We’re training, certifying, and recognizing professionals who change lives.

Work Experience
Work experience is for the purpose of acquiring and refining skills needed to be a competent alcohol and drug counsellor. This must be direct experience in counselling based on the “Twelve Core Functions”. Such experience is defined as supervised work, paid, working directly with clients with a primary diagnosis of substance abuse. In order to be eligible for certification, candidates must document that they have obtained qualified clinical work experience in the field.

The candidate must have the equivalent of two (2) years full-time work experience (4000 hours) within the past five (5) years providing direct and regularly supervised counselling services to persons with the primary diagnosis of substance abuse.

Education
Education includes university or college. Education must be related to the base of knowledge and skills, associated with the “Twelve Core Functions” of the addiction counsellor. To be eligible, all education must be documented by means of a transcript, and course outlines if not a preapproved program.

The applicant must have a minimum of 270 hours of education in the knowledge and skill areas.

Supervised Clinical Training
The minimal accepted standard is 300 hours. It is expected that this supervision will be a continuous, on-going part of the counsellor’s experience.

A “supervisor” shall be interpreted to mean the person who has responsibility for monitoring and evaluating the performance of alcohol and drug counsellors and students. This individual must be a person with comprehensive knowledge of the treatment of alcoholism and drug dependency, and have reached a supervisory position in a treatment setting. Others, who might be in positions of authority, but with little knowledge of addiction, would not be acceptable.

Supervised clinical training is supervision designed to improve and evaluate a counsellor’s knowledge and skill in the “Twelve Core Functions”. This training must be part of the eligible clinical work experience and may be completed under more than one supervisor or agency.

All clinical training hours must be documented as to where and with whom they took place, and what material was covered. This documentation must indicate a minimum of ten (10) hours of supervision in each of the “Twelve Core Functions”

• Client Screening
• Client Intake
• Client Orientation
• Treatment Planning
• Client Assessment
• Counselling
• Case Management
• Crisis Intervention
• Client Education
• Referral
• Reports and Record Keeping
• Consultations with Other Professionals

Procedures
Having met the basic requirements the candidate will:

Submit an Application that outlines work experience, education, supervised clinical training, a signed Canon of Ethics, and the applicable administrative fee.
Pass a written examination – Study guide and Exam fees are not part of the Certfication fee
Re-Certification
This certification must be re-certified every year by submitting proof of 20 CACCF approved continuing education hours.

Study guide and exam
The CCAC designation requires you as part of the process of obtaining your certification, to write and pass the CCAC exam.

The exam is 100 multiple choice questions and is best prepared for by studying the available CCAC Study Guide, available for purchase.

The exam is taken online at a proctored location nearest you and will be scheduled upon payment of fees.

 

Purchase CCAC Study Guide

Request Application via Email

Work Experience
Applicant must have 800 hours providing direct clinical supervision in the past 5 years. Must have at least 4000 hours of verifiable addictions work in the past 5 years.

Education
The applicant must have 30 documented hours of education in clinical supervision. This must be in the performance domains for all of the following: Assessment and Evaluation, Counsellor Development, Professional Responsibility, and Management/Administration.

Supervised Clinical Training
This certification must be re-certified every year by submitting proof of 20 CACCF approved continuing education hours.

Procedures

Applicants must:

You must be an active CACCF member, and hold a current Canadian Certified Addiction Counsellor certification (CCAC)
Submit a Portfolio Application that outlines work experience, education, supervised clinical training, a signed Canon of Ethics and the applicable administrative fee.

 

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This certification is reciprocal with other IC&RC member boards.

Work Experience
The applicant must have the equivalent of 3 years full-time work experience (6000 hours) within the past 5 years, providing direct, supervised counselling services to persons with the primary diagnosis of alcoholism and/or drug addiction.

Education
The applicant must have 270 documented hours of formal education at the college/university level in the knowledge and skill areas. Please call the CACCF Office for further information if required.

Supervised Clinical Training
The applicant must have 300 hours of documented supervised clinical training with a minimum of 10 hours of supervision in each of the Twelve Core Function areas.

