Certified Counselors

The Substance Use Disorder Certified Counselor (SUDCC) credential is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) through the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE). It is recognized by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), and individuals holding this credential are authorized to work in any Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment modality.

CADTP is one of three organizations approved by DHCS, Licensing and Certification Division (LCD), to certify SUD counselors in California.

In compliance with regulatory requirements, all DHCS-recognized certifying organizations are accredited by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE), a division of the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

SUD counselor certification is required by law for anyone providing counseling services in programs licensed or certified by the California Department of Health Care Services.

(Reference: California Code of Regulations, Title 9, Section 13000, et seq., effective April 1, 2005).

For more information, visit: www.dhcs.ca.gov.

All certified counselors are required to bi-annually (every 2 years) and submit the following:

• Certification Renewal Form Completed
• Uniform Code of Conduct; CADTP Code of Ethics – signed, dated and each page initialed
• 40 Hours Minimum of SUD Continuing Education
• Must include 3-hours of Ethics and Confidentiality (may be combined in one training)
• If you are a SUDCC-CS: CEUs must include 6-hours of clinical supervision course
• Non-Refundable Payment of: $135 for SUDCC; $160 for SUDCC II, SUDCC or SUDCC IV; $185 for SUDCC II-CS SUDCC III-CS, SUDCC IV-CS

CADTP will only accept 10 hours of CEUs from an on-line source gained each day. The exception is CEUs that are designated as bundled together and noted as a single course with a specific number of hours on one certificate.

Please refer to the CEU Bulletin for all CADTP requirements for renewal CEUs.

Access your credentials anytime, anywhere!

In today’s world, we know you sometimes need access to your credentials on the go. When you receive your digital certificate and badge via email, you will always have your credentials at the click of a button.

You can send your certificate and badge to your employer and post your credentials to social media if you choose. Built-in social sharing tools make it easy for you to celebrate and share your achievements.

Your certificate and badges will display perfectly on any screen size, so they always look good!

There is no additional cost for the digital credential at initial registration, new certification, registration or certification renewal, or certification upgrade at non-renewal time.

To access your digital certifcate, log in to Accredible.

Digital Certificate Provider

The transfer process to CADTP involves:

1. Submit your existing certification documents
2. Complete a CADTP transfer application
3. Meet CADTP’s certification standards

There are three types of applications:

1. Certified Counselor – In State
2. Registered Counselor – In State
3. Out of State Transfer

Visit the Transfer page to learn more: Transfer to CADTP

The California Association of DUI Treatment Programs (CADTP) offers a structured pathway for individuals pursuing careers in Substance Use Disorder (SUD) counseling. This pathway begins with the Substance Use Disorder Registered Counselor (SUDRC) designation, which serves as the initial registration required for employment in Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) licensed or certified programs. The SUDRC is not a certification but a registration status that allows individuals to gain the necessary education and experience to become certified counselors.

Following the SUDRC registration, CADTP provides eight levels of certification for SUD counselors, each reflecting a combination of education, work experience, and supervisory responsibilities:​

SUDCC (Substance Use Disorder Certified Counselor): Requires 315 hours of formal SUD-specific education, 2,080 hours of supervised work experience, and successful completion of a certification exam.​

SUDCC II: Requires a minimum of five years (10,000 hours) of actual work experience in providing SUD counseling services.

SUDCC II-CS: In addition to SUDCC II qualifications, this level requires two years of experience in the direct supervision of SUD counselors and completion of forty hours of clinical supervisor education courses.​

SUDCC III: Candidates must meet SUDCC II requirements and possess a bachelor’s degree in SUD formal education or a related field.​

SUDCC III-CS: In addition to SUDCC III qualifications, this level requires two years of experience in the direct supervision of SUD counselors and completion of forty hours of clinical supervisor education courses.​

SUDCC IV: This advanced certification level demands fulfillment of SUDCC II criteria and attainment of a master’s degree in SUD formal education or a related field.​

SUDCC IV-CS: The pinnacle of CADTP certification, this level combines SUDCC IV qualifications with two years of supervisory experience and forty hours of clinical supervisor education.​

These certifications are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and recognized by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), ensuring that certified counselors meet rigorous standards for professional competence in SUD treatment.