Our Credentials and Certifications

Prevention

A Certified Professional in Prevention has been trained in the science of substance use and abuse prevention. They have met the minimum standards for education/training, supervised experience, and passed the ICAP-Prevention exam.

Requirements:

Coming soon

Special Population Endorsements (coming soon):

Family-based Prevention
School-based Prevention
Community-based Prevention
Workplace-based Prevention
Environment-based Prevention
Media-based Prevention

Treatment

A Certified Professional in Treatment has been credentialed and has been trained in the science of Substance Use Disorder Treatment. They have met the minimum standards for education/training, supervised experience, and passed the appropriate ICAP-Treatment level exam.

Requirements:

ICAP-I requires 1 year of supervised experience and 120 hours of education/training
ICAP-II requires 2 years of supervised experience and 240 hours of education/training
ICAP-III requires 5 years of supervised experience and 500 hours of education/training
ICAP-IV requires a Master’s degree or higher in SUD/Addiction and/or related counseling subjects 5 years of supervised experience and 500 hours of education/training

Special Population Endorsements (coming soon):

Specialized Treatment for Women
Specialized Treatment for Children

Recovery Support

A Certified Professional in Recovery Support has been trained in the best practices of supporting those in recovery of addiction.

Requirements:

100 hours of substance use disorder (SUD) recovery support and peer training
1 Year of supervised experience in a SUD-related field

All ICAPS are valid for 3 years. Continuing education is required for Renewal.

Check the ISSUP website for training opportunities near you.

While there are currently ICAP professionals in 62 countries, we also want to work with countries that already have a credentialing or certifying body in the SUD field. As we work toward global standards, we want to ensure that our international certification is also portable to these countries. ICAP credentials are currently accepted within the following credentialing organizations: Kenya - Kenya Certified Addiction Counselor (KCAC) South Korea - Korean Association for Addiction Professionals (KAAP) United States - NAADAC: The Association for Addiction Professionals We are continuing conversations with other organizations. If you are interested in partnering with us to promote global standards for professionals, please email globalcccinfo@colombo-plan.org . Please put Reciprocity in the subject line.
Initial credentialing under this programme is valid for a period of 3 years from the date of credential issue.

After 3 years, the candidate will be required to renew. Individuals are required to comply with the following requirements:
  1. Documentation of 40 contact hours of education/training during the 3 year period of practice. Of the 40 contact hours, 20 hours must be on SUD-related matters. The other 20 hours may be in other subjects but should be related to the development of the professional’s expertise in the field, including a minimum of 4 hours of ethics training. All training must be provided by a GCCC-approved training provider.
  2. Submission of the completed application for the renewal of the appropriate level of credential and professional agreement to continue to adhere to the GCCC Code of Ethics for Credentialed addiction professionals.
  3. Payment of non-refundable application fee.

All renewal applicants must submit the documents to globalcccinfo@colombo-plan.org on or before the deadline posted for the review of qualifications. Please put ICAP Renewal Application in the subject line of the email.
Inactive status may be granted for reasons such as education, illness, or temporary professional change. This designation will facilitate a smooth return to credentialing when active work is resumed by elimination of the need to re-test and re-document original qualifications.

The Commission will issue a new credential and/or certification with the same number marked “Inactive” in place of an expiration date. When the individual decides they are going to return to active work, they may reactivate their credentials and/or certification by following the procedures as for renewal of credential and/or certification.

If you wish to reactivate your credentials, please email globalcccinfo@colombo-plan.org for more information. Please put Inactive Status in the subject line of the email.
Retired professionals may retain their credentialed status. Those professionals no longer employed in the SUD field of prevention, treatment and/or recovery support and who abide by the Ethical Guidelines for GCCC may apply for retirement status.

The Commission will issue a new credential and/or certification with the same number marked “RETIRED” in place of an expiration date. If, in the two years succeeding the receipt of the retirement credential, the individual decides they are going to return to paid work, they may reactivate their credentials and/or certification by following the procedures as for renewal of credential and/or certification.

If you wish to apply for Retirement status, please email globalcccinfo@colombo-plan.org . Please put Retirement Status in the subject line of the email.

Code of Ethics

All addiction professionals must subscribe to the ethical standards adopted by the GCCC Commission. The application process includes a place to certify their acceptance of these standards as a professional in the Prevention, Treatment, and/or Recovery Support field.

Counsellor Code of Ethics

Recovery Coach Code of Ethics

Ethical Violations

All credentialed and/or certified professionals must subscribe to the ethical standards in the practice of their profession. All ethical matters are considered by the GCCC Commission’s Ethics Committee. Those failing to meet these ethical standards will be subject to disciplinary actions.

Revocation and/ or other sanctions may be imposed for a variety of reasons, such as:

  • Falsification of application or any other part of the credentialing process;
  • Misrepresentation of credential status;
  • Abuse or misuse of psychoactive substances;
  • Inappropriate relationships with clients/patients.

If you wish to report an ethical violation, click here to download form. Attach form to email and send to becky.vaughn@colombo-plan.org.
Please put “Confidential” in the subject line.