Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) Application Instructions and Forms

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) is committed to enhancing the quality of services in New York State through the professional development of the substance use disorder (SUD) services workforce.

To ensure that counselors who provide direct care in SUD programs are competent and ethical in their work and skilled in meeting the needs of today’s society, OASAS issues:

• The Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) to individuals who meet specific eligibility requirements and pass an examination.
• The CASAC Trainee and the CASAC Provisional Certificates serve as verification that the individual is working toward becoming a CASAC.

No person shall use the title CASAC to engage in private practice unless otherwise authorized by law.

CASAC-Trainee and CASAC-Provisional

The CASAC-Trainee and CASAC-Provisional certificate is issued to notify an employer that you are a person who has completed a specified level of education and training towards a CASAC but whose scope of practice is limited by standards established by the Office.

Please see the Scope of Practice Checklist on this page for further information.

Please note: a person will only be issued ONE of these certificates based on eligibility requirements.

Application

Credentialing Process

To become a CASAC in New York State, you must:

1. meet specific competency and ethical conduct requirements;
2. meet specific work experience requirements;
3. meet minimum education and training requirements;
4. successfully complete a criminal background check review; and
5. pass the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium, Inc. (IC&RC) examination for Alcohol and Drug Counselors (ADC).

Application

To submit your application please visit the Credentialing Portal and select "Apply for Credential" to start the application process.

Upon receipt by the OASAS Credentialing Unit, your application will be reviewed to ensure that the minimum eligibility requirements have been satisfied.

Based on the findings of this review, your application will be determined to be either incomplete or approved.

An application is active five years from the date the Credentialing Unit performs an initial review.

Incomplete Applications

If your application is determined to be incomplete, you will be sent a CASAC Application Review Summary identifying documentation still needed to complete your application.

If you are unable to submit the identified documents by the end of the five-year period, your application will not be approved, and you will not be issued a CASAC credential.

To be considered for a CASAC in the future, you will be required to submit a new application, associated documentation, and an additional Application Processing Fee.

Extensions

Applicants who hold a CASAC-T or CASAC-P that are exam eligible prior to their five-year expiration date will be eligible for a one-time, three-year extension for a $100 fee.

Minimum Qualifications

To apply to become a CASAC you must:

• be at least 18 years of age
• have earned at least a:
  1. High School Diploma (obtained from institutions recognized by the New York State Department of Education or its equivalent); or
  2. High School Equivalency (HSE)
• at the time of credentialing, lived or worked in New York State at least 51 percent of the time during an active application.

Examination

Exam

Eligibility for the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam may be met by satisfactorily completing the 350 educational hours and one-time requirements (see Education and Training Section below).

The ADC exam is offered on a weekly basis.

The exam is computer-based and offered in person at sites across the state.

You will be provided an exam registration form upon becoming eligible to sit for the exam. Further instructions on selecting an exam date and location are emailed from the testing company approximately two weeks after an examination registration form and fee are received by the Credentialing Unit.

Counselor Scope of Practice Checklist

The Counselor Scope of Practice* establishes a framework for a career ladder with minimum qualifications defined in the scope of practice for the Counselor Assistant, CASAC-Trainee, CASAC-Provisional, CASAC, CASAC Level 2, CASAC Advanced Counselor and CASAC Master levels.

It is important to note that any CASAC can only perform the specific allowable functions outlined in the OASAS scope of practice.

NOTE: The following will help you to determine what path is appropriate for you and guide you in completing your application.

CASAC Trainee (CASAC-T)

• Minimum education level is high school diploma or GED/High School Equivalency
• 350 Hours of education and one-time requirements (See Education and Training Section) OR
• 85 hours education from Section I and one-time requirements (See Education and Training Section), 15 hours of addiction specific ethics for counselors from Section IV AND 4000 hours of approved work experience (See Work Experience Section)
• Background check

CASAC Provisional (CASAC-P)

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in an approved Human Services Field (MUST submit college transcript)
• Completed Verification of Employment or Intent to Hire form available below. Form must be submitted with application.
• Mandatory One-Time requirements as determined by the Office
• Background check

To become eligible to sit for the exam, CASAC-T and CASAC-P applicants must complete the 350 hours of education and one-time education requirements.

Please note

An application is active for five years from the date of your first review. If you do not meet the requirements to complete the CASAC process by your expiration date and you are exam eligible, you will be eligible for a one-time, three-year extension. If you do not become exam eligible by your expiration date you will need to submit a new application and application processing fee.

Important Notice to CASAC Provisional Applicants

If you do not include a Verification of Employment/Intent to Hire form with your application, you will be considered for a CASAC-Trainee certificate, not the CASAC Provisional. Download the form available on this page.

