Please note that this is general information and it is important to refer to WAC 246-811 for more detailed information relating to the certification requirements.

CDPT Certification Requirements

The following must be completed in order to qualify as a CDPT:

• Completed application with signature and date.
• The application includes a declaration that the applicant is in an enrolled school and gaining the experience required to receive a CDP credential.
• Completion of four clock hours of AIDS education.
• The application fee.
• Completed out of state verification forms sent directly from each state (if applicable).

CDP Certification Requirements

Education Requirements:

An AA degree in human services or a related field from an approved school or completion of 90 quarter or 60 semester college credits.

At least 45 quarter or 30 semester credits must be in course relating to the CDP profession and must include the topics listed in WAC 246-811-030(a) – (w).

Verification of Supervised Chemical Dependency Professional Experience

The first fifty (50) hours of any face-to-face patient contact must be under the direct observation of an approved supervisor or chemical dependency professional.

An approved supervisor or designated CDP must provide direct supervision when a CDPT is providing clinical services to patients until the approved supervisor documents in the employee files that the CDPT has obtained the necessary education, training, and experience.

The number of supervision hours required is dependent upon the level of formal education:

• 2,500 hours of chemical dependency (CD) counseling for individuals who have an associate degree in human services or a related field
• 2,000 hours of CD counseling for individuals who have a baccalaureate degree in human services or a related field
• 1,500 hours of CD counseling for individuals who have a master or doctoral degree in human services or a related field
• 1,000 hours of CD counseling for individuals who are:
  • Licensed as advanced registered nurse practitioners under chapter 18.79 RCW.
  Licensed as a psychologist under chapter 18.83 RCW.
  • Licensed as a marriage and family therapists, mental health counselor, advanced social worker, or independent clinical social worker under chapter 18.225 RCW.

A total of 850 hours of experience must consist of the following:

• 200 hours of clinical evaluation.
• 100 of the 200 hours must be face-to-face patient contact.
• 600 hours of face-to-face counseling to include; individual counseling; group counseling; counseling family, couples, and significant others.
• 50 hours of discussion of professional and ethical responsibilities.
• The remaining experience hours must be divided among WAC 246-811-047(2)(d) through (i) as determined by the supervisor.

Substantial Equivalency

An applicant who has a credential in another state may be certified in this state without Exam if the secretary determines that the other state's credentialing standards are equivalent to those in Washington State. State credentials that are considered equivalent are listed below:

• Alabama-Masters level addiction professional (MLAP)
• Arizona-Licensed Associate Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC)& Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor
• Hawaii- Certified Substance Abuse Counselor-Bachelor Degree & Certified Substance Abuse Counselor-Master Degree or Higher & Certified Substance Abuse Counselor-Licensed Physician (Specialty)
• Idaho-Advanced CADC
• Kansas- CADCII & CADCIII
• Oregon-CADCII & CADCIII
• New York-Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC)
• Wyoming-Certified Addiction Practitioner & Licensed Addiction Therapist (If applicant’s graduate degree focused on chemical dependency or addictionology)

Exam Data

The National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) level 1 or higher, or the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (ICRC) level II or higher Exam.

Verification must be sent directly from NAADAC or ICRC, or the state in which you passed the Exam.

"What does NAADAC or ICRC international certification do for me?"

If you are certified with NAADAC or the ICRC, you to have met:

• The experience requirements.
• Half of the educational requirements. Certification verifies the forty-five quarter or thirty semester hours of topics listed in WAC 246-811-030(2)(a) through (w)
• The exam requirements.

If you are certified by one of these bodies, supervision verification forms are not required.

Transcripts will need to be sent to the department to verify the additional 45 quarter or 30 semester credits in courses covering the subject content described in WAC 246-811-030(2).

NAADAC or ICRC must send verification of your certification to the department.

The following must be completed in order to apply for a certificate:

• Completed application.
• Application fee.
• Completed out of state verification forms sent directly from each state. (if applicable)
• Official transcripts indicating course completion.
• Supervision forms showing completion of the experience requirements.
• Exam scores sent directly from NAADAC or ICRC.