GACA Training
The Center for Behavior and Addiction Management is a Georgia Addiction Counselor Association (GACA) registered provider. The Georgia Addiction Counselor Association recognizes that there is a national set of treatment competency standards that support the best interest of all affected by Alcohol and Drug counseling, the client, profession, and society as a whole. The clinical staff at CBAM has developed and delivered GACA approved training in a variety of settings to a diverse professional population. The GACA certification process is designed to measure the ability of it’s applicants to counsel addiction clients. In addition, the process encourages and mandates the development of professional skills and competencies by addiction counselors. To that end we have designed our training to meet the needs of those individuals seeking GACA, NAADAC, or ICRC certification or re-certification.
Eligibility for Application of Certification
CAC LEVEL I
(a) The applicant is asked to be an active member of GACA.
(b) The applicant must hold a minimum high school diploma or equivalency
(G.E.D.).
(c) Within the past five (5) years, applicant must have been actively
engaged in the practice of chemical dependency/abuse counseling for 4,000
full-time
paid experience hours (approximately 2 years; or 4,000 hours volunteer
experience supervised by an individual who is certified as a clinical
supervisor (CCS) or a combination of work and CCS-supervised volunteer
hours.
(d) Prior to application for certification, the applicant must have completed
at least 180 clock hours of education in the field of addiction. A minimum
of 100 clock hours of the education must have been within the past five
(5) years.
(e) Applicant must have completed 220 hours of Supervised Practical Experience
(SPE) (a minimum of 10 hours in each counselor skills group).
(f) The applicant must have received 96 hours of supervision by a Certified
Clinical Supervisor.
CAC LEVEL II
(a) The applicant is asked to be an active member of GACA.
(b) The applicant must hold a minimum Bachelor's Degree in one of the
helping professions such as counseling, social work, psychology, or criminology.
If in doubt about your degree ask the Certification Board for a ruling.
(c) Within the past eight (8) years, applicant must have been actively
engaged in the practice of chemical dependency/abuse counseling for 6,000
hours (approximately 3 years). This counseling must have been full-time
paid or its part-time equivalent to equal 6,000 hours.
(d) Prior to application for certification, applicant must have completed
at least 270 hours of education in the field of addiction. A minimum
of 160 clock hours of education must have been within the past 5 years.
(e) The applicant must have completed 300 hours of Supervised Practical
Experience (SPE) (a minimum of 10 hours in each counselor skills group).
(f) The applicant must have received 144 hours of supervision from a
Certified Clinical Supervisor.
(g) Passing score at Level II of the National Certification Examination.
CBAM offers a variety of research based certification and re-certification training opportunities designed for agencies who regularly embrace "Best Practice" training as a method of maintaining competence within their agencies. Our training is developed and facilitated by Board Certified Clinicians.
Current Courses
(a) Motivating for Change -- 6.0 Contact Hours
(b) Addiction Case Management -- 4.0 Contact Hours
(c) Counseling Practice -- 6.0 Contact Hours
(d) Clinical Documentation -- 4.0 Contact Hours
(e) Crisis Intervention & Client Education -- 4.0 Contact Hours
(f) Connection: HIV & Substance Abuse -- 6.0 Contact Hours