CASAC

• Minimum education level is high school diploma or GED/High School
• Equivalency Two Evaluation of Ethical Competency and Ethical Conduct forms
• 6000 hours of work experience
• 350 education hours and one-time education requirements
• Background check

CASAC 2

• Minimum education level is an Associate’s Degree in an approved Human Services Field
• Two Evaluation of Ethical Competency and Ethical Conduct forms
• 6000 hours of work experience
• 350 education hours and one-time education requirements
• Background check

CASAC Advanced Counselor

• Acquisition of the CASAC
• Transcript verifying completion of a bachelor’s degree; and
• Certificate(s) of completion for 30 hours of Clinical Supervision training*

CASAC Master

• Transcript/diploma verifying completion of a master’s degree in an approved human services field; AND
• Certificate(s) of completion for 30 hours of approved Clinical Supervision training*; AND
• Maintained CASAC credentialed status for past three years

Verification of Employment/Intent to Hire Form

If you are a CASAC Provisional applicant and do not include a Verification of Employment/Intent to Hire Form with your application, you will be considered for a CASAC-Trainee certificate, not the CASAC Provisional.

Verification of Employment

Evaluation of Competency and Ethical Conduct

You must have two individuals complete an Evaluation of Competency and Ethical Conduct for you. Evaluations must be submitted on the Evaluation of Competency and Ethical Conduct form available below.

All evaluators must have direct knowledge of your SUD-related work experience in an OASAS approved treatment setting observed for a minimum of six months, and may not be a family member, subordinate, instructor or professor.

Evaluators must meet the following qualifications:

• One evaluator must be your current clinical supervisor who is an Advanced or Master CASAC or a NYSED licensed Qualified Health Professional (QHP) who meets the supervisory standards established by OASAS. If you were previously employed in the SUD field and are currently employed in a non-OASAS setting, an evaluation by your former clinical supervisor must be submitted. A copy of their license and/or credentials should be included with the form.
• If working in an OASAS certified program, one evaluator must be a current New York StateCASAC in good standing, otherwise an evaluation from a current CASAC or a person holding a comparable credential, certificate or license from another recognized certifying body as determined by OASAS. This may be another Qualified Health Professional that meets the requirement determined by the Credentialing Unit.
• Hold a current reciprocal-level credential issued by another member board of the IC&RC.
• A QHP is an individual who has a minimum of one year of experience or satisfactory completion of a training program in the treatment of substance use disorders, and who is:
  • a CASAC who has a current valid credential issued by OASAS, or a comparable credential, certificate or license from another recognized certifying body as determined by OASAS;
  • a professional licensed and currently registered as such by the New York State Education Department to include:
    • a physician, including doctor of medicine (M.D.) and doctor of osteopathy (D.O.);
    • a physician's assistant (PA);
    • a certified nurse practitioner;
    • a registered professional nurse (RN);
    • a psychologist;
    • a psychoanalyst, including Limited Permit;
    • an occupational therapist;
    • a marriage and family therapist (LMFT), including Limited Permit;
    • a creative arts therapist (LCAT), including Limited Permit;
    • a mental health counselor (LMHC), including Limited Permit (LP-LMHC); and
    • a rehabilitation counselor certified by the Commission of Rehabilitation Counselor Certification;
    • a therapeutic recreation therapist certified by the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation or the American Therapeutic Recreation Association; or a person who holds a baccalaureate degree in a field allied to therapeutic recreation and, either before or after receiving such degree, has five years of full-time, paid work experience in an activities program in a health care setting;
    • a counselor certified by and currently registered as such with the National Board for Certified Counselors.

    Evaluations must be from an OASAS approved treatment setting. Evaluations are not acceptable from a work setting #3 (see Work Experience section on this page).

    Instructions

    • Make copies of the Evaluation form for each evaluator.
    • Complete the Applicant Consent to Release Information section of the Evaluation of Competency and Ethical Conduct form and provide the form to each evaluator. Be sure it is dated within one year of submission. Please do not complete any other part of the form yourself.
    • Request that the evaluator complete the evaluation, discuss the evaluation with you, and return the completed formto you, with any other required documentation. Evaluations must be completed by the evaluator, signed anddated within one year prior to submission.
    • Review forms for completeness before submitting.
    • Evaluations cannot be accepted from a work setting #3.

    NOTE: The Credentialing Unit does not intervene with workplace issues if a supervisor/evaluator refuses to provide an evaluation.

    If you suspect an individual has violated the CASAC Canon of Ethical Principles, Misconduct, or Other Prohibited Acts, please visit the OASAS Credentialing Portal and select "File a Complaint."

    Protect People with Special Needs. If You See or Suspect Abuse or Neglect, Report It. Call the Vulnerable Person Central Register Hotline Toll-Free: 1-855-373-2122. TTY: 1-855-373-2123. NYS Justice Center. Hotline receives calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week.