Renewal of the CACI and CACII credentials are required every 2 years.
Membership renewal is annual.
The Re-certification Application will be mailed to the counselor’s last known address automatically ninety (90) days prior to the expiration date to give sufficient time to process and issue the new certificate.
It is the counselor’s responsibility to contact the GACA office at 770-434-1000 or email to mimi@gaca.org prior to the expiration date if the Renewal Application is not received.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Renewal of certification will be for a period of two (2) years. Re-certification will be based on acceptable documentation of 40 clock/contact hours of continuing education during the preceding term of certification. Of the 40 hours required, 20 hours must have a clearly visible GACA Provider Number, be in-classroom face-to-face continuing education. The remaining 20 hours may be other counseling-related topics. A total of 6 hours of Ethics, and 6 hours of Telemental Health must be included in the 40 hours. This will allow those members who are both licensed and credentialed to avoid duplication of training. Burden of proof of the validity and relevance of training is the responsibility of the applicant. It is the responsibility of the applicant to obtain verification of each educational experience submitted.
During the preceding term of certification, the CACI applicant must have received twenty-four hours supervision by a GACA Certified Clinical Supervisor. The clinical supervisor’s signature and CCS credential number and expiration date will be accepted as verification that the hours have been met per GACA policy. The CACII applicant is exempt from the clinical supervision requirement.
GACA Certification Committee Policies relative to re-certification will be provided with the Re-certification Application
- Renewal of Certified Addiction Counselor Certificate
- Inactive Status for Credentials
- Re-certification after Lapse of Certification Credential
- Extension of Credential Expiration Date
- Use of Credential after Expiration Date
RECERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
- EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2019
- Six (6) hours of education in Tele Counseling or other equivalent training such as Telemental Health, E-Counseling, or E-Therapy must be documented.
RECERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS for CAC I and CACII
CACI: 40 total continuing education hours within the 2 years prior to date of expiration to include:
- 20 hours with a GACA Provider Number, in classroom
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- 20 hours other counseling-related subjects
- Above hours must include 6 hours Ethics (NOTE: No Cultural Diversity hours or HIV/AIDS related training is required)
- Above hours must include 6 hours of Telemental Health
- 24 hours of supervision by a GACA-certified CCS holding a valid certificate
- Copy of the last-issued CAC certificate and the Recertification Fee of $100.00/member – $200.00/nonmember
- If post-expiration date, $50.00/member and $75.00 non-member; 30 days post-expiration, email gaca@gaca.org and request a Reinstatement application.
CACII: 40 total continuing education hours to include:
- 20 hours with a GACA Provider Number, in classroom
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- 20 hours other counseling-related subjects
- Above hours must include 6 hours Ethics (NOTE: No Cultural Diversity hours or HIV/AIDS related training is required)
- Above hours must include 6 hours of Telemental Health Counseling
- CACII level counselors are EXEMPT FROM clinical supervision
- Copy of the last CAC-issued certification and the Re-certification Fee of $100.00/member – $200.00/nonmember
- If post-expiration date, $50.00/member and $75.00 non-member; 30 days post-expiration, email gaca@gaca.org and request a Reinstatement application.
Payment: Debit cards, Credit cards, Checks, or Money Orders. Do not send certified mail. Someone may not be at the office to sign for it
LATE RENEWALS
Renewal or Reinstatement of credentials received after the expiration date will be according to the above policies. Exceptions will be made under extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the Certification Committee.
RE-CERTIFICATION FEES
CACI and CACII re-certification fees are $100.00 for GACA/NAADAC members and $200.00 for non-members. Re-certification Applications received in the GACA office after the expiration date will incur a $50.00 late fee for members and $75.00 late fee for non-members.
All fees are non-refundable.
CERTIFICATE REINSTATEMENT APPLICATION
The Reinstatement of Credential Application has been developed for those counselors who have allowed credentials to lapse due to health, both family and self, loss of job, bankruptcy or just could not afford renewal and/or training fees. The Georgia Addiction Counselors Association will extend eligibility to apply for reinstatement of the CACI, CACII, and/or CCS certifications to counselors with credentials not more than 5 years post expiration date. Credentials lapsed more than 5 years are not eligible for reinstatement but the counselor may reapply through the normal new application process to include all fees and testing. Reinstatement Applications will be approved on a case-by-case basis and all reinstatement applications are at the discretion of the Certification Committee. Reinstatement applications may be requested by contacting the GACA Office at 770-434-1000 or by email at gaca@gaca.org.