Current Law

Proposed Law

CDAAC/RAS Certification

Upon completion of the CDAAC take the State Exam

Keep your CDAAC/RAS

California counselors must register and be certified by an ADP-approved and nationally accredited institution, such as the CDAAC/RAS certification from the ACADC Institute - The current education and experience requirements for certified counselors are: 155 hours of formal education, AND 2,080 hours (about one year) field experience, including 160 hours supervised experience - The current California counselor certification law is at this link:   Senate Bill 707 in its present form looks to many like it will have negative ramifications for all Christians, not only in California but throughout the nation.  Read "Comment on SB 707"  at the bottom of the next column to the right to find out what many in our field are saying.

The State of California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (ADP) has proposed law that will require a degree and more formal education, more supervised clinical experience, and substantially higher fees for the entry-level certification, and will also require advanced degrees and more expense for advanced certifications and/or licensure.   GRANDPARENT PROVISION The Director of ADP, Renée Zito, has stated that it is her intention that counselors fully certified under the current law will be "grandfathered" or "grandparented" into the new entry-level certification, and the proposed law already provides for "provisional certification" for counselors certified under the existing law by the end of 2009. - The proposed law has been introduced as Senate Bill 707, which you can view at the link below:     - Click on the link below to read people's concerns on the proposed law? Here is a link to ADP's web site that has the comments listed.

The CDAAC/RAS Credential from ACADC Institute is the only State-approved and nationally accredited dual certification under the current counselor certification law in California, that offers two professional certifications:  The faith based CDAAC certification and the secular RAS certification.     WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? 1. Do not panic. You have time to get fully certified as a CDAAC/RAS by the end of 2009. But don't delay.   2. Do get the CDAAC/RAS. The CDAAC/RAS certification is the only fully approved and accredited counselor certification in the nation that certifies training in both Christ-centered Addiction Counseling and the secular competencies found in SAMHSA's Technical Assistance Publication 21. - The Exam fee includes a comprehensive study guide that contains all of the information that may be asked on the state exam - Daily testing at throughout the US   New Exam option         If you have not completed your formal education or clinical experience requirements , , ,         . . . document later.     Study for and pass the multiple-choice exam now, so that you can get your RAS Credential as soon as you complete your education and work experience hours.

1. Register First, get registered. Only $49 on-line. Click on the link below to register on-line:   2. Then, either Test Now Print and send to us the Exam Request form, and we'll send you the study materials. Whenever you are ready, schedule and take the multiple-choice exam at the closest test center. After you have passed the exam and completed your qualifying education and work experience, send us documentation of that, and we will then certify you.   or Test Later Complete your education and experience requirements, then document that with the Exam Request form. Print and send to us the Exam Request form, and we'll send you the study materials. Whenever you are ready, schedule and take the multiple-choice exam at the closest test center. Pass the exam and we will certify you.   FREE Tutorial             A free on-line tutorial, prepared by Breining Institute, that follows the study guide, chapter-by-chapter, is also available to help you prepare for the exam

Don't let your dual CDAAC/RAS  certification lapse.  ADP has stated it wants to recognize certifications current as of the end of 2009, so a lapsed certificate will offer no protection. - Select the link below to renew your CDAAC/RAS On-line. You will only need to list your CE courses that you've completed, and do not need to provide completion certificates at this time:       IS YOUR CDAAC/RAS RENEWAL LATE? Even if you are late, renew right away on-line. SB 707 offers protection to you if you are current in your RAS Certification as of the end of 2009, but do not delay. Use the link above to renew on-line. -         Supervisor Credential     Special provisions in the proposed law will require mandated supervisor oversight of counselors. Get the Clinical Supervisor Credential (CSC) so that you are ready when the law goes into effect. - Select the link below for more info on the CSC: