At last, clarity on Certification titles!
The titles Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) I, II and III no longer exist as of July 2020. The Roman numerals are no longer in use and there will be only two titles.
Here are the new titles:
> Certified Addiction Technician (CAT) (Formerly CAC I)
> Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) (Formerly CAC II & III)
Note: Licensed Addiction Counselor (Remains the same)
Now is the time to act!
April 1, 2021 is the deadline for grandfathering of old CAC titles and their certification requirements.
- The CAC Specialist title now requires a 4-year college degree in a related field regardless of field experience.
- For the many people out there without a degree who have been working/volunteering in the field, perhaps taken a CAC class or two, and wondering whether or not to go ahead and get their CAC II…….it’s NOW or NEVER.
- You can complete all your CAC training and submit your application prior to April 1, providing you are able to complete all your supervised clinical experience hours.
- Those CAC III’s with a Master’s degree are strongly encouraged to get their LAC before the changes take place on April 1.
Q&A
Q: Do the academic requirements of a CAT change?
A: No. A high school diploma and the old CAC I classes are still the requirement. The CAT (Technician) qualifies you for a job that will entail no face-to-face counseling experience. For many, this may be viewed as a demotion.
Q: CAC III used to entitle me to qualify for a Clinic Supervisor position. If I am now classified as a CAS (Specialist) along with CAC IIs, is this distinction gone?
A: The credential that’s squeezed in the middle of the 2 new titles is the CA III. I say squeezed because essentially they are all being demoted to the CAS level. CAC III’s who do not have a Master’s degree will be the same as CAC II’s despite all the extra time, work and training it took them to become CAC III’s with the goal of becoming Clinic Supervisors. Those CAC III’s with a Master’s degree are strongly encouraged to get their LAC before the changes take place on April 1. According to the State there are over 800 CAC III’s with a Master’s degree in Colorado.
Q: Will all CAC IIs, even with a high school education, qualify as a CAS (Specialist) automatically?
A: That has been the announcement so far. And there is still time to become a CAS if you complete the old requirements by April 1.
Q: Can I read the exact language of the new regulations that was signed off by the governor.
A: Yes. That information with relevant website links is included below.
From the State of Colorado:
Information for Licensees on Professional Title Designations
The July 14, 2020 signing into law of House Bill 20-1206, Sunset Mental Health Professionals has prompted changes affecting professional titles for Certified Addiction Counselors in Colorado. The three Certified Addiction Counselor license types are being combined into two, as follows:
- All current Certified Addiction Counselor I (ACA) certificate holders will become Certified Addiction Technicians. No new application will be required and the changes will be systematic in nature.
- All current Certified Addiction Counselor II (ACB) and Certified Addiction Counselor III (ACC) certificate holders will become Certified Addiction Specialists. No new application will be required and the changes will be systematic in nature.
- All active CAC II certificate holders will have their identification number and prefix manually changed in DORA’s licensing system in the coming weeks. No further action is needed.
- Active CAC III’s ID and prefix will remain the same.
Implementation of these changes is in process. Questions may be referred to dpo@state.co.us.