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Certification Requirements

The Addiction Professional Training Institute at Hanley Center offers Educational Classes towards certification in the addiction field. Below find a brief description of the requirements related to certification offered by the Florida Certification Board.

The Florida Certification Board sets the standards for several levels of certification for addiction professionals in Florida. The three levels of classification within this category are:

Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS)- To become a Certified Addiction Specialist there is no academic degree required, you will need to acquire 2,000 hours of direct experience in the addiction field, and undergo 100 hours of direct supervision. You need to attend 150 hours of training, 70 hours of which must be allocated, as specified, among each of the professional practice dimensions:

• Clinical Evaluation – 10 hours
• Treatment Planning – 5 hours
• Referral – 5 hours
• Service Coordination – 5 hours
• Counseling – 20 hours
• Client, Family, and Community Education – 5 hours
• Documentation – 5 hours
• Professional and Ethical Responsibilities – 15 hour

At least 74 hours must be allocated, as specified, in the following
transdisciplinary foundations:

• Understanding Addiction/Treatment Knowledge – 37 hours
• Application to Practice/Professional Readiness – 37 hours

At least 6 hours must be allocated in the following topic areas:
• HIV/AIDS – 6 hours
• Domestic Violence – 2 hours

Also, 3 professional letters of recommendation for certification are required, along with a passing score on the Florida Specific Exam. For renewal you must attend 10 Continuing Education Units each year which are available through the Addiction Professional Training Institute at Hanley Center.

Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC)- To become a Certified Addiction Counselor requires a High School Diploma/GED, Associate/Vocational Degree, or higher.

If you have a:
• High School Diploma/GED- You will need to acquire 6,000 hours of direct experience and 300 hours of direct supervison.
• Associate/Vocational Degree or Higher- You will need to acquire 4,000 hours of direct experience and 150 hours of direct supervison.

Also you need to attend 250 hours of training, 130 hours of which must be allocated, as specified, among each of the professional practice dimensions:
• Clinical Evaluation – 25 hours
• Treatment Planning – 15 hours
• Referral – 5 hours
• Service Coordination – 5 hours
• Counseling – 30 hours
• Client, Family, and Community Education – 10 hours
• Documentation – 10 hours
• Professional and Ethical Responsibilities – 30 hours

At least 114 hours must be allocated, as specified, in the following
transdisciplinary foundations:
• Understanding Addiction/Treatment Knowledge – 57 hours
• Application to Practice/Professional Readiness – 57 hours

At least 6 hours must be allocated in the following topic areas:
• HIV/AIDS – 4 hours
• Domestic Violence – 2 hours

Also, 3 professional letters of recommendation for certification are required, along with a passing score on the Florida Specific Exam. For renewal you must attend 20 Continuing Education Units each year which are available through the Addiction Professional Training Institute at Hanley Center.

Certified Addiction Professional (CAP)- To become a Certified Addiction Professional a bachelor’s degree or higher.

• Bachelor’s Degree or non counseling related Master’s Degree: You will need to acquire 6,000 hours of direct experience and 300 hours of direct supervision.
• Master’s Degree in a counseling related field or Higher: You will need to acquire 4,000 hours of direct experience and 200 hours of direct supervision.


350 hours of training. At least 190 hours must be allocated, as specified,
among each of the professional practice dimensions:
• Clinical Evaluation – 20 hours in assessment; 15 hours in screening
• Treatment Planning – 20 hours
• Referral – 5 hours
• Service Coordination – 5 hours
• Counseling – 50 hours
• Client, Family, and Community Education – 15 hours
• Documentation – 15 hours
• Professional and Ethical Responsibilities – 30 hours
• Supervision – 15 hours

At least 154 hours must be allocated, as specified, in the following
transdisciplinary foundations:
• Understanding Addiction/Treatment Knowledge – 77 hours
• Application to Practice/Professional Readiness – 77 hours

At least 6 hours must be allocated in the following topic areas:
• HIV/AIDS – 4 hours
• Domestic Violence – 2 hours


Also, 3 professional letters of recommendation for certification are required, along with a passing score on the Florida Specific Exam and must earn a passing score on the IC & RC AODA written exam. For renewal you must attend 20 Continuing Education Units each year which are available through the Addiction Professional Training Institute at Hanley Center.


Certified Addiction Professional through Licensure: You must be a:
• Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW
• Licensed Silences Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT
• Licensed Psychologist

145 hours of training must be allocated in the following transdisciplinary
foundations:
• Understanding Addiction/Treatment Knowledge
• Application to Practice/Professional Readiness

Also, 2 professional letters of recommendation for certification are required, along with a passing score on the the IC & RC AODA written exam. For renewal you must attend 20 Continuing Education Units each year which are available through the Addiction Professional Training Institute at Hanley Center.