NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals

Founded in 1972 as the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors, NAADAC was created as a professional association to represent the interests and concerns of substance abuse counselors. Since then, NAADAC has evolved as an organization addressing the needs of professionals who are active in prevention, intervention, treatment, and education. The professionals filling these roles have expanded to include the increasing number of tobacco, gambling, and other addiction professionals.

The mission of NAADAC is to lead, unify, and empower addiction-focused professionals to achieve excellence through education, advocacy, knowledge, standards of practice, ethics, professional development, and research. With this mission and a new name, NAADAC—the Association for Addiction Professionals has become the largest membership organization serving addiction counselors, educators, and other health care professionals. There are nearly 11,000 members, 46 state affiliates, and an expanding international presence. Therefore, NAADAC is the premier global organization of addiction-focused professionals attempting to enhance the health and recovery of individuals, families, and communities.

The association promotes excellence in care by supporting the highest-quality, science-based services to clients, their families, and their communities. NAADAC strives to achieve this goal by providing education, clinical training, and professional certification. Among the organization's national certification programs are the National Certified Addiction Counselor, Tobacco Addiction Credential, and Master Addiction Counselor designations. Since 2007, NAADAC has credentialed more than 15,000 counselors, playing an important role in sustaining quality health care services and protecting the well-being of those seeking and participating in services.

According to the NAADAC's Web site, at the national level, the NAADAC Certification Commission operates as an independent body managing the association's credentials and education. The NAADAC Certification Commission deals with test administration, fees, ethics, and rules of procedure. Established in 1990, the NAADAC Certification Commission instituted three levels of credentials specifically for alcoholism and drug abuse counselors: National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC-I); National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II (NCAC-II); and Master Addiction Counselor (MAC). Additionally, NAADAC offers certifications, including the Tobacco Addiction Specialist Credential and Certificate in Spiritual Care-giving to Help Addicted Persons and Families. Finally, NAADAC offers the Substance Abuse Professional qualification (not a certification); individuals with that credential are qualified to evaluate workers who have violated a Department of Transportation drug and alcohol program regulation and make recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.

The NCAC-I certification can be the first step to professional recognition with a nationally recognized credential. By holding this credential, the individual demonstrates to employers and clients the commitment to quality care by verifying, through certification, [Page 584]the skills the individual has developed through years of work experience. The credential reflects an endorsement of the highest ethical standards for addiction professionals. Eligibility is demonstrated by verifying the following: current state certification or licensure as an alcoholism and/or drug abuse counselor; 3 years or 6,000 hours of supervised experience as an alcoholism and/or drug abuse counselor; 270 contact hours of education and training in alcoholism and drug abuse or related counseling subjects (must include 6 hours of ethics training and HIV/AIDS training); and a passing score on the national examination for NCAC-I.

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