Maryland Certification

Maryland Addictions Professional Certification Board (MAPCB)

• Associate Addiction Counselor (AAC)
• Certified Alcoholism Counselor (CAC)
• Certified Drug Counselor (CDC)
• Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor (CCDC)
• Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS)
• Associate Prevention Specialist (APS)
• Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS)

Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists

• Certified Supervised Counselor-Alcohol and Drug (CSC-AD)
• Certified Associate Counselor-Alcohol and Drug (CAC-AD)
• Certified Professional Counselor-Alcohol and Drug (CPC-AD)
• Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

Maryland Addictions Professional Certification Board (MAPCB)
PO Box 245
Sandy Spring, MD 20860-0245
phone (866) 537-5340
www.mapcb.com
admin@mapcb.com

Requirements:

Associate Addiction Counselor (AAC):

AAC is an entry-level credential which is non-reciprocal and requires no exams.

• High School diploma or GED 
• 100 hours of alcohol/drug education -- 6 hours ethics; 94 hours pertaining to the 12 Core Functions, or special chemical dependency topics 
• 2,000 hours of work experience with alcohol/drug clients

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Certified Alcoholism Counselor (CAC): 

• Bachelor's degree in Counseling, Health Education, Social Work, Human Services, Psychology or applicable field of study
• 240 clock hours training in specific topics: 
• 30 hours - medical aspects of chemical dependency
• 30 hours - group counseling
• 30 hours - individual counseling
• 30 hours - family counseling
• 30 hours - assessment & treatment planning
• 6 hours - ethics
• 84 hours - electives pertaining to the 12 Core Functions, or special chemical dependency topics
• In-service training is limited to 60 hours
• 4,000 hours (2 years) of work experience with primary alcoholics
• Within each year of experience, it is required that the counselor has received a minimum of 50 hours of face-to-face, individual clinical supervision · Within each year of experience, it is required that the counselor demonstrate a minimum of 750 hours spent in direct individual or group counseling with alcohol/drug clients and/or their families
• 300 hour practicum in the 12 Counselor Core Functions
• Written exam
• Case presentation
• Oral Interview
• Must live or work in Maryland 51% of the time

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Certified Drug Counselor (CDC):

• Bachelor's degree in Counseling, Health Education, Social Work, Human Services, Psychology or applicable field of study
• 240 clock hours training in specific topics:
• 30 hours - medical aspects of chemical dependency
• 30 hours - group counseling · 30 hours - individual counseling
• 30 hours - family counseling
• 30 hours - assessment & treatment planning
• 6 hours - ethics
• 84 hours - electives pertaining to the 12 Core Functions, or special chemical dependency topics
• In-service training is limited to 60 hours
• 4,000 hours of work experience with primary drug addicts
• Within each year of experience, it is required that the counselor has received a minimum of 50 hours of face-to-face, individual clinical supervision
• Within each year of experience, it is required that the counselor demonstrate a minimum of 750 hours spent in direct individual or group counseling with alcohol/drug clients and/or their families
• 300 hour practicum in the 12 Counselor Core Functions
• Written exam
• Case presentation
• Oral Interview
• Must live or work in Maryland 51% of the time

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Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor (CCDC):

• Bachelor's degree in Counseling, Health Education, Social Work, Human Services, Psychology or applicable field of study
• 300 clock hours training in specific topics:
• 45 hours - medical aspects of chemical dependency
• 60 hours - group counseling
• 30 hours - individual counseling
• 45 hours - family counseling
• 30 hours - assessment & treatment planning
• 6 hours - ethics
• 30 hours - human development
• 30 hours - abnormal psychology
• 24 hours - electives pertaining to the 12 Core Functions, or special chemical dependency topics
• In-service training is limited to 75 hours
• 6,000 hours of work experience with both alcohol/drug clients · Within each year of experience, it is required that the counselor has received a minimum of 50 hours of face-to-face, individual clinical supervision
• Within each year of experience, it is required that the counselor demonstrate a minimum of 750 hours spent in direct individual or group counseling with alcohol/drug clients and/or their families
• 300 hour practicum in the 12 Counselor Core Functions
• Written exam
• Case presentation
• Oral Interview
• Must live or work in Maryland 51% of the time 