Client Screening
Client Intake
Client Orientation
Treatment Planning
Client Assessment
Counselling
Case Management
Crisis Intervention
Client Education
Referral
Reports and Record Keeping
Consultations with Other Professionals

Procedures
Having met the basic requirements the candidate will:

• You must be an active CACCF member with a valid credential.
• Submit a Portfolio Application that outlines work experience, education, supervised clinical training, a signed Canon of Ethics, and the applicable administrative fee.
• Pass a written examination based on the Twelve Core Functions that has been approved by the IC&RC.

Re-Certification
This certification must be re-certified every year by submitting proof of 20 CACCF approved continuing education hours.

 

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This certification is reciprocal with other IC&RC member boards.

Work Experience
The applicant must have 5 years (10,000 hours) of counselling experience as an alcohol and drug counsellor. The clinical work experience required is the equivalent of 2 years (4,000 hours) of documented clinical supervisory experience and must include the provision of 200 contact hours of face-to-face clinical supervision. These 4,000 hours may be included in the 10,000 hours of counselling experience required. Candidates have up to 4 years to complete this requirement.

Education
The applicant must have 30 documented hours of education in clinical supervision. This must be in the performance domains for any or all of the following: Assessment and Evaluation, Counsellor Development, Professional Responsibility, and Management/Administration.

Procedures
Having met the basic requirements the candidate will:

• You must be an active CACCF member with a valid credential.
• Submit a Portfolio Application that outlines work experience, education, supervised clinical training, written case presentation, a signed Canon of Ethics and the applicable administrative fee.
• Pass a written examination based on the Twelve Core Functions that has been approved by the IC&RC.

Re-Certification
This certification must be re-certified every year by submitting proof of 20 CACCF approved continuing education hours.

 

 

Request Application via Email

Work Experience
Experience or practice with a First Nations community in substance use disorders in each of the 12 core functions areas, can be made up of the following:

• Paid work experience
• Experience acquired by means of a supervised practicum/ internship, undertaken as part of a program of study
• Proven experience as a volunteer in a Wellness/ Addiction Organization

Education
The applicant should have documented hours of education at the post secondary or training level in the following:

Addiction-specific topics
Introduction to Addictions
Dynamics of Addictions
Pharmacology
Human Development
Addiction Interventions
Self, Health and Wellness
Ethics / Cultural Values
Addiction – related topics

HIV/AIDS
Mental Health
Inter generational Trauma
Indigenous and Western Therapies
Group Therapy
Philosophies and theories of Aboriginal Healing
Trauma treatment
Relapse prevention
Suicide
Drugs / Substances
Self – care
Concurrent Disorders
Twelve core functions

Screening
Intake
Assessment and Evaluation
Treatment Planning
Counselling: Individual, Group and Significant Other
Case Management
Client Education
Referral
Reports and Record Keeping
Crisis Intervention
Orientation Case Management
Consultation with Other Professionals
General Skills and Knowledge

Communications
Group Facilitation
Interviewing Techniques
Conflict Resolution / Management
Supervised Clinical Training
Applicant requires supervised training during their experience hours. Practicum is optional, but the hours can be counted as hours of work experience

Cultural competenciesCultural competencies are required:

1. Ability to respect, implement and incorporate First Nations/Métis/Inuit culture, beliefs, values and traditions in treatment, including separate and combined sweat ceremonies, coming of age ceremonies and all other cultural/ spiritual ceremonies.

2. Ability to support and assist client participation in traditional and cultural aspects of spiritual recovery.

Procedures
Having met the basic requirements, the candidate must:

1. Submit an application that outlines work experience, education, supervised clinical training, a signed Canon of Ethics, and the applicable administrative fee.

Re-Certification
This certification must be re-certified every year by submitting proof of 20 CACCF approved continuing education hours.

 

Request Application via Email

Please keep in mind all information pertaining to CPGCB applies with CACCF. Thank you!

Why be certified?

