Reciprocity

RECIPROCITY INTO NORTH CAROLINA (via the NCASPPB)

Addiction professionals credentialed by an IC&RC member board as an ADC, AADC, CPS or CCJP level counselor who relocate to North Carolina may transfer their credential to North Carolina using the reciprocity process.  In addition to making application for reciprocity via the IC&RC, one will be subject to a criminal background check before being granted reciprocity.  There is a $38 fee associated with this background check and one must not have any recent or past criminal convictions that would make him/her ineligible for a credential.  Additionally, a signed Code of Ethical Conduct must be completed.  All CADC (ADC) and CCJP counselors will also be required to submit an Ongoing Practice Supervision form before reciprocity will be granted to him/her.

To begin the reciprocity process, fully credentialed addiction professionals must contact their current credentialing board and request a reciprocity application.  After completion of the reciprocity application by both the credentialed addiction professional and the current credentialing board, and upon receipt of this information by NCASPPB and the additional, required paperwork that is outlined above, the NCASPPB will issue the credentialed addiction professional the equivalent credential offered by the NCASPPB.

**There is not automatic reciprocity for the CCS credential.  Per North Carolina’s statute, a counselor must first possess the Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS) credential before being eligible to apply for the CCS credential.  NC’s LCAS is equivalent to the IC&RC’s AADC credential.

**Please note all addictions certification boards within the branches of the US Military are members of IC&RC and therefore applicants with certification and training from the US Military shall be granted reciprocity in North Carolina.

RECIPROCITY OUT OF NORTH CAROLINA (via the NCASPPB)

Addiction professionals certified or licensed by NCASPPB who relocate to another state, country or nation may transfer their credential to the new jurisdiction using the reciprocity process only if the new jurisdiction is an IC&RC member board.  Reciprocity into a non-IC&RC member board is not permitted.  Additional requirements may be imposed upon the certified addiction professional depending on the laws and regulations governing the practice of addiction related services in the new jurisdiction.  Therefore, certified addiction professionals are strongly encouraged to contact the IC&RC member board in the new jurisdiction to determine if any additional requirements must be met.

To begin the reciprocity process, credentialed addiction professionals must contact the NCASPPB and request a reciprocity application.  In your email, please advise which credential you are wanting to reciprocate and to which state.  We must have this information to determine if your credential can be reciprocated.  Upon completion of the reciprocity application by both the credentialed addiction professional and the NCASPPB, and upon receipt of this information by the certification board in the new jurisdiction, that Board will then issue the certified addiction professional the equivalent credential offered unless laws or regulations governing the practice of addiction related services in the new jurisdiction must first be met.

RECIPROCITY CREDENTIAL VERIFICATION FORM FEE:  The processing fee for board staff completing the credential verification form associated with outgoing reciprocity is $25.  You will be sent an invoice via email which can be paid online.  When payment has been received, your credential verification form will be completed and your reciprocity application sent to the IC&RC.