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APSC Fee Schedule | Recertification & Extensions/Upgrades | Reciprocity

 

Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ADC) Requirements

  • Apply Online
  • Transcripts showing bachelor’s degree or higher in human services field from regionally accredited institution 
  • Official transcripts must be sent directly to the APSC office from the regionally accredited institution
  • Within 10 business days, APSC will provide official letter confirming counselor is in process after application, fee and transcripts have been received and reviewed
  • Application expires after three years
  • Affirmation in writing of adherence to the South Carolina Certification Ethical Standards. 
  • Two years full-time or 4,000 hours of experience in the Alcohol & Drug Counseling Domains within previous 5 years
  • Current and/or previous employers must verify experience on official letterhead and must include dates of employment, whether full or part-time, job title and duties performed
  • Minimum of 300 clock hours in education or training related to the counseling domains
  • Documentation of 200 hours of clinical supervision by a certified addictions professional noted on required form
  • Supervision must include minimum of 10 hours in each domain
  • Documentation of six (6) hours in Professional Ethics for counselors
  • Documentation of three (3) hours in HIV/AIDS issues for counselors
  • Evaluator’s Statement from current clinical supervisor who must be certified in addictions
  • Official job description for current employment position signed by both the employee and the employer
  • Narrative Philosophy of Addictions Treatment for those with bachelor’s degree
  • Sample case file for those with bachelor’s degree
  • Pass IC&RC written exam for ADC
  • Pay oral interview fee for those with bachelor’s degree
  • Pass oral interview for those with bachelor’s degree
  • Receive final approval for ADC from APSC Certification Commission

Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) Requirements

  • Apply Online
  • Transcripts showing master’s degree or higher in human services field from regionally accredited institution
  • Official transcripts must be sent directly to the APSC office from the regionally accredited institution
  • Within 10 business days, APSC will provide official letter confirming counselor is in process after application, fee and transcripts have been received and reviewed
  • Application expires after three years
  • Affirmation in writing of adherence to the South Carolina Certification Ethical Standards
  • Four years full-time or 8,000 hours of experience in the Alcohol & Drug Counseling Domains within previous 5 years
  • Current and/or previous employers must verify experience on official letterhead and must include dates of employment, whether full or part-time, job title and duties performed
  • Minimum of 450 clock hours in education or training related to the counseling domains
  • Documentation of 200 hours of clinical supervision by a certified addictions professional noted on required form
  • Supervision must include minimum of 10 hours in each domain
  • Documentation of six (6) hours in Professional Ethics for counselors
  • Documentation of three (3) hours in HIV/AIDS issues for counselors
  • Evaluator’s Statement from current clinical supervisor who must be certified in addictions
  • Official job description for current employment position signed by both the employee and the employer
  • Pass IC&RC written exam for AADC 
  • Pay file processing/review fee after all items have been received by the APSC office
  • Receive final approval of AADC from APSC Certification Commission

Clinical Supervisor (CS) Requirements

  • AADC certification
  • Apply Online
  • Official Transcripts showing master’s degree or higher in a clinical subject from regionally accredited institution must be sent directly to the APSC Office
  • Within 10 business days, APSC will provide official letter confirming counselor is in process after application, fee and transcripts have been received and reviewed
  • Thirty (30) hours of training specific to clinical supervision
  • Twenty-four (24) hours of clinical supervision provided by a APSC CS.
  • Affirmation in writing of adherence to the South Carolina Certification Ethical Standards
  • Five years full-time or 10,000 hours of experience in Human Services and/or the Alcohol & Drug Counseling within previous 5 years
  • Two years of the five years of the full-time employment or 4,000 hours must be as a clinical supervisor candidate who is providing clinical supervision to in process candidates (need clinical supervisor candidate form/)Log needs to include clinical supervisor or supervisor candidate
  • Current and/or previous employers must verify experience on official letterhead and must include dates of employment, whether full or part-time, job title and duties performed in domains of addictions counseling
  • Pay CS application review/processing fee
  • Receive final approval of CS certification from APSC Certification Commission

Certified Peer Support Specialist Requirements

  • A high school diploma or GED
  • Apply Online
  • Current or former client of services
  • Meet one of the following requirements:
    o Have had a serious mental illness and/or addiction disorder, which meets the federal definition and received treatment for it;
    o Self-identify as a current or former client of mental health treatment and/or addiction treatment; or
    o Self-identify as having a serious mental illness and a substance use disorder and be in dual recovery.
  • The ability to demonstrate recovery expertise including knowledge of approaches to support others in recovery and dual recovery, as well as the ability to demonstrate his or her own efforts at self-directed recovery and/or one year of active participation in a local or national mental health client movement, or alcohol/drug addiction movement, which is evidenced by previous volunteer or work experience.
  • Being well established in own recovery and resiliency
  • Possess the personal qualities to rebound without decompensating
  • Be flexible and have good organizational skills
  • Be self-motivated with the ability to work well independently and in groups
  • Possess good inter-personal and communication (verbal & written) skills
  • 2 Competency Exams; One Written and one Oral
  • All candidates must complete two weeks (40 hours) of intensive training and then pass a written competency exam. Training on recovery goal setting, wellness recovery plans, problem solving, person-centered services, and advocacy
  • Recertification and CEUS – 20 hours per year: a minimum of 12 face-to-face hours are required, the remaining 8 can be accomplished through video-conferencing, Pathlore computer training, approved conference attendance, and/or approved reading