Ø Participants will learn about the requirements needed for licensure and certification in Virginia in order to help them identify possible steps in moving forward

Disclaimer • Serve on the Virginia Board of Counseling (2002 -2009, 2013 to present) • Do not speak for the Board • Each situation is unique

Why become credentialed? • • Professional advancement, respect Accountability Higher wage/salary Public protection Distinguish among professions Improve accessibility (3 rd party coverage) Other

Licensure in Virginia ØLicensed Substance Abuse Tx Practitioner (LSATP) ØLicensed Professional Counselor (LPC) ØLicensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) ØLicensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) ØLicensed Clinical Psychologist (LCP)

Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner (LSATP) • Virginia license, established in 2001 • Independent, autonomous practice • Master’s, SA tx/counseling, 60 credit hours – 9 core courses + 12 addiction specific credits – Internship (600 hrs. , 240 client contact) – Supervised Residency (4000 hrs. ) – Exam – www. dhp. virginia. gov/counseling

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) • Virginia license, established in 1976 • Independent, autonomous practice • Master’s in Counseling, 60 credit hours – Internship (600 hrs. , 240 client contact) – Supervised Residency (4000 hrs. ) – Exam (NCMHCE) – www. dhp. virginia. gov/counseling

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) • Virginia license, established in ~2000 • Independent, autonomous practice • Master’s in MFT/related, 60 credit hours – 24 MFT specific credits – Internship (600 hrs. , 240 client contact) – Supervised Residency (4000 hrs. ) – Exam – www. dhp. virginia. gov/counseling

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) • Virginia license, long-established • Independent, autonomous practice • Master’s in Social Work, recognized by CSWE – Clinical Practicum (600 hrs. ) – Post-master’s supervised experience (3000 hrs) – Exam – www. dhp. virginia. gov/social

Licensed Clinical Psychologist (LCP) • Virginia license • Independent, autonomous practice • Ph. D. , APA accredited or equivalent – Residency – Exam – www. dhp. virginia. gov/psychology • Also licenses for applied psychologists and school psychologists

A Note about Endorsement • All of these licenses contain provisions through which a license can be issued to an individual who holds a similar license from another jurisdiction, if the requirements are “consistent with” Virginia regulations

Certification Ø Master Addictions Counselor (MAC) Ø National Certified Addiction Counselor (NCAC I and II) Ø Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) Ø Certified Substance Abuse Counseling Assistant (CSAC-A) Ø Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) Ø Other

Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) • NAADAC: The Assoc for Addiction Professionals • Master’s degree in “healing arts, ” w) substance use disorder-specific coursework • Current state certification or license • Alcohol/drug education (500 hrs. ) • 3 yrs (6, 000 hrs. ) supervised experience (2 post Master’s) • Co-occurring disorder endorsement • See www. naadac. org/mac (Also offered through NBCC)

NAADAC: National Certified Addiction Counselor (NCAC I, NCAC II) • NCAC I – State certification/licensure as SUD counselor – 6000 hrs. supervised experience -- Exam • NCAC II • Bachelor’s degree from accredited university • State certification/licensure as SUD counselor • 10, 000 hrs. supervised experience -- Exam • See www. naadac. org/ncac 1 or ncac 2

Certified Substance Abuse Counselor § Bachelor’s Degree § 400 hrs. substance abuse education § 220 hrs. of substance abuse counseling ed. , at least 10 hrs in each of 8 domains, 20 in 2 § 180 hrs. supervised experience § Exam § See www. dhp. virginia. gov/counseling

Certified Substance Abuse Counseling Assistant (CSAC-A) • High school diploma or GED § 300 hrs. substance abuse education § 120 hrs. of substance abuse counseling education, at least 10 hrs in each of 8 domains § 180 hrs. supervised experience § Exam § See www. dhp. virginia. gov/counseling

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) • Virginia Certification Board (formerly SACAVA) • Management outsourced to PA Board • Varying experience requirements by degree – No degree: 6, 000 hrs. as counselor or supervisor – Assoc: 5, 000 hrs. , B. A: 4, 000 hrs. , M. A: 2, 000 hrs. – Supervision/education hrs. in 8 domains • Passage of ICRC exam • See www. vacertboard. org/certifications

Other Certifications through ICRC • Certified Co-Occurring Disorders Professional (CCDP) • Certified Criminal Justice Professional (CCJP) • Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) • Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS)

Other Certifications through NAADAC • Nicotine Dependence Specialist (NDS) • National Certified Adolescent Addictions Counselor (NCAAC) • Nationally Endorsed Student Assistance Professional (NESAP) • Co-occurring Disorders Proficiency Certificate (CDPC) • Recovery to Practice Certificate (RTP)

What About Medicaid? Ø Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP) Ø Licensed Mental Health Practitioner-Eligible ØNote Bd. of Counseling does not use “license eligible” Ø Qualified Mental Health Practitioner (QMHP) Ø See www. dmas. virginia. gov

Final Cautions • Caveat emptor: Let the Buyer Beware • “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. ” • If unscrupulous people can create an illegitimate degree, they can just as easily create an illegitimate accrediting body

Final Cautions • Beware of employment and supervisory arrangements that put all the risk on you • Issues such as: – Unreasonable repayment of supervision – Contractor/1099 status vs. Employee status (see www. dol. gov/whd) • Typically, autonomous practice and billing are restricted to licensed providers

About Your Presenter Kevin Doyle, Ed. D. , LPC, LSATP Assistant Professor, Longwood University Commonwealth of Va. , Board of Counseling Past-President of VAADAC (1999 -2001) Licensed Professional Counselor Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner www. drkevindoyle. com doyleks@longwood. edu; kevindoylelpc@gmail. com