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Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS): 

• Certified at the reciprocal level for the AODA (CCDC) credential and maintain certification in a concurrent manner 
• 5 years (10,000 clock hours) counseling experience in the field of alcohol and other drug addiction treating AODA population 
• 2 years (4,000 clock hours) clinical supervisory experience. these 2 years may be included in 5 years counseling experience and must include provision of 200 contact hours of face-to-face clinical supervision
• 30 hours didactic training in clinical supervision. Training in each of the following: Assessment/Evaluation; Counselor Development; Management/Administration; Professional Responsibilities
• 3 references from individuals familiar with work as a clinical supervisor
• ICRC/AODA written exam · Signed Code of Ethics
• Payment of application fee 

Recertification: Maintain certification or licensure; 6 hours documented training in clinical supervision every 2 years 

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Associate Prevention Specialist (APS):

APS is the first level credential which is non-reciprocal

• High School diploma or GED 
• 1 year ATOD prevention experience
• 100 hours approved prevention training (50 hours ATOD specific)
• 3 letters of reference; 1 from former or current supervisor and 2 from peers. Letters must attest to applicant's knowledge, experience and character
• Signed Ethics Code & Consent to Release Information
• Must live or work in Maryland 51% of the time

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Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS):

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with 30 credits in behavioral science, health service, human services or education
  Note: completion of 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university, 18 of which are in the behavioral sciences, health or human services, or education and an additional 2 years of experience may be substituted for education requirement
• 2 years ATOD prevention experience
• 200 hours approved prevention training (50 hours ATOD specific)
• 120 hours practicum experience in 6 performance domains
• 3 letters of reference; 1 from former or current supervisor and 2 from peers. Letters must attest to applicant's knowledge, experience and character
• Signed Ethics Code & Consent to Release Information
• ICRC written exam
• Must live or work in Maryland 51% of the time 

Recertification: Every 2 years upon proof of continuing education and payment of fees.

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Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists 
4201 Patterson Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215-2299 USA
phone (410) 764-4732 or (877) 4MD-DHMH (toll free)
fax
www.dhmh.state.md.us/bopc/

Requirements:

Certified Supervised Counselor-Alcohol and Drug (CSC-AD):

• At least 18 years of age
• Associates degree in Health or Human Services counseling field or completed a program of studies judged by the Board to be substantially equivalent in subject matter and extent of training
• 15 credits, including a minimum 1 credit Ethics in A&D counseling course
• 2 years, 2,000 hours. 1 year must be after the award of the degree
• MACCB/ICRC-AODA exam
• Practice under the supervision of a CPC-AD or other supervisor approved by the Board AND while an employee of a JCAHO or Maryland State accredited program 

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Certified Associate Counselor-Alcohol and Drug (CAC-AD):

• At least 18 years of age 
• Bachelors degree in Health or Human Services counseling field from an accredited institution of higher education or completed a program of studies judged by the Board to be substantially equivalent
• 20 credits, including a minimum 1 credit Ethics in A&D counseling course
• 3 years, minimum 2,000 hours. 2 years must be after the award of the degree
• MACCB/ICRC-AODA exam
• Practice under the supervision of a CPC-AD or other supervisor approved by the Board OR as an employee of a JCAHO or Maryland State accredited program

Certified Professional Counselor-Alcohol and Drug (CPC-AD):

• At least 18 years of age
• Masters (60 credit) or Doctorate (90 credit) in Health or Human Services counseling field
• 25 credits, including 3 credit Ethics course with a focus on A&D issues
• 3 years, minimum 2,000 hours. 2 years must be after the award of the degree
• EMAC (NBCC) exam
• No statement of restrictions, can be in private practice or any agency/facility setting 

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor:

• Met the CPC-AD requirements
• 60 hours graduate course work, including training in personality development, diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders, psychopathology, and psychotherapy in alcohol and drug disorders from an accredited college or university approved by the Board

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