MAC

Master Addiction Counselor (MAC)

A voluntary national and international certification intended for professionals working within Substance Use Disorders/Addiction-related disciplines wishing to demonstrate their skills gained through supervised work experience and specific graduate course work. 

Why obtain the MAC credential?

  • Position yourself for career advancement and increased salary potential.
  • Distinguish yourself as a practitioner who has specialized in addiction assessment and treatment. 
  • Demonstrate to clients, employers, and 3rd party payors your commitment to quality care by verifying through certification the skills and competencies you have developed through years of work experience and course work. 
  • The MAC credential reflects a commitment of the highest ethical standards for substance use disorders/addiction professionals. 
  • The U.S. Department of Labor expects the demand for substance use disorders/ addiction counselors to grow by 22% by 2024. 
  • Enhance your opportunities for independent practice. 

Eligibility Requirements

  • Master's degree or higher in Substance Use Disorders/Addiction and/or related counseling subjects (social work, mental health counseling, marriage & family, psychology, medical doctor) from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning.
  • Current credential or license as a Substance Use Disorders/Addiction counselor or Professional Counselor (social worker, mental health, marriage & family therapist, psychologist, medical doctor, LAP-C) issued by a state or credentialing authority.
  • At least three years full-time or 6,000 hours of supervised experience as a Substance Use Disorders/Addiction counselor.
  • At least 500 contact hours of education and training in Substance Use Disorders/Addiction.
    • Must include at least six hours of ethics training within the last six years.
    • Must include at least six hours of HIV/other pathogens training within the last six years. 
  • A passing score on one of the following exams:
    • Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) exam through NCC AP.
    • eMAC exam through the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC).
    • AADC exam through the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC & RC). 

Application Requirements

  • Official Master's Degree transcript from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning. Transcript must be sent directly to the NCC AP from your college/university.
  • Evidence of current credential or license as a Substance Use Disorders/Addiction counselor or Professional Counselor (social worker, mental health, marriage & family therapist, psychologist, medical doctor, LAP-C) issued by a state or credentialing authority.
  • Evidence of three years full-time or 6,000 hours of supervised experience as a Substance Use Disorders/Addiction counselor.
  • Written verification of competency in all skills groups by a supervisor or other health care professionals who have personally observed the candidate’s Substance Use Disorders/Addiction work.
  • Evidence of 500 contact hours of education and training in Substance Use Disorders/Addiction.
    • Must include at least six hours of ethics education and training within the last six years.
    • Must include at least six hours of HIV/other pathogens education and training within the last six years. 
  • Submission of a signed statement that the candidate has read and adheres to the NAADAC/NCC AP Code of Ethics.
  • Payment of non-refundable credential application fee.

Fees

Renewals

  • MAC Renewal Application
  • Evidence of a current state-issued credential/license.
  • 40 hours of continuing education every two years.
  • Provide work history for the two years prior to renewal.
  • Submission of a signed statement that the candidate has read and subscribes to the NAADAC/NCC AP Code of Ethics.
  • Payment of non-refundable renewal application/certification fee of $200.00. See full list of costs and fees.
Click here to view the SAMHSA-NAADAC Addiction Professional Education & Career Ladder and find out if MAC is the right certification for you.

MAC Written Examination

Any candidate taking the MAC examination specifically for a MAC national credential must be approved by the NCC AP prior to registering for the test. First, a candidate must submit a MAC application. Once approved, NCC AP will send you a code and link to take the MAC examination at a time and location of your choosing.

Any candidate taking the MAC examination as part of a state credentialing or licensing process must contact their state certification/licensing board to obtain the necessary code and online link to take the exam.

Test applications and fees are separate from NCC AP credential/ endorsement applications and fees.

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:

  1. treatment admission (screening, intake and orientation)
  2. clinical assessment
  3. ongoing treatment planning
  4. counseling services (individual, group, family, crisis intervention and client education)
  5. documentation
  6. case management
  7. discharge and continuing care
  8. legal, ethical and professional growth issues
  9. physiology adnd psychopharmacology 

The Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) written examination consists of 150 multiple-choice, objective questions with a total testing time of three hours. The examination tests candidates’ knowledge in the areas of orientation to the treatment process (11%), assessment (23%), ongoing treatment planning and implementation (23%), addiction counseling practices and skills (23%), and professional practices (20%).

A score of 75% (112/150) is passing.

If you have previously taken a certification exam at the state level, you may be able to use these scores towards national level certification. See States Using NCC AP Exams for more information.

Testing Schedule

All NCC AP examinations are now available throughout the month at a date and location convenient for you! You now have more flexibility and opportunity to get your national credential than ever before. Locate a Testing Center in Your Area

Suggested Test Preparation Materials