Addiction Counseling – Vermont
Alcohol and Drug Counselor Certification (ADC)
Vermont requires that applicants for this licensure have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; have completed 270 hours of substance use disorder education as set out further in this Part; have completed 4,000 hours of supervised work experience as set out further in this Part; and pass the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) Examination or another examination of greater or substantially equivalent relevance and rigor acceptable to the Director.
Course Requirements
Two-hundred-seventy hours of substance use disorder training must be verifiable and clearly and credibly documented with certificates or official, sealed transcripts. The Director may reject education insufficiently related to evidence-based addiction counseling practice. Components may be derived from relevant baccalaureate or graduate coursework.
Required topics and minimum training durations are
- Substance use disorder counseling/treatment. Studies provide an understanding of counseling and treatment approaches for individuals, groups, and families; 36 hours
- Co-morbid medical disorders. Studies provide an understanding of medical disorders commonly associated with substance use disorders (e.g., HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C) and their integrated treatment; 6 hours
- Medication assisted treatment (MAT) and Psychopharmaceuticals. Studies provide an understanding of medications used along with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders; 6 hours
- Professional and ethical responsibilities. Studies provide an understanding of the professional and ethical responsibilities of substance use disorder counselors, including the NAADAC (National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors) Code of Ethics, HIPAA, and Substance Abuse Confidentiality Regulations (42 CFR Part 2); 6 hours
The remaining 216 hours may be derived from training addressing
- Human development. Studies provide an understanding of the nature and needs of individuals throughout the life span
- Multi-cultural/diversity. Studies provide an understanding of issues and trends in a multi-cultural and diverse society as they relate to substance use disorder counseling
- Engagement strategies/motivational interviewing. Studies provide an understanding of how to build relationship and task alliance
- Substance use screening. Studies provide an understanding of screening, and the need for further clinical assessment
- Studies provide an understanding of substance use and related disorders, according to the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
- American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria. Studies provide an understanding of ASAM’s patient placement criteria
- Case management and service coordination. Studies provide an understanding of administrative, clinical, and evaluative activities that bring the client, treatment services, community agencies, and other resources together to implement the treatment plan
- Neurobiology of addiction and substance use dependence. Studies provide an understanding of the neuro-circuitry and molecular biology of addiction
- Clinical assessment and treatment planning. Studies provide an understanding of comprehensive diagnostic examinations, treatment recommendations, and treatment planning with the client
- Relapse prevention. Studies provide an understanding of relapse prevention, identification of high-risk situations, and coping skills
- Co-occurring disorders. Studies provide an understanding of co-occurring disorders and treatment
- Studies provide an understanding of trauma signs, symptoms, impact and interventions
Additional Requirements
Applicants must take CEFS 502 Human Growth and Development as an elective.
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