• CACCF recognizes specialized skills, knowledge, and experience in problem gambling counselling. Certification ensures problem gambling clients and their families that they receive quality assistance from ethically sound, trained, and experienced counsellors who specialize in problem gambling.
• CACCF is a link to a growing network of quality education and research within the field of problem gambling within Canada. To assist problem gambling counsellors, maintain their standards of skill and knowledge, allows trainers and educators to have their courses, workshops and conference materials advertised, pre-approved and made available to certified Canadian Problem Gambling Counsellors through our website.
  Canadian Problem Gambling Counsellors are often eligible to receive discounted rates on gambling specific workshops and conferences.

 

Who may be certified?

• All applicants must meet the Standards Criteria set by CACCF. Any individual working in the field of problem gambling counselling may apply to become certified a Canadian Problem Gambling Counsellor (CPGC).
• This designation may be applied for by those counselling both problem gamblers and/or their family members.
• Applicants may include addictions counsellors, social workers, private counsellors, credit counsellors, family and youth counsellors.
• Canadian and International applicants are welcome to apply for certification

 

What is the process?

• Please email us below to request an application
• Complete your application and submit with a partial fee of $100 (non-refundable)
• A committee of certified members will review your application and notify you of your results within eight weeks.
• Upon written approval of acceptance, the balance of $200 is required.
• Following receipt of payment, you will receive your certification certificate by mail, and will be legally entitled to use the Canadian Problem Gambling Certification, CPGC designation.
• Initial approval certifies a counsellor for a two-year period. To ensure problem gambling counsellors stay current in their profession, all Canadian Problem
• Gambling Counsellors must meet the Re-Certification Criteria to maintain their certification status.

 

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Recovery Coach – Provisional
For this you must have completed the one of the two Recovery Coach courses and be working towards the hours for the full certification.

Recovery Coach
CCRC –
• Education 20+ hours
• Experience – coaching 125 hours of which 75 must be paid
• Supervision 25 hours

This certification must be re-certified every year by submitting proof of 20 CACCF approved continuing education hours. Continuing Education Units must be directly related to recovery coaching activities.

Direct Training:
Currently, there are 3 approved trainers (Still Here, ORCA Optimal Recovery Coach Associates, InnerStart Training and Education) Each of these trainers are approved trainers for full programming and any participant who wishes to take another course can apply to have that course approved by us just by contacting us at info@caccf.ca however to be noted this course must be pre-approved by us PRIOR to starting it. We cannot guarantee non approved courses will be accepted.

Exceptions can be made for Provincial or Federal training programs. Please contact info@caccf.ca for exceptions. Training varies per provider. Some can be completed in an in-person model, some hybrid and some virtual only. Each participant should endeavor to complete their own research so that they can choose the pre-approved program that is right for them as an individual.

Training Links/Costs:
ORCA Optimal Recovery Coach Associates: https://www.optimalrecovery.ca/recovery-coaching-rc – Approximately $2000 + tax

Still Here:
https://www.still-here.ca/
Approximately $1495

InnerStart Training and Education:
https://www.rc-academy.ca/index

 

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Please keep in mind all information pertaining to CPGCB applies with CACCF. Thank you!

Why be certified?

• CACCF recognizes specialized skills, knowledge, and experience for those working in the field of problem gambling.
• Certification with CACCF ensures problem gambling clients and their families will receive quality assistance from ethically sound, trained, and experienced specialists.
• To assist Gambling Information Specialists to maintain their standards of skill and knowledge, we allow trainers and educators to have their courses, workshops and conference materials advertised and pre-approved.
• Gambling Information Specialists are often eligible to receive discounted rates on gambling specific workshops and conferences.

 

Who may be certified?

• All applicants must meet the Standards Criteria set by CACCF
• Any individual working in the field of problem gambling counselling may apply to become certified a Gambling Information Specialist (GIS).
• This designation may be applied for by those supporting both problem gamblers and/or their family members.
• Applicants may include addictions counsellors, social workers, private counsellors, credit counsellors, family, and youth counsellors.
• Canadian and International applicants are welcome to apply for GIS certification.

 

What is the process?

• Complete your application by emailing us to obtain an Application form
• A review committee will review your application and you will be notified of the results within eight weeks.
• Upon written approval of acceptance, you will be required to send $200 for the certification fee which allows you to use the GIS designation for a two-year period.
• Following receipt of payment, you will receive your certified designation by mail, and will be legally entitled to use the Gambling Information Specialist designation.

