Which Credential is Right for You?
Deciding which credential will lead you to the career you are working towards, or advance your current career, can be difficult. We understand that there are multiple credentials with similar names, acronyms, and the requirements can become overwhelming. At ICAADA, our goal is to assist aspiring, and current, behavioral health professionals with gaining the credentials that will allow them to show employers, the community and the populations served, they have the competencies to provide appropriate, evidence-based, person-driven services Below you will find a brief description for our most sought after credentials and information that compares the different levels of those credentials. Please explore each one and see, based upon your current education, and experience, which may be the best fit for you!
Recovery Coach (Recovery Support professional)
Recovery Support professionals are people who have a passion for supporting someone through their positive change process related to substance use and/or mental health concerns. Recovery support professionals utilize person-centered, mutual empowerment, respect, empathy, and cultural inclusive approaches.
Whether a person has personal lived experience of recovery/wellness from substance use, mental illness or co-occurring issues or is a friend, family member, or ally of those with substance use, mental health, or co-occurring issues, ICAADA offers different credentialing paths for everyone.
Alcohol and Drug Addiction Consultants (Clinical/Treatment professionals)
Certified Alcohol and Drug Addiction Consultant (CADAC) credentials are designed to be entry-level, to advanced-level, substance use treatment credentials (depending upon CADAC level). There are multiple levels to this certification based upon a person’s education, experience, and licensure (if held).
Addiction Consultant in Training (Entry Level Clinical/Treatment professionals)
Addiction Consultant in Training (ACIT) is an entry level addiction treatment credential for individuals employed in the addiction treatment field or enrolled as a college student in addiction treatment studies.
There are two levels to this credential based upon a person’s educational background. The ACIT II is the credential professionals who work, or aspire to work, in Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP) will want to work towards obtaining.
Certified Prevention Specialist
Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) credentials are designed to be entry-level, to advanced-level, substance use prevention credentials (depending upon CPS level). There are multiple levels to this certification based upon a person’s education and experience.