Certified Addiction Professional (CAP) Tier I
The Certified Addiction Professional (CAP) is a foundational clinical credential for skilled professionals offering counseling and related services to individuals affected by substance use and mental health conditions. CAP holders serve as a cornerstone of Florida's addiction treatment workforce, providing direct clinical evaluation, treatment planning, and case management to the people who need it most.The Tier I Pathway is specifically designed for professionals who hold a bachelor's degree or higher in a strictly counseling-related field. Because these academic programs already cover foundational therapeutic theories, the FCB requires a streamlined 150-hour training track to earn this credential. Those 150 hours are distributed across five core domains: Understanding Addiction and Treatment Knowledge (80 hours), Application to Practice and Professional Readiness (25 hours, including 6 hours specific to professional ethics), Case Management and Referral (15 hours), Client, Family, and Community Education (15 hours), and Documentation (15 hours).CAP holders are recognized as Qualified Professionals for billable services as defined by Chapter 397, Substance Abuse, Florida Statutes, which is a meaningful distinction in the field. That said, the credential does not permit independent private practice, and CAPs are authorized to offer services exclusively within community mental health centers and licensed inpatient or outpatient mental health treatment settings. A CAP may not sign a Baker Act or Marchman Act, nor may they diagnose or dispense or prescribe medication.The CAP credential must be renewed annually by June 30th, with renewal requiring the completion of 20 Continuing Education (CE) hours each year.In accordance with Florida Certification Board (FCB) standards, our training is delivered exclusively via compliant self-paced online courses; "homestudy" formats are no longer accepted. To successfully verify learning and earn a certificate of completion, participants must pass a post-test with a minimum score of 70% and complete a Level One evaluation (attitude questionnaire) assessing course satisfaction, relevance, and presenter knowledge.
Treating Nicotine Dependence and Co-Occurring Disorders (4 Contact Hours)
Assess the neurobiological and clinical intersections of tobacco addiction and co-occurring behavioral health disorders.
Implement targeted motivational interviewing techniques to resolve ambivalence and enhance commitment to tobacco cessation.
Formulate comprehensive treatment plans that integrate pharmacotherapy options, behavioral interventions, and relapse prevention strategies.
Telehealth Best Practices and Virtual Ethics (4 Contact Hours)
Learners will master the clinical modification skills required to translate evidence-based, face-to-face therapeutic interventions into a secure virtual environment.
Professionals will implement robust digital privacy protocols to ensure strict compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and 42 CFR Part 2 regulations.
Clinicians will navigate complex out-of-state jurisdictional rules and establish rigorous boundary management strategies to prevent ethical violations.
Psychopharmacology Foundations for Behavioral Health Professionals (8 Contact Hours)
Master the biological mechanisms of action and common side effects of primary psychoactive medications used in addiction and mental health treatment.
Identify complex and potentially lethal interactions between prescribed psychotropic medications and illicit substances.
Develop collaborative communication strategies to partner effectively with psychiatric prescribers and multidisciplinary medical teams.
Managing Behavioral Crises and Suicide Prevention (6 Contact Hours)
Learn to execute comprehensive suicide risk assessments using validated tools like the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale.
Master verbal de-escalation techniques to safely manage agitated clients and prevent physical behavioral emergencies.
Formulate collaborative safety plans that empower clients and restrict access to lethal means.
Intervening in Domestic Violence for Behavioral Health (3 Contact Hours)
Master the identification of early warning signs and complex dynamics associated with domestic violence.
Implement evidence-based screening instruments to safely assess individuals experiencing intimate partner violence.
Formulate comprehensive, trauma-informed safety plans to protect vulnerable clients and their families.
Executing Screening and Discharge in Addiction Care (10 Contact Hours)
Learners will execute evidence-based screening protocols to accurately identify substance use disorders.
Learners will construct individualized treatment plans using comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments.
Learners will implement effective care coordination strategies to manage the entire treatment continuum.
Delivering Family Systems and Psychoeducation in Recovery (10 Contact Hours)
Learners will master adult learning theories to facilitate engaging and effective group presentations for families.
Professionals will deliver community-level interventions that address the systemic impact of addiction on family units.
Counselors will implement psychoeducational strategies to reduce codependency and improve healthy communication within family systems.
Co-Occurring Disorders: Assessment and Treatment Planning (10 CE Hours)
Advanced Clinical Supervision: Models and Methods Part 2 (8 CE Hours)
Advanced Clinical Supervision: Models and Methods Part 1 (8 CE Hours)
Universal Ethics and Legal Responsibilities in Behavioral Health (6 CE Hours)
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