The Clinical Supervisor directs and manages an effective clinical service delivery team using applicable principles of Social Work and/or Counseling which may include patient psychosocial assessment, group and individual psychotherapy, family intervention, patient/family education, and treatment planning. The Clinical Supervisor is one of the fastest-growing credentials in the field of addiction-related behavioral health care, as substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors are some of the fastest-growing professions. As more and more new counselors enter the field, the need for competent, trained, and ethical Clinical Supervisors has grown significantly.
Who are Clinical Supervisors? Essential members of quality clinical programs, CSs teach, coach, mentor, and evaluate practitioners to assure appropriate and effective service delivery of substance use disorder services. Effective clinical supervision is fundamental to having an effective counseling workforce. Clinical Supervisors work to conduct individual supervision for assigned staff and provide guidance on diagnosis and quality measures, coordinate with other supervisors in facilitating clinical group supervision, and participate in quality improvement and operational meetings. Clinical supervisors also maintain caseloads and provide services to patients which may include biopsychosocial assessments, treatment plans, and individual, couples, family, and/or group therapy.
The IC&RC standards represent the minimum criteria for certification/licensure. Member boards affiliated with the IC&RC may require additional standards that reflect local mandates, regulations, and/or best practices. Please consult with your local IC&RC Member board for specific standards and requirements applicable to your jurisdiction.
Minimum Standards Prerequisite
Applicant must hold and maintain an ADC, AADC, CCJP, CCDP or CCDPD credential at the IC&RC reciprocal level or hold a specialty substance use disorder credential in another professional discipline in the human services field at the master’s level or higher.
Experience
10,000 hours of ADC counseling specific work experience plus 4000 hours of ADC supervisor work experience. The 4000 hours may be included in the 10,000 hours and must include 200 hours of face-to-face clinical supervision. Of the 200 hours of face-to-face clinical supervision, 100 hours may be performed electronically in real time.
An associate’s degree in behavioral science may substitute for 1000 hours; a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science may substitute for 2000 hours; a master’s degree in behavioral science may substitute for 4000 hours.
Education
30 hours of education specific to the IC&RC clinical supervision domains with a minimum of five hours in each domain.
Examination
Applicants must pass the IC&RC CS Examination.
Code of Ethics
• Applicants must sign a clinical supervisor specific code of ethics statement or affirmation statement.
Recertification
• Six hours of continuing education earned every two years. The six hours may be a part of the 40 hours obtained for the ADC, AADC, CCJP, or CCDP recertification.
Jurisdiction
• Individuals must live or work at least 51% of the time in the Member Boards jurisdiction (“at the time of application &
testing”). Click here to review the CS Domains in the Candidate Guide