In accordance with Hawaii Revised Statutes 321-193(10), the Department of Health, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division (ADAD), certifies substance abuse counselors and program administrators.

Hawaii is a member board of the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, Inc. (IC&RC/AODA). The IC&RC is a voluntary international organization comprised of substance abuse credentialing boards representing 41 states, the U.S. military, various Indian Health Service Organizations, and a range of countries. As a member board, Hawaii subscribes to the international standards prescribed by the IC&RC and published in the IC&RC guidelines (website: icrcaoda.org). Counselors certified in Hawaii have reciprocity with other IC&RC member boards.

General Information for Applicants

1. The credential of Certified Substance Counselor (CSAC) fulfills two purposes. First, and most important, the public has a means by which to identify individuals who have met the minimum requirements as set forth in Hawaii Administrative Rules 11-177.1. Second, individuals are recognized for the time, education, and experience they have accumulated in the profession of substance abuse counseling. Certification is meant to recognize a counselor’s accomplishments and competence in providing counseling, and not as an entry-level credential.
   
   
2. Criteria for Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC):

• High school diploma or its equivalent.
  
  
• 270 clock hours of ADAD-approved substance abuse specific education within the performance domains of assessment, counseling, case management, client education, and professional responsibility.
  
  These courses may include:
  
• Counseling Theories and Techniques (one course)
  
  
• Group Counseling (one course)
  
  
• Family Counseling (one course)
  
  
• Professional Ethics and Issues (6 hours required)
  
  
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases, including HIV/AIDS (6 hours required)
  
  
• Confidentiality, including 42CFR, Part 2 (6 hours required)
  
  
• Multicultural Competency (one course)
  
  
• Any course with a specific substance abuse focus
  
  
• A supervised practical training that includes performing a minimum of 400 hours in the "12 Core Functions" in a work setting where alcohol/drug treatment counseling is provided. A minimum of 20 hours must be performed in each core function. The supervisor must hold Hawaii’s CSAC or a reciprocity level alcohol/drug counselor credential from a jurisdiction that is a member of the IC&RC/AODA, Inc.
  
  
• 6000 hours (3 years) of clinically supervised work experience (including the supervised practical training) providing alcohol/drug abuse treatment counseling services to alcohol and other drug abuse clients. The clinical supervisor must be a Qualified Health Professional as specified in HAR 11-177.1, Subchapter 1, 11-177.1-2, in order for the work experience to be applicable for certification purposes
  
  
• A bachelor’s degree with a major in a human services field may be substituted for 2000 hours of the work experience, or
  
  
• A master’s degree or higher in a human services field may be substituted for 4000 hours of the work experience, or
  
  
• Completion of an alcohol/drug counseling certificate program in conjunction with an Associates Degree may be substituted for 2000 hours of the work experience.
  
  
• Agree to abide by the CSAC Code of Ethics included in the General Application Packet and found in HAR 11-177.1, Subchapter 3, 11-177.1-33.
  
  
• Successfully complete the International Written Certification Examination for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors as developed by Castle Worldwide, Inc.
  
  
• Successfully complete the Case Presentation Method Oral Examination as developed by Castle Worldwide, Inc.
  
  
• The following information must be received by ADAD before an applicant is eligible to begin the examination process:
  
  
  • A completed application for certification.
  • 270 clock hours of substance abuse specific education documented on the form provided.
  • Work experience and supervised practical training experience verified by the supervisor on the form provided.
  • A signed Code of Ethics statement agreeing to abide by the CSAC Code of Ethics.
  • All signatures must be originals. Faxed signatures will not be accepted. The originating supervisor or school must send supervisor forms and transcripts. Supervisor forms received from the applicant will not be accepted.
  • All fees must be paid by money order only. Personal checks will not be accepted.
  • Deadlines will not be extended.
  
  
• Fees:

  	General Application	$25.00
  	Written Examination	$100.00
  	Oral Examination	$150.00
  	CSAC Renewal	$25.00

  
  
• Applicants who successfully meet all of the requirements and pass the examinations will be certified by the Department for two years. Renewal is accomplished by submitting a completed application for renewal, fee and documentation of 40 hours of ADAD-approved continuing education to the Department prior to the expiration of the counselor’s current certification.
  
• Refer to Chapter 11-177.1 HAR, entitled "Certification Standards for Substance Abuse Counselors and Program Administrators," for more specifics regarding certification criteria. Chapter 11-177.1 HAR can be found on the Department of Health website:

  http://kala.icsd.hawaii.gov/health/about/rules/admrules.html

• For questions regarding the certification process and/or to request a general application packet containing all pertinent instructions and forms, please contact:

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division
Certification Office
601 Kamokila Blvd., Room 360
Kapolei, Hawaii 96707
Phone (808) 692-7518

Hawaii Department of Health
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division
601 Kamokila Blvd.
Kapolei, Hawai‘i, 96707
Phone (808) 692-7506