APPLICATION

Information

Recertification record keeping is the responsibility of the certified professional. All recertification documents and application forms should be submitted together. Applicants should keep copies of everything submitted.

Education not properly verified is unacceptable. Proper verification (i.e. certificate, letter of attendance, official or unofficial transcript) must include date of training, number of hours attended, title of training, sponsoring organization and your name.

Education for recertification must have been acquired no earlier than 2 years prior to the applicant’s current expiration date.

Education Sources

Education is defined as formal, structured instruction in the form of workshops, seminars, institutes, in-services, and college/university credit courses and PCB approved distance education.

1. College/University course: Three college credits are equivalent to 45 hours.

2. Trainings, workshops, seminars, and conferences offered by professional associations, treatment providers, governmental agencies, etc.

3. Agency workshops. Only approved agency workshops made available to the staff of other agencies or to other drug and alcohol professionals as well as to the sponsoring agency staff are acceptable toward recertification. Documentation of this must be made at time of seeking PCB Education Approval. PCB does not accept general staff meetings, supervision, staff rounds, or case management as examples of workshop education.

4. Distance learning courses may be acceptable with prior review and approval by PCB.

5. PCB approved CPR/First Aid and computer trainings are acceptable up to 6 hours.

6. PCB Approved Education may be found on this website.

Academic Courses

Academic College/University courses which are relevant to the field of addiction are applicable towards recertification. All academic courses must be submitted by the certified professional for PCB Education Approval if college/university has not done so. Official or unofficial transcript of the course must be included as proof of attendance at the time of recertification.

Out-of-State Education

PCB accepts education received outside of Pennsylvania under the following conditions:

1. Education is relevant to your credential and meets the stated education requirement.

2. Appropriate documentation (certificate, letter of attendance, official or unofficial transcript) is provided.

3. If an out-of-state educational event was approved by the IC&RC member board of that state, no further PCB approval is necessary. Proof of the IC&RC member board approval must be submitted. If these conditions were not met, the certified professional must seek PCB Education Approval of the training.

Education Provided by the Certified Professional

A certified professional who provides education to others may receive education credit towards their own recertification.

The presenter will receive the same credit as the participant; and the presentation can be used for credit once in each recertification period, providing the training has received PCB Education Approval.

Trainings prepared for clients as part of treatment or informational and referral services are not applicable.

Training provided by a certified professional must also be documented by sponsoring organization/college in the same manner as participant documentation (i.e. certificate, letter of participation).

Published work written by the certified professional and published by a legitimate and professional publishing house may meet up to 10 hours of education. A copy of the published work must be submitted along with an education approval application.

Education Not Yet PCB Approved

Certified professionals may apply for PCB Education Approval when prior application has not been submitted for PCB approval by the sponsoring organization. In doing so, certified professionals are not prohibited from attending educational offerings they wish to use towards recertification.

Certified professionals must apply for PCB Education Approval and supply appropriate information as requested.

An application for PCB Education Approval is included in this application.

Recertification Time Period

The credential is valid for a 2 year period. To maintain the credential(s) individuals must recertify every 2 years prior to the expiration date.

There is no grace period, so if the recertification is not completed by the expiration date, the individual will no longer hold an active credential. No claim of an active credential is permitted until the individual has recertified. A Reinstatement Fee of $100 is due if the recertification is between 1 day and 12 months late.

Recertification applications may be sent to PCB months early to avoid having your credential become inactive and not in good standing. This also helps in case there are problems that need to be resolved.

Lapsed Credential

If recertification is not completed by the expiration date, individual is considered lapsed, the credential not in good standing and not active.

Lapsed certified professionals wanting to regain their credential must adhere to the following:

1. Complete the Recertification Application and meet the educational requirements.

2. Submit the appropriate recertification fee.

3. Submit $100 Reinstatement fee. This fee begins the day after the expiration date. There is no grace period or late fee.

Certified professionals who regain their credential through this process will maintain the same expiration date.

This process is effective for 12 months from the date of expiration. After 12 months, the individual must complete all phases of the initial certification process, meeting all current requirements.

International Certificates

Addiction Professionals who hold a reciprocal level credential through PCB will automatically be issued an International Certificate by the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC). You will receive an International Certificate for each reciprocal credential you hold at no charge. Your International Certificate will be issued directly from the IC&RC, and will come under separate cover than your PCB certificate. It will carry the same expiration date as your PCB credential. Each time you recertify your PCB credential, you will automatically be issued a new International Certificate.

The International Certificates are:

CAC - ICADC

CAC Diplomate - ICAADC

CCS - ICCS

CPS - ICPS

CCJP - ICCJP

CCDP - ICCDP

CCDP Diplomate – ICCDPD

The International Certificate provides an indication that you hold an international credential with PCB even though your credential is awarded to you by a state level credentialing board. The International Certificate provides this recognition of your status as an internationally certified addiction professional. International Certification for counselors is required by the Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) for recognition as a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP).

APPLICATION