 

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(CCIP) completed application:
Documentation of Education in the domains – 150 hours min.

• Documentation of Education in the domains – 150 hours min.
• 100 Hours of supervision with a minimum of ten (10) hours in each domain (see Domains below)
• Portfolio (see existing on site)
• Read & Sign Consent to Release Information
• Read & Sign Canon of Ethics Principles
• Hold a valid CCAC or ICADC credential in good standing with proof of insurance.

Portfolio
A portfolio is a collection of personal and professional activities and achievements. This part of the requirement for the CCIP is highly personalized and no two applicants will submit the same documentation.

An applicant will fulfill this requirement by submitting documentation and requirements of the first three mandatory categories.

Supporting documentation can include reports, letters, PowerPoint presentations, transcripts, etc. The applicant should submit what they feel best supports and describes their experiences under the categories. When submitting the documentation, the intervention professional should use the opportunity to highlight the value and commitment to the profession.

Domains:

• Intervention Competence
• Pre-Intervention
• Intervention
• Post-Intervention
• Professional & Ethical Responsibilities

 

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Last call for Peer Grandfathering – fees will start to apply as of Jan 1, 2026

Granfathering process is ending as of December 31/25 fees starting in 2026

Have you overcome an addiction?

Are you ready to use that lived experience to help others do the same?

As Canada’s Addictions Workforce Regulator, we know that connection based on shared experience is a vital part of the roadmap to wellness. We understand your past does not define your future. All living and lived experience matters and contributes positively to the continuation of the peer community. As such, background checks and related requirements have been identified as a key area of concern across the peer certification landscape, making it difficult for many well-qualified peer workers.

We understand background checks may protect vulnerable populations from being exploited, but they may also act as barriers to peers that offer unique and valuable lived experiences to the community. With this, background checks are at the discretion of the hiring organization and will not be a part of the certification process. The CACCF encourages all employers and potential employers to not disqualify based on past criminality. In most cases, these experiences contribute to the available support provided by Peer Support Specialists. Recovery based requirements such as abstinence will also be at the discretion of the hiring organizations and may include pathway specific recommendations that meet the needs of the population(s) they serve.

To safeguard the peer community and those being served by its valuable work, an Ethical Code of standards is in place. These standards elevate the quality of services and are a common component of all certifications. Provisional and certified Peers are frequently required to review, sign, and adhere to our Code of Ethics to obtain and maintain their certifications.

The CACCF Defines Peer Support as “offering and receiving help, based on shared understanding, respect and mutual empowerment between people with similar situations. The terms ‘Peer support worker’, ‘peer specialist’, and ‘Peer worker’ are interchangeably used to describe a person(s), with lived/living experience involving problematic mental health and/or substance use health conditions, and who engages in activities including advocacy, providing supportive resources, sharing experiences, social and community support, mentoring and more.

A peer support specialist who is in the process of seeking certification will be referred to as a ‘provisional peer support specialist’, and those who have completed certification or credentialing will be referred to as a ‘Canadian Certified Peer Support Specialist’.

For the purposes of this certification:

1. Peer support certification refers to “the process required to obtain an official document which attests that an individual has the skills and knowledge required for the peer support services profession. The document is issued by the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (CACCF).
2. The term ‘peer support specialist’ will be used to generally describe someone working in a peer support role. This includes harm reduction workers.
3. The term lived/living experience is defined as “personal knowledge about the world gained through direct, firsthand involvement in events rather than through representations and discussions constructed by others.
   Lived/living experience specifically refers to those directly affected by social, health, public health, or other issues associated with mental health and/or substance use conditions, and who have experience with the strategies and that aim to address associated challenges.” This typically
   suggests a past connotation involving challenges and issues related to mental health and/or substance use conditions. However, issues may resurface throughout one’s life, some individuals may better relate to the term living experience despite identifying as being in recovery. The term lived/living experience will refer to both current and former challenges related to mental health and/or substance use disorder.

