CERTIFICATIONS OFFERED BY APSAC

Certified Substance Abuse Counsellor (CSAC)

1. Three (3) years of supervised work experience (6,000 hours) specific to the AODA domains. An associate’s degree in behavioural science may substitute for 1000 hours; a bachelor’s degree in behavioural science may substitute for 2000 hours; a master’s degree in behavioural science may substitute for 4000 hours.
2. Two hundred seventy (270) hours of substance abuse specific education as verified by official transcript or certificates of completion/attendance. Six hours must be in professional ethics and responsibilities.
3. Three hundred (300) hours of supervised practical experience in a substance abuse program. At least ten (10) hours will be spent in each of the following areas: Screening, Intake, Orientation, Assessment, Treatment Planning, Counselling, Case Management, Crisis Intervention, Client Education, Referral, Reports and Record Keeping and Consultation with other Professionals in regard to Client Treatment / Services. These 300 hours may be included in the 3 years of experience, if they were performed under supervision. The supervisor through completion of the Supervisor’s Evaluation Form shall verify these hours. 
4. Successful completion of the IC&RC's international AODA written examination.
5. Submission of the certification application fee together with a signed Code of Ethics.
6. This level meets the requirements for reciprocity with other IC&RC Member-Boards. Applications for reciprocity must be filed through the Association of Professionals Specialising in Addiction Counselling (Singapore) to the IC&RC, with accompanying fees.
7. The certification is valid for two (2) years, after which recertification must be sought with proof of forty (40) hours of continuing education earned over two (2) years.

• Click here to view list of Certified Substance Abuse Counsellors
• Click here to download the CSAC Candidate Manual (AODA)
• Click here to download the Eligibility Assessment Form
  

Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS)

1. Five (5) years (10,000 hours) of verified counseling experience as a substance abuse counsellor.
2. Two (2) years (4,000 hours) of verified clinical supervisory experience in the substance abuse counseling field. These hours may be included in the above 10,000 hours and must include the provision of 200 contact hours of face-to-face clinical supervision.
3. Thirty (30) hours of verified didactic training in clinical supervision. This must include six (6) hours of training in each of the following areas/domains:

   i)      Assessment/ Evaluation
   ii)     Counsellor Development
   iii)    Management/ Administration
   iv)    Professional Responsibilities

4. Applicant must hold a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC), Certified Master Addiction Counsellor (CMAC), Certified Co-Occurring Disorders Professional (CCDP) or Certified Co-Occurring Disorders Professional Diplomate (CCDPD) credential at a reciprocal level or a specialty substance abuse credential in another professional discipline in human services at a master’s level or higher.
5. Successful completion of the IC&RC's international Certified Clinical Supervisor written examination.
6. Submission of the certification application fee together with a signed Code of Ethics.
   
7. This level meets the requirements for reciprocity with other IC&RC Member Boards. Applications for reciprocity must be filed through the Association of Professionals Specialising in Addiction Counselling (Singapore) to the IC&RC, with accompanying fees.
8. The certification is valid for two (2) years, after which recertification must be sought with proof of six (6) hours of continuing education earned over two (2) years. The six hours may be a part of the forty hours obtained for the CSAC, CMAC, CCDP or CCDPD recertification.

• Click here to view list of Certified Clinical Supervisors
• Click here for CCS Candidate Manual
• Click here to download the Eligibility Assessment Form
  
  

Certified Gambling Addiction Counsellor (CGAC) 

