Certification Preparation

Certification Options

NET Training Institute, Inc. curriculum is certified by the organizations listed below so that NTI students may pursue professional certification through the appropriate organization.

NTI course completion certificates support students in achieving multiple goals and recognition in the addiction, counseling, prevention and ministry fields.

Students may:

Complete individual courses for
1. Personal enrichment,
2. Professional development, and/or
3. Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
Complete course work to meet specific NTI Diploma requirements.
Submit NTI certificates as part of an application for certification and/or renewing credentials from:
1. Florida Certification Board #22 (FCB) (Florida Students)
2. The AODA Certification Board of Georgia. (Georgia Students)
3. World Federation of Therapeutic Communities #2001 (WFTC) (International Students)
4. Department of Health, Board of Clinical Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy CEU provider #50-1431 (Recertifying professionals)
5. NAADAC #432 (US states listed on www.naadac.org)
6. Indiana Counselor Association on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (Indiana Students)

FCB Certification Process

(Florida Certification Board)

Students should be aware that FCB grants certification at various levels based on multiple aspects of a person’s experience, knowledge and background.

Each certification level requires that the applicant meet specific criteria in each of the following areas:

Formalized education/Degree – criteria range from GED level to requirement for a Bachelor degree;
Experience – criteria include hours of direct service in an addiction setting;
Supervision – criteria include hours of “on the job” supervision a person receives from a qualified professional in specific areas
Education**– criteria include specific contact hours of education usually designated as addiction, counseling, prevention or ethics; Florida has 13 detailed categories.
Examination – all applicants must pass the Florida specific written exam; CAP and CPP levels also take International written exams; an oral exam is no longer required in Florida.

** NTI courses are approved to meet FCB Education requirements.

Individuals who believe that they have met all FCB requirements in the above areas must complete an application process referred to as “submitting a Portfolio.” Students may complete their own or contact NTI for additional assistance with Portfolio Preparation for a fee.

Upon acceptance of your Portfolio/application, FCB will authorize you to sit for the appropriate exam.

Specific questions related to individual qualifications and/or the certification process should be addressed to:

Florida Certification Board (FCB)
1715 So. Gadsden Street,
Tallahassee, FL 32301

850-222-6314 Fax 850-222-6247

admin_assist@flcertification.org www.flcertificationboard.org

The following information is provided to the FCB and is given here as a reference for NTI students.

CAP

Certified Addiction Professional

This classification is viewed as the title for the addiction treatment professional primarily involved in providing direct treatment services in addictions. The requirements for this classification are as follows:

Certified Addiction Professional Standards

Category	Requirement
Degree	Bachelor’s Degree or higher Work Experience: If Bachelor’s Degree or non-counseling related Master’s Degree: 6,000 hours of direct experience in the addictions field If Master’s Degree in a counseling related field or Higher: 4,000 hours of direct experience in the addictions field
Supervision	If Bachelor’s Degree or non-counseling related Master’s Degree: 300 hours of direct supervision. A minimum of 20 hours must be documented in each of the professional practice dimensions. If Master’s Degree in a counseling related field or Higher: 200 hours of direct supervision. A minimum of 20 hours must be documented in each of the professional practice dimensions.
Training	350 hours of training. At least 190 hours must be allocated, as specified, among each of the professional practice dimensions: Clinical Evaluation – 20 hours in assessment; 15 hours in screening Treatment Planning – 20 hours Referral – 5 hours Service Coordination – 5 hours Counseling – 50 hours Client, Family, and Community Education – 15 hours Documentation – 15 hours Professional and Ethical Responsibilities – 30 hours Supervision – 15 hours At least 154 hours must be allocated, as specified, in the following transdisciplinary foundations: Understanding Addiction/Treatment Knowledge – 77 hours Application to Practice/Professional Readiness – 77 hours At least 6 hours must be allocated in the following topic areas: HIV/AIDS – 4 hours Domestic Violence – 2 hours
Written Test	Must earn a passing score on the Florida Specific Exam Must earn a passing score on the IC&RC AODA Written Exam
Renewal	20 CEUs each year

CAC

Certified Addiction Counselor

This classification is viewed as an intermediate stage in the professional development of the addiction counselor who operates in an adjunctive capacity in addiction treatment.

Certified Addiction Counselor Standards

Category	Requirement
Degree	High School Diploma/GED, Associate/Vocational Degree, or higher
Work Experience	If High School Diploma/GED: 6,000 hours of direct experience in the addictions field If Associate/Vocational Degree or Higher: 4,000 hours of direct experience in the addictions field
Supervision	If High School Diploma/GED: 300 hours of direct supervision. A minimum of 16 hours must be documented in each of the professional practice dimensions. If Associate/Vocational Degree or Higher: 150 hours of direct supervision. A minimum of 8 hours must be documented in each of the professional practice dimensions.
Training	250 hours of training. At least 130 hours must be allocated, as specified, among each of the professional practice dimensions: Clinical Evaluation – 25 hours Treatment Planning – 15 hours Referral – 5 hours Service Coordination – 5 hours Counseling – 30 hours Client, Family, and Community Education – 10 hours Documentation – 10 hours Professional and Ethical Responsibilities – 30 hours At least 114 hours must be allocated, as specified, in the following transdisciplinary foundations: Understanding Addiction/Treatment Knowledge – 57 hours Application to Practice/Professional Readiness – 57 hours At least 6 hours must be allocated in the following topic areas: HIV/AIDS – 4 hours Domestic Violence – 2 hours
Recommendations	3 professional letters of recommendation for certification.
Code of Ethics	Applicants must attest that they are bound by and will follow the FCB Code of Ethics in their professional practice.
Written Test	Must earn a passing score on the Florida Specific Exam If reciprocity is desired, must earn passing score on the International Exam
Renewal	20 CEUs each year

CAS

Certified Addiction Specialist

This classification is viewed as the first stage in the professional development of the addiction counselor who operates in an adjunctive capacity in addiction treatment.

Certified Addiction Specialist Standards

Degree	No academic degree required
Work Experience	2,000 hours of direct experience in the addiction field.
Supervision	100 hours of direct supervision. A minimum of 8 hours must be documented in each of the professional practice dimensions. The remaining 36 hours may be documented in any of the dimensions.
Training	150 hours of training. At least 70 hours must be allocated, as specified, among each of the professional practice dimensions: Clinical Evaluation – 10 hours Treatment Planning – 5 hours Referral – 5 hours Service Coordination – 5 hours Counseling – 20 hours Client, Family, and Community Education – 5 hours Documentation – 5 hours Professional and Ethical Responsibilities – 15 hours At least 74 hours must be allocated, as specified, in the following transdisciplinary foundations: Understanding Addiction/Treatment Knowledge – 37 hours Application to Practice/Professional Readiness – 37 hours At least 6 hours must be allocated in the following topic areas: HIV/AIDS – 6 hours Domestic Violence – 2 hours
Recommendations	3 professional letters of recommendation for certification
Code of Ethics	Applicants must attest that they are bound by and will follow the FCB Code of Ethics in their professional practice.
Written Test	Must earn a passing score on the Florida Specific Exam
Renewal	10 CEUs each year

CRSS

Certified Recovery Support Specialist

The Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) credential is for those persons who possess the knowledge and experience necessary to safely and effectively provide support services to persons receiving substance abuse services. The following certification standards are the minimum requirements that must be documented in order to earn certification.

Certified Recovery Support Specialist Standards

Education

High School Diploma, General Equivalency Degree or higher

Experience

1,000 hours of formal work and/or volunteer experience in addiction related field/activities

Training

A total of 75 hours of training, broken out as follows: