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A voluntary national certification intended for professionals working within addiction related disciplines who wish to demonstrate their skills gained through years of supervised work experience.
Download the NCAC I Certification Application and Instructions
Why should you obtain the NCAC I Certification?
- Take the first step to greater promotions and salary enhancements by obtaining a nationally recognized credential.
- Demonstrate to employers and clients your commitment to quality care by verifying through certification the skills you have developed through years of work experience.
- The NCAC I credential reflects an endorsement of the highest ethical standards for addiction professionals.
- The demand for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors in expected to grow by 35 percent within 10 years
Eligibility Requirements
- Current state certification/licensure as an alcoholism and/or drug abuse counselor.
- Three years' full-time or 6,000 hours of supervised experience as an alcoholism and/or drug abuse counselor.
- 270 contact hours of education and training in alcoholism and drug abuse or related counseling subjects, including 6 hours of ethics training and 6 hours of HIV/AIDS training.
- Passing score on the national examination for Level I.
Application Requirements
- Documentation of current state certification/licensure as an alcoholism and/or drug abuse counselor.
- Three years' full-time or 6,000 hours of supervised experience as an alcoholism and/or drug abuse counselor. The three years need not be consecutive.
- Written verification of competency in all skill groups verified by a supervisor or other health care professionals who have personally observed the candidate's alcohol and/or drug abuse counseling work.
- Documentation of 270 contact hours of education and training in alcoholism and drug abuse or related counseling subjects. Included in the total must be 6 contact hours of ethics training and 6 contact hours of HIV/AIDS training.
- Submission of a signed and dated statement that the candidate has read the NAADAC Code of Ethics and subscribes to it.
- Received a passing score on the NCAC Level I written examination within 4 years of this application.
- A copy of your grade sheet must be attached.
- Payment of non-refundable application/certification review fee.
Certification Costs
Examination Details
The written national credentialing examination is tailored to test the applicant on his or her projected knowledge based on experience, education and training. The following skill groups are evaluated in the examination, and an applicant for national certification should be well versed in each of these topic areas:
- treatment admission (screening, intake and orientation)
- clinical assessment
- ongoing treatment planning
- counseling services (individual, group, family, crisis intervention and client education)
- documentation
- case management
- discharge and continuing care
- legal, ethical and professional growth issues
The National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I) written examination consists of 250 multiple-choice, objective questions, which test candidates’ knowledge in the areas of counseling practice (40%), pharmacology of psychoactive substances (30%), the theoretical base of counseling (15%) and professional issues related to alcoholism and drug abuse treatment (15%).
If you have previously taken a certification exam at the state level, you may be able to use these score towards national level certification. See Use of the NAADAC Test at the State Level for more information.
Testing Schedule
Examinations are given nationwide (and abroad) multiple times per year. Application deadlines are sixty (60) days prior to the test date.
View the Full Testing Schedule
Locate a Testing Center in Your Area
 Test Preparation Materials
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