1. Three (3) years (6000 hours) of work experience as an addictions counsellor. An associate’s degree in behavioural science may substitute for 1000 hours; a bachelor’s degree in behavioural science may substitute for 2000 hours; a master’s degree in behavioural science may substitute for 4000 hours.
2. 270 hours of education specific to the addictions counselling field, including at least thirty (30) hours of gambling specific training based on the five performance domains for the gambling addiction counsellor and six (6) hours in professional ethics.
3. Three hundred (300) hours of supervised practical experience in a substance abuse program. At least ten (10) hours will be spent in each of the following areas: Screening, Intake, Orientation, Assessment, Treatment Planning, Counselling, Case Management, Crisis Intervention, Client Education, Referral, Reports and Record Keeping and Consultation with other Professionals in regard to Client Treatment / Services. In addition, applicants must demonstrate that they have 100 hours of supervised experience in providing treatment / counselling to problem gamblers and their family members. These 300 hours may be included in the 3 years of experience, if they were performed under supervision. The supervisor through completion of the Supervisor’s Evaluation Form shall verify these hours.
4. Successful completion of the National Gambling Counsellor Examination administered by Professional Testing Corporation, NY, USA.
5. The certification is valid for two (2) years, after which recertification must be sought with proof of forty (40) hours of continuing education earned over two (2) years.
6. Submission of the certification application fee.
   

• Click here to view list of Certified Gambling Addiction Counsellors
• Click here to download the Eligibility Assessment Form

Certified Master Addiction Counsellor (CMAC)

1. 2000 hours of supervised work experience as a Certified Substance Abuse (CSAC). Supervised work experience is defined as paid or voluntary experience as a counsellor who provides direct counselling services to AODA clients. An AODA client is a person with a diagnosis of alcohol and/or other drug abuse or dependency. Supervised work experience must be in the IC&RC performance domains of assessment counselling, case management, education and professional responsibility. Unsupervised work experience may NOT be substituted for the experience requirement. All experience must be documented. This documentation must include a 300-hour practicum in the Twelve Core Functions (with one hour of supervision for every ten (10) hours of practice).
2. A Master's degree in Human Services Behavioural Sciences field with a clinical application (i.e. practicum).
   
3. A total of 180 hours AODA specific course work, which includes at least six (6) hours on professional ethics and six (6) hours on HIV/AIDS education. Training is defined as a formal, systematic process that focuses on skill development and integration of knowledge. This training must take place in a setting where AODA counselling is being provided.
4. Successful completion of the IC&RC's international Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counsellor Examination (AADC) written examination.
5. Submission of the certification application fee together with a signed Code of Ethics.
6. The certification is valid for two (2) years, after which recertification must be sought with proof of forty (40) hours of continuing education earned over two (2) years.
   
7. This level meets the requirements for reciprocity with other IC&RC Member Boards. Applications for reciprocity must be filed through the Association of Professionals Specialising in Addiction Counselling (Singapore) to the IC&RC, with accompanying fees.

• Click here to view list of Certified Master Addiction Counsellors
• Click here for the CMAC Candidate Manual (AAODA)
• Click here to download the Eligibility Assessment Form

Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS)

1. 500 hours of volunteer or paid experience specific to the domains (500 hours of a 2000 hour full time work year is approximately three months full time work experience).
2. 25 hours of supervision specific to the domains, with a minimum of six hours in each of the four domains: Advocacy, Recovery/Wellness Support, Mentoring & Education, and Ethical Responsibility
3. GCE "O" certificate or a secondary school equivalency.
4. 60 training hours specific to the following IC&RC domains, with a minimum number of hours required in each domain: Advocacy (10 hours), Recovery/Wellness Support (10 hours), Mentoring & Education (10 hours), and Ethical Responsibility (16 hours).
   
5. Successful completion of the IC&RC's international Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counsellor Examination (AADC) written examination.
   
6. Submission of the certification application fee together with a signed Code of Ethics.
   
7. The certification is valid for two (2) years, after which recertification must be sought with proof of forty (40) hours of continuing education earned over two (2) years.
   
8. This level meets the requirements for reciprocity with other IC&RC Member Boards. Applications for reciprocity must be filed through the Association of Professionals Specialising in Addiction Counselling (Singapore) to the IC&RC, with accompanying fees.

• Click here to view list of Certified Peer Support Specialists
• Click here for the CPSS Candidate Manual (PR)
• Click here to download the Eligibility Assessment Form