BREININGINSTITUTE

EST 1986 

 
 
 

California Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Counselors

    Certification Deadline
 
     

 
Explanation of  2010 Certification Deadline for California Counselors
 

You must register within 6 months of entering the field as an AOD counselor. Then, . . .

  If you were an AOD counselor on or before April 1, 2005 . . .   you have until October 1, 2010 to be fully certified  
  If you entered the AOD field as a counselor after April 1, 2005 . . .   you have up to 6 months + 5 years from that date to be certified  

Registering with Breining Institute as an RASi satisfies the State registration requirement.
Obtaining the RAS credential with Breining Institute satisfies the State certification requirement.

 
The applicable law is contained in the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 9, Division 4, Chapter 8, at Section 13035(f).
For a full copy of the Regulations relating to the required certification of Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) counselors,
here is a link to the Regulations at the State of California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs web site:
California Counselor Certification Regulations

 

     
  SPECIAL NOTE TO CALIFORNIA COUNSELORS  
   
We have heard that some California counselors are being told that the California registration / certification deadline can be extended - or circumvented - by simply re-registering with a different certification agency before the 5 year period is up.

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT COUNSELORS DO NOT TRY TO DO THIS.


It is okay to change your registration to different agencies, but this does NOT extend the deadline to obtain full certification. The State of California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (ADP) is already aware that this may be attempted, even though the law is clear that the time clock starts upon the counselor's first entry into the field. ADP has been vigorously enforcing the registration provisions of the counselor Regulations, and we expect the ADP to be equally diligent in enforcing the certification provisions of that law.

If you have questions, please contact us or the State of California ADP.

 
 
 
 

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