What is a National Model Standard?

The term ‘National Model Standard’ is defined as a distinct certification criterion that:

• Promotes quality of and consistency across peer services across Canada.
• Limits barriers to expanding the peer workforce.
• Protect the authenticity of peers through promotion of and emphasis on lived and living experience.
• Expand and support the peer workforce by elevating the profession & bringing provincial attention to the critical services they provide.
• Is based upon guidance from the peer workforce.
  Reinforces the scope of the peer role through distinct certification criteria.
• Strengthens diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) efforts across the peer workforce.
• Establish career pathways for peer workers and peer supervisors.
• Allow for lived and living experience to include criminal justice history that
  does not affect the workers ability to be a peer support specialist.
• Is based upon existing practices utilized by CACCF.

 

*Note: Reciprocity on Peer National Model Standards will permit Peers to
practice peer work should they change Provinces or Territories. *

(CCPSS) Canadian Certified Peer Support Specialist

A Canadian Certified Peer Support Specialist must be able to meet the following:

• Documentation of 500 hours of peer support work experience
• CACCF Training: https://square.link/u/REXiBz1c
• Documentation of preapproved training*
  *Please see link for approved training
  https://irecoveryworks.ca/courses/course/canadian-peer-support-worker
  You can submit other training by emailing the training to info@caccf.ca
• Supervisor evaluation form from a recent supervisor
  One letter from a character reference of someone who has known youand is familiar with your journey confirming your recovery of at least 2 years
• Read & Sign Consent to Release information
• Read & Sign Canon of Ethical Principles

All fees for this certification (including membership) will be waived starting June 1, 2023, until May 31, 2024.

 

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Overview

Become a leader in the field of peer addiction support. The Certified Advanced Peer Addiction Specialist program is an advanced training designed for peer supporters who are ready to deepen their skills, strengthen their leadership capacity, and step into more specialized, certified roles across recovery services.

Who This Is For

This program is ideal for:

ALL peer support workers

Individuals working in addiction recovery settings

Peers supporting justice-involved or high-risk populations

Anyone looking to elevate their peer work with formal certification

What You’ll Learn

Advanced recovery concepts and support techniques

Group facilitation and peer mentorship

Ethics, boundaries, and trauma-informed approaches

Crisis response and conflict navigation

Documentation, reporting, and system collaboration

Equity, stigma, and working across diverse populations

Program Format

Self Paced

Downloadable tools and handouts

Final assessment included

Fully online

Certification Outcome

You will be eligible to obtain the CAPAS Certification through the CACCF through a grand parented process. Additional fees may apply.

 

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The Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (CACCF) are pleased to announce the launch for the CCTACP Certification. This is an important milestone in the continuing growth and success of our industry!

The Canadian Certified Telemedicine Addiction Counselling Professional must be able to meet the following:

• Must have a valid CCAC or ICADC to apply
• Read & Sign the Privacy Requirements
• Read & Sign Canon of Ethics Principles

 

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• You must be an active CACCF member with a valid credential.
• CCAC or ICADC in Good Standing with the CACCF
• Recovery Capital Conference Attendance Certificate
• My Recovery Plan Foundational Understanding of Recovery Capital
• Attestation of 50 Practices building Recovery Capital
• Verification from a supervisor on your Recovery Capital Practices
• Read & Sign Consent to Release Information
• Read & Sign Canon of Ethics Principles
• Application Processing Fee

 

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Requirements
Intial: Must hold valid CACCF certification
40 hours of CACCF Approved Trainign Program
Application Fees
Governemet Issues ID
Canon of Ethics
Release of Information
Renewal: 20 hours of CEU’s annually
CACCF Annul Fees

 

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Requirements
Intital: Supervised Employment – 500 hours Direct services – 300 hours indirect services

Self Evaluation
40 hours of CACCF Approved Training Program
Colleague Endorsement
Colleague Evaluation (cannot be the same individual as the individual who provides the endorsement)
Clinical Supervisor Evaluation
Application Fees
Governement Issued ID
Release Information
Canon of Ethics
Renewal: 20 hours of CEU’s annually

 

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