Application CASAC Form – Fill Out and Use This PDF

CREDENTIALED ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR (CASAC) APPLICATION

CREDENTIALED ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR (CASAC) APPLICATION

PURPOSE OF THE CASAC

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) is committed to enhancing the quality of services in New York State through the professional development of the substance use disorder (SUD) services workforce. To ensure that counselors who provide direct care in SUD programs are competent and ethical in their work and skilled in meeting the needs of today’s society, OASAS issues the Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) to individuals who meet specific eligibility requirements and pass an examination. The CASAC Trainee Certificate serves as documentation that the individual is working toward becoming a CASAC. No person shall use the title CASAC to engage

in private practice unless otherwise authorized by law.

CREDENTIALING PROCESS

To become a CASAC in New York State, you must: (1) meet specific competency and ethical conduct requirements; (2) meet specific work experience requirements; (3) meet minimum education and training requirements; (4) successfully complete a criminal background check review; and (5) pass the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium, Inc. (IC&RC) examination for Alcohol and Drug Counselors (ADC).

Application

Upon receipt by the OASAS Credentialing Unit, your application will be reviewed to ensure that the minimum eligibility requirements have been satisfied. Based on the findings of this review, your application will be determined to be either incomplete or approved. Applications are reviewed in the order they are received, and it may take an extended time to process due to the high volume received.

Incomplete Applications

If your application is determined to be incomplete, you will be mailed a CASAC Application Review Summary identifying noted deficiencies. If you are unable to address the identified deficiencies by the end of the five-year period, your application will not be approved, and you will not be issued a CASAC credential. To be considered for a CASAC in the future, you will be required to submit a new application, associated documentation, and an additional $100 Application Processing Fee.

**Please note there are no longer extensions for the CASAC-T. If you do not complete the application in the initial 5-year period, you will not be able to extend your application. Your CASAC-T will expire, and you must complete a new CASAC application. You will not be issued a subsequent CASAC-T certificate on future applications and you may not be able to perform CASAC-T level functions in OASAS certified programs as identified on the SUD Counselor Scope of Practice

https://www.oasas.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2019/09/Scopes%20of%20Practi ce.pdf. **

Minimum Qualifications

To apply to become a CASAC you must:

be at least 18 years of age;

have earned at least a: (1) High School Diploma (obtained from institutions recognized by the New York State Department of Education or its equivalent); or (2) High School Equivalency (HSE);

be proficient in English, including the ability to speak, write, comprehend orally, and read at a minimum level necessary to perform as a CASAC; and

live or work in New York State at least 51 percent of the time during the application period.

Examination

Eligibility for the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam may be met by satisfactorily completing the 350 educational hours. The ADC exam is offered on a weekly basis.

The Application, associated instructions, and fees

are subject to change without notice.

CREDENTIALED ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR (CASAC) APPLICATION

CREDENTIALING PROCESS (continued)

Your CASAC Application will remain active for a period of five years from the postmark date. A CASAC Trainee certificate may be obtained as an interim step to becoming a CASAC. If the requirements and successful completion of the exam are not met prior to the application expiration date, you may submit a new application to become credentialed in the future.

There is no longer an option for the CASAC Trainee certificate to be extended and it will not be re-issued again.

CASAC REQUIREMENTS

CASAC

•Part A Application Summary form

•Canon of Ethical Principles, and Misconduct attestation form

•NYS Justice Center Code of Conduct form

•Copy of diploma or transcript to verify your highest level of education (must include graduation date)

•Copy of your OASAS 350-hour standardized training certificate OR academic transcript(s) to satisfy the requirement

•$100 Application Processing Fee (certified check or money order)

NOTE: Applicants may obtain the CASAC Trainee Certificate and become exam eligible upon completion of the above requirements. The CASAC Trainee Certificate serves as documentation that you are working toward becoming a CASAC. The CASAC Trainee may be counted toward the Qualified Health Professional (QHP) staffing requirement for specific OASAS-certified providers. However, the CASAC Trainee Certificate will not authorize you to be considered a QHP for any other purpose.

•Two Part B Evaluation of Competency and Ethical Conduct forms

•Part C Work Experience Verification Record form documenting a minimum of 6000 hours of approved work experience; a college degree with a concentration in an approved human services field may be claimed for satisfying some of the work experience

•Completion certificate for three hours of “Supporting Recovery with Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT)” training (offered free of charge at: http://healtheknowledge.org/course/search.php?search=Medication+Assisted)

•Successful completion of the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor exam

CASAC 2

In addition to the above CASAC requirements:

•A copy of a diploma or transcript to verify completion of an associate’s degree in an OASAS approved human services field (see page 21). The document must clearly state your major field of study and graduation date.

CASAC – Advanced Counselor

In addition to the CASAC requirements:

•A copy of a diploma or transcript to verify completion of a bachelor’s degree in any major field of study and graduation date

•Completion certificate(s) for 30 hours of training entitled, “Clinical Supervision Foundations I and II” (see page 5)

Applicants may also be eligible to receive the CASAC Trainee Certificate upon completion of 4000 hours of approved work experience (or master’s degree substitution for work experience), 85 clock hours of education and/or training related to the Knowledge of Substance Use Disorders (Section I) and 15 clock hours of education and /or training related to Ethics for Addictions Professionals (Section IV). Completion of these requirements, however, will NOT result in exam eligibility. Please note that work experience performed post 7/1/18 must be in compliance with the SUD Counselor Scope of Practice https://www.oasas.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2019/09/Scopes%20of%20Practice.pdf.

CREDENTIALED ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR (CASAC) APPLICATION

FEE SCHEDULE

All fees are non-refundable, regardless of the results of your criminal background check. Fees must be in the form of a certified check or money order made payable to NYS OASAS. Personal checks will not be accepted, will be returned, and will delay processing of your application. Please do not send cash.

$100 Application Processing Fee

$245 Computer Based Examination Fee -- Do not send examination fees until your application has been approved and you have been notified that you are exam-eligible.

$25 Failure to Update Contact Information Fine

You do not need to send $100 every time you submit additional documentation for review. The $100 application fee covers administrative services provided during the five-year period that your application is active.

GENERAL APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

These instructions are intended to guide you in completing your application to become a CASAC or CASAC Trainee. Please read the following information before preparing your application.

Make a copy of the Application Packet to use as a working draft before preparing your application. After completing the working draft, enter the final information onto the original application.

Please print clearly. The application is also available on-line at https://www.oasas.ny.gov/casac-application- pds-11 and may be completed on your computer.

Make a copy of the completed application, including all the documentation and attachments, for your records. The application and all accompanying documents will become the property of OASAS and will not be returned. This will be very important should your application expire before you fulfill all the requirements, as you would then be required to submit a new application and all associated documentation.

Submit the completed original application and required documentation. Attach the Application Processing Fee to the completed Part A of this application. The Application Processing Fee must be payable to “NYS OASAS” and in the form of a certified check or money order.

Please mail your application to:

NYS OASAS

Attn: Credentialing Unit

1450 Western Avenue

Albany, New York 12203-3526