How Do I Become a CAC in Florida?
(Your 2025 Step-by-Step Guide)
You’ve been thinking about helping people change their lives. Maybe you’ve already walked through recovery yourself. Maybe you’ve seen what addiction does to families and decided you’re done standing on the sidelines. If that’s you, getting your CAC certification Florida is how you turn that calling into a career.
Florida needs qualified addiction counselors. The jobs are steady, the pay keeps climbing, and the work actually matters. This guide walks you through the whole process—from education hours to supervised experience—so you can stop guessing and start moving.
What Is CAC Certification in Florida
CAC stands for Certified Addiction Counselor. It’s a professional credential issued by the Florida Certification Board (FCB) that proves you have the education, supervised hours, and ethical standards to work in treatment and recovery programs across the state.
When you hold this credential, you can provide direct counseling services, run groups, complete assessments, and document client progress inside licensed agencies. It’s recognized statewide and linked to national IC&RC standards, so your experience can transfer to other states that share reciprocity agreements.
In short, CAC certification Florida is the baseline for legitimate, respected addiction counseling work.
Florida Certification Board CAC Requirements
Let’s get real about what the FCB actually expects. The numbers come straight from the board’s current requirements:
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Education: 270 hours of formal training that covers counseling, ethics, documentation, and case management.
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Work Experience: 6,000 hours of supervised experience, which is about three years full-time. A college degree can cut those hours in half.
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Supervision: At least 300 hours of direct oversight by a qualified professional across the eight domains.
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Exam: Pass the FCB CAC exam, which follows the IC&RC national format.
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Ethics and Background: Signed code of ethics and a background screening through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Every serious applicant must check those boxes.
Step-by-Step: How to Earn CAC Certification Florida
Step 1. Complete Your Education Hours
You need 270 hours of FCB-approved coursework. The CAC training Florida requirement covers topics like counseling theory, case documentation, treatment planning, and professional ethics.
You can meet those hours through classroom or online learning. The easiest path for most people is an approved online program such as Educational Enhancement CASAC Online, which lets you finish the hours at your own pace while working or interning.
Step 2. Build Your Supervised Experience
You must log 6,000 hours of practical experience in addiction services. Those hours can include group facilitation, individual counseling, screening, or case management. Keep a running log signed by your supervisor.
If you already have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in behavioral health, the FCB allows reductions—3,000 hours for an associate’s, 2,000 for a bachelor’s, and 1,000 for a master’s.
Step 3. Record at Least 300 Supervision Hours
Supervision hours must show direct feedback from a qualified clinical supervisor. Divide them among the eight performance domains: assessment, counseling, case management, client education, professional responsibility, documentation, referral, and ethics.
Supervision keeps you sharp and keeps clients safe.
Step 4. Apply to the Florida Certification Board
When your education and experience are complete, download the CAC application Florida packet from the FCB website. Include your transcripts, supervisor verification forms, code of ethics, and background results.
Pay the FCB application fee—currently one hundred fifty dollars—and submit everything by mail or online.
Step 5. Schedule and Pass the Exam
The FCB uses the IC&RC CAC exam, a 150-question, computer-based test with a three-hour limit. It measures knowledge across the same eight domains you practiced in training.
The exam fee is one hundred fifty dollars, and retakes cost the same.
Passing means you’re officially a Certified Addiction Counselor.
Step 6. Maintain Your Credential
Your CAC certification Florida stays active for two years. To renew, you need 20 continuing education hours, including 4 in ethics. Renewal fees are due before expiration to avoid reinstatement charges.
CAC Training Florida: What It Costs
Here’s what you can expect to pay:
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Education hours: $2,000–$3,500 for a full 270-hour FCB-approved program.
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Application fee: $150.
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Exam fee: $150.
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Fingerprinting: about $75 through FDLE.
Some providers, including Educational Enhancement CASAC Online, offer payment plans so you can spread tuition across several months. Employers sometimes reimburse training costs if you agree to work for them after certification.
Scholarships appear periodically through the FCB or community behavioral health organizations, so check their updates.
How Long Does It Take to Get CAC Certified in Florida
That depends on how quickly you collect education and supervised experience.
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Full-time workers: about 24–36 months.
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Students with a related degree: often 12–18 months because of reduced work-hour requirements.
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Part-time learners: 3 years or more if balancing other jobs.
Consistency beats speed. The people who succeed are the ones who show up every week and log progress.
Why CAC Certification Florida Matters
Florida has one of the highest rates of substance use disorder treatment admissions in the Southeast. Agencies need trained professionals who understand both the clinical and human sides of recovery.
The payoff is solid. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for substance use and mental health counselors in Florida is around $59,000 per year, with top earners crossing $70,000 depending on education and experience.
More important, you get to help people rebuild their lives every single day. There’s nothing theoretical about that.
Common Questions
Do I need a college degree to get CAC certification Florida?
No, but degrees reduce the required work hours and can make you more competitive for clinical roles.
Is the Florida CAC recognized in other states?
Yes, through IC&RC reciprocity. You can transfer your credential to many participating states.
Can I complete the training online?
Yes. The FCB approves several online providers. Make sure your program lists the 270 hours broken into the correct domains.
How often do I renew?
Every two years with 20 CE hours, 4 in ethics.
The Real Impact
I started in this field because someone gave me a second chance. The first time I sat in a classroom learning about counseling theory, I still had scars from the life I was leaving behind. Finishing my education hours felt impossible until I found an online program that worked around my recovery meetings and job schedule.
That’s why I tell new students the same thing: start where you are. You don’t need perfect timing. You need a plan and the will to follow through.
Ready to Begin
Your path to CAC certification Florida starts with one decision—to stop researching and start training. Every class moves you closer to a credential that can rewrite your future and help others find theirs.
Start your 270-hour CAC training today with Educational Enhancement CASAC Online. Learn at your own pace, prepare for the exam with confidence, and step into a career that counts.
