Certification Fees Adjusted for the First Time in Seven Years

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Donovan Kuehn
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The National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP) announced that the certification costs for national credentials have increased in 2013.

The fees for Nationally Certified Addictions Counselors, Level I and II, Masters Addiction Counselors and Nicotine Dependence Specialists have all increased by $25 for NAADAC members and non-members. The Adolescent Specialty Endorsement has also increased by $25. This adjustment is the first fee increase in seven years.

A full listing of the fees can be found online.

Kathryn Benson, Chair of the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals stated, “The NCC AP has not changed its testing fees for the past seven years, however, due to the increase of computer site fees, we are forced to increase the testing fees by $25 to cover the raising costs we have experienced over the past three years. We have held off as long as possible from passing the increase onto our partner boards but are at a point where the raising costs can no longer be absorbed by the NCC AP. The NCC AP agreed on a minimal increase in order not to hurt your budgets or those who must access the tests.”

NCC AP credentials benefit members of the addiction profession in a number of ways: through the professionalism of the addiction treatment profession for substance use disorders; proven method by which addiction professionals are recognized; through the continuous updating of skills and knowledge of addiction professionals and by providing patients with verification that the person offering treatment services is knowledgeable, skilled and competent.

What are the Purposes and Benefits of National Credentialing?

1. Focuses on the individual clinician;
2. Provides a formal indicator of current knowledge and competence nationally through thorough application review and testing ;
3. Provides a national standard that is generally higher than state requirements;
4. Encourages professionals to continue enhancing their knowledge to better serve their clients;
5. Affords a means to establish, measure, and monitor the requirements for knowledge in the profession through mandated  two-year renewal of credential with required evidence of continued education; and
6. Provides assistance to employers, healthcare providers, educators, government entities, labor unions, other practitioners and the public in identifying quality counselors who have met national competency standards as the credentials and test items are reviewed and updated every two years. This review enables inclusion of the most current theories and clinical approaches presently in use.

What Is NCC AP?
NCC AP (pronounced “en cap”) is the acronym for the new name of the Certification Commission: the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals. The Commission was established in 1990, as the National Certification Commission, and changed its name in August of 2012. Adding for Addiction Professionals enables the Commission to clarify that clinical practitioners who pass our exams have demonstrated knowledge and competence in the diagnosis and treatment of addiction.

NCC AP is an independent body for all matters involving certification and specialty endorsement opportunities for addictions counselors at the national and international levels. NCC AP operates under the banner of NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals.

Who Composes the NCC AP Commission?
The Commission is comprised of 12 professionals from the addiction profession, plus one public member. Commissioners include academic, administrative and direct service providers of addiction counseling.  All hold NAADAC memberships and are NCC AP certified.

How Does NCC AP Differ From State Certification?
Before applying for an NCC AP national certification, potential certification-holders must have a state level certification or license. In addition to meeting the educational requirements for the national credentials (which may be greater than state requirements); passing the NCC AP exam appropriate for the candidate’s level of supervised experience; and maintaining a program of continuing education and ethical standards throughout the renewal process is required.

Some states offer the NCC AP exams for their state credentialing. Submitting state exam scores within four years of test administration precludes the need to re-take the NCC AP exam for the national credential.

For full information on NCC AP certification, visit www.naadac.org/certification.

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