Please view our policy on reinstating lapsed credentials.
Unofficial copies are accepted, but MCB reserves the right to request an official copy.
Applicants will only be allowed to fail the exam three consecutive times within a year, taking the exam once every 90 days. After failing the exam the third time, applicants must wait one calendar year after their last exam fail before taking the exam again. Before taking the exam a fourth time, the candidate must demonstrate that he or she has completed additional education related to the domains for this credential.
Yes. The IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor Exam is accepted by the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT) for the LADC exam requirement. The Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor Exam is also accepted by BBHT for the LADC exam requirement.
Yes. The standardized test is used nationwide and is valid in all member countries, states, and other certifying bodies of the IC & RC. Clarification may be needed to determine if this is the new Comprehensive Exam or the former IC & RC written exam. If it is the former IC & RC written exam, additional testing may be necessary to complete the oral exam requirement.
Review areas where you scored lowest, seek more training, and consider waiting awhile to retake the exam. You may also wish to consider purchasing a study guide or taking a practice exam. Contact the MCB for details.
To re-test, all you need to do is submit the request in writing and pay the fee of $225.
If changes are made after the testing cutoff date, there may be additional fees. Contact the office for details.
Appropriate coursework may be counted toward the classroom education requirement. It is up to the applicant to look at a syllabus or course description for all courses taken and look at the MCB’s required competency areas list to determine which competencies were covered in your coursework. The MCB staff cannot tell from course titles listed on the transcript which certification education requirements have been met by college courses. Each course will need to be documented separately on a MCB education and training resume sheet and submitted when you apply for certification. When you document courses taken, indicate for each course which competencies are covered. If you have completed an AODA counseling internship, these hours may count for experience and should be listed on the Professional Experience Resume form.
Although a seminar or course may not specifically be endorsed by MCB, that does not mean it will not count toward certification requirements.
Endorsed seminars are guaranteed to count for a specific number of hours and to cover specific competency areas. Completed education and training resume sheets documenting the hours and content earned for each seminar/course are typically distributed to attendees at completion. Unendorsed seminars must be documented on education and training resume sheets by the attendee; The attendee must refer to the certification handbook to determine which competency areas were covered by the course/seminar attended. Both endorsed and unendorsed training sheets may be used towards meeting certification requirements as a ADC-MN or ADCR-MN.
Each seminar/course attended will need to be documented separately on one of our education and training resume sheets and submitted when you apply for certification (credential holders and applicants must submit a copy of their certificate of attendance, grade transcript or other written proof of attendance in order to count the hours for re-certification or original certification).
If it is a reciprocity level state, your supervision will count if done by a reciprocity level certified Clinical Supervisor or Reciprocity Certified Counselor. Otherwise, you will need to have a Minnesota certified counselor or clinical supervisor (CSS) provide core function training.
Experience and education must be documented on Minnesota’s form and meet Minnesota’s requirement.
Practicums are clinical experiences that are associated with an academic process for academic credit. Institutions of higher education can often assist you in arranging a practicum placement that meet your skills and preferences.
Do a self-assessment – what your experience has been, what your classroom education and training has been, what your life situation is.
What would suit you best as far as gaining your education and training?
Can it be done on a full-time or part-time basis?
Do you already have a Bachelors degree?
Related experience?
Explore the options for getting training (see question below). Interview people at each type of training program to further assess your needs and their offerings, then pursue your course of action
There are three forms of training available to the AODA field designed specifically to meet the AODA requirements for certification. The three forms are:
Other programs in Human Services, a variety of Masters degree programs, and various workshops/conferences meet a portion of the certification requirements. It is up to the applicant to look at a syllabus and course description for all courses taken and look at MCB’s required competency areas list to determine which competencies were covered in your coursework. Each course will need to be documented separately on MCB education and training resume sheets and submitted when you apply for certification. When you document courses taken, indicate for each course the competencies covered.
Many people find jobs through their practicum placement. The job market is dictated by a variety of forces. As in all markets, the new graduate must work hard at finding that first job. It is helpful if people can relocate, and are willing to take entry level positions. The AODA field is in a great deal of change and as the job market had gotten tighter and tighter, employers have begun to require more and more education. In a tight job market, the people who find jobs are the ones who have good training, proven competency, and aggressively market themselves to potential employers.
Please contact MCB at 763-434-9787 or mcb@mcboard.org. There is a $10 verification fee.
