Formerly the Addiction Intervention Association, the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (CACCF) was formed in 1985.  We are a voluntary non-profit organization, which has regional representation across all Canadian provinces and territories.  The CACCF is also an active member of the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (IC&RC/AODA). 

ABOUT THE IC&RC

Incorporated in 1981, the IC&RC/AODA is a voluntary membership organization, which consists of other alcohol & drug certifying bodies across the United States and globally.

Each certifying body belonging to the IC&RC agrees to use their minimum standards for reciprocity-eligible certifications.  Each member board reviews and accepts the eligibility certificates of its sister board applications.  The international standards abided by the IC&RC/AODA are widely respected and accepted, and have been positively recognized by leading authorities throughout the world as the symbol of quality assurance, within the field of addictions.

THE BASIS OF BEING CERTIFIED

Before examinations are developed, a certifying profession must determine what skills, knowledge, experience, and abilities are needed to be a competent professional in the field.  The CACCF, in cooperation with the IC&RC/AODA, has achieved this by completing role delineation studies for alcohol and drug abuse counsellors, and for clinical supervisors.  These studies followed the principles and procedures outlined in a manual entitled "Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing", published by the American Psychological Association in 1983.

The most important reason for conducting a role delineation study is to ensure the validity of the testing procedures.  In this regard, the CACCF certification process is valid, reliable and legally defensible.  One of the major functions of a certification program is the protection of the public from the incompetent practitioner.  Accordingly, by selecting a CACCF certified professional, the public is given the assurance that the person has demonstrated professional competency.  Copies of the role delineation study are available from the CACCF office.