FAQ's
What is the value of being a certified prevention professional?
Prevention certification is the hallmark of the prevention profession. Requirements to become certified reflect the high standards for professional education, training and performance for those who practice in this profession. Holding certification provides individuals working in the prevention field to qualify for and receive recognition for achieving a standard of professional education and experience necessary to provide quality prevention services.
The SCAPPA and the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, Inc. (IC&RC/AODA) have recognized the importance of ensuring that prevention practitioners demonstrate competence by establishing an minimum standard for the practice of prevention services. Competence is measured through written and oral examinations, completion of supervised work or mentoring, evidence of education and training is designated core areas. Continuing education is required for recertification and is a way to demonstrate one's ability to stay abreast of the latest research findings, best practices, and innovations in prevention methods.
Is certification required? Do employers require it? Do I really need It?
The South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services requires certification if you are working for an agency that receives state or federal funding from them to provide prevention services. Otherwise, certification is currently voluntary. Prevention certification was created with an eye to the future. Being certified adds credibility for the person considering employment in the prevention field. With the movement toward increased accountability and reform in health and social services, an employer will certainly appreciate the competence a person has achieved by maintaining their certification.
Certification tells an employer an individual has knowledge and skills in core areas of prevention that have been identified by the IC& RC through role delineation or job analysis. Holding the certificate assures an employer and the public one serves that the individual has met specific criteria designed to ensure competence in the provision of prevention services, and, that the individual can work effectively in the changing prevention environment.
What is the IC&RC?
The International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, Inc. (IC&RC/AODA) is an international federation of certification boards which have all met the rigorous minimum requirements to provide credentialing programs for substance abuse treatment and prevention services. The IC&/RC has been a leader in encouraging the development of professional standards for substance abuse practitioners and prevention specialists and, working in collaboration with its member boards, has established standards of competence based on identified roles that prevention specialists perform.
By meeting and exceeding the nationally and internationally recognized standards, the SCAPPA's prevention certification is deemed to be reciprocal with all other IC&RC states, territories and countries. This means that certification in one IC&RC state or territory is recognized or reciprocal in other IC&RC locations. Therefore, if one moves to another IC&RC state, your certificate can be transferred with you.
Why do I have to pay for certification?
The certification processes
are managed through a volunteer board and committees. Costs for all materials,
postage, IC&RC dues, and other related costs must be covered by the fees
collected for certification and re-certification. The SCAPPA currently has a
grant that helps to cover some of the cost associated with certifying
prevention professionals in
Who provides certification in South Carolina
The South Carolina Association of Prevention Professionals and Advocates (SCAPPA) provides for the prevention certification. The SCAPPA has appointed a Certification Commission through which certification is accomplished. The SCAPPA Certification Commission is a "member board" of the IC&RC/AODA, and offers two reciprocal certificates: Certified Prevention Professional: and, Certified Senior Prevention Professional.
What is the SC Department of Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Services (SCDAODAS)?
DAODAS is the state agency run by a director sitting on the Governor's Cabinet. They contract with the 33 local alcohol and drug abuse authorities serving the 46 counties of the state.
Affiliation with the SCAPPA Certification Commission?
They are two distinctly different groups. SCAPPA is an independent, non-profit organization, whose membership is voluntary. The SCAPPA Certification Commission is established through its bylaws to provide the testing and certification of individuals in prevention.
SCDAODAS is a state agency that provides funding for many agencies that deliver prevention services and sometimes provides special grant funds to non-profit groups such as the SCAPPA. They do require certification of persons working in their funded substance abuse treatment and prevention programs.
What if I already have a prevention certificate from another state?
If you hold a current prevention certification from another state that is
endorsed by the IC&RC, reciprocal certification may be granted. In such
cases, you must submit a written request for reciprocity with proof of
certification and the appropriate fee to the SCAPPA Certification Commission,
If I need assistance in filling out the application form, what can I do to get help?
Contact: Debee Early, Chairman, SCAPPA Certification Commission, dearly@lradac.org
Or
If you have questions about any of the certification requirements, please
call or write the SCAPPA Certification Commission,
Application Package Fee
To obtain an application packet that includes an application for
certification as a Certified Prevention Professional or a Certified senior
Prevention Professional, a SCAPPA Prevention Certification Manual, SCAPPA
Mentor Program Guidelines and an IC&RC Exam Study Guide, send $75 (SCAPPA
member's fee) or $150 (non-SCAPPA member's fee) to : SCAPPA Certification
Commission,
If you are interested in becoming certified, write to:
SCAPPA Certification Commission
Vision | Mission | Benefits of Membership | Benefits of Prevention Professional Certification | SCAPPA Membership Application | FAQ's Regarding Certification | Certification Standards and Procedures | Certification Application | Important Dates for Certification | Certification Commission members | Application to Request Certification Hours | History | Upcoming Events | SCAPPA Approved Training Events