Certification Exam

The American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders has developed a comprehensive examination designed to test the applicant's knowledge in the essential core domains of addiction treatment. In addition to fulfilling all of the American Academy's previous requirements, applicants are also required to pass this examination to receive the CAS credential.

Development of the Examination

The examination consists of 200 multiple-choice questions. The pool of questions was developed by the American Academy's International Certification Advisors. Each Committee member was asked to compose questions in one or more of the twenty addiction treatment domains within clinical practice, guide lines and protocols, and specialized training as defined by the Addiction Technology Transfer Center of New England. These twenty domains are: administrative skills, assessment and diagnostic skills, substance abuse concepts, training activities that lead to credentials, detoxification, dual diagnosis, ethical issues, developing diagnostic and treatment formulations, interpersonal skills, intervention skills, marriage and family therapy, theoretical models of substance abuse, therapy organization and movement skills, referral skills, relationship between substance abuse and other problems, screening instruments and techniques, treating special populations, treatment techniques, treatment process skills, signs and symptoms of substance abuse, and withdrawal. Questions developed by advisory committee members were then reviewed and selected by the American Academy's Executive
Certification Committee. This examination includes all five of the Academy’s specialty areas (alcoholism, other drug addiction, eating disorders, pathological gambling, and sex addiction). The Board of Directors reviews key certification policies every three years.

Pilot Testing and Validation

Pilot testing of the examination began in 1996. These trials have examined the scale reliability and validity, including the basic psychometric properties, of the 200 test items selected.

Applicant Preparation & Process

Once the completed application and the $95 application fee are received and approved by the Academy, applicants may sit for the examination. Applicants may prepare for this examination by studying contemporary clinical material in each of the twenty areas outlined above. A suggested reading list has been compiled by the Academy as a reference list to correlate with the examination topics.

Web-based Examination & Administration

The Certified Addiction Specialist Examination is a web-based examination administered by the Academy via the internet. Candidates may schedule a time to take the test once their application has been reviewed and accepted. Candidates are allowed three hours to complete the examination and the results are available within one week from the testing date. The exam is pass/fail based on raw score. The exam must be proctored.

Examination Fee: $275.00 Re-Testing Fee: $100.00

Once applications are reviewed and accepted, the examination fee will be due. Candidates who do not successfully complete the exam will be contacted and given the opportunity to re-test for the certification.

Steps to Certification:

Applicants will be notified within one week of the outcome of the exam.
Upon successful completion of the exam, the applicant will be awarded Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) certification.
A letter confirming certification, a certificate for framing, and a membership card will be mailed.