Dr Biddle explains Breining exam development

				Why Breining Institute certifications are preferred by employers
				Exams scientifically validated to test for competency A distinguished panel of Subject Matter Experts (SME) convened in Sacramento, California recently to review written examination questions for entry and advanced levels addiction counselor certifications, with the guidance of nationally-recognized examination psychometrician, Daniel A. Biddle, PhD.

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The SME panel members included representatives from both large and small employers of addiction counselors, private practitioners, program supervisors, higher education institutions, professional alcohol and other drug (AOD) counselor membership organizations, and nationally-accredited counselor certification agencies.

The SME panel reviewed two exams: the Addiction Counselor Examination (ACE), which is based upon the information contained within the TAP 21, The Addiction Professional and The MAT Counselor publications, and the Private-practitioner / Clinical Supervisor (PCS) examination, which is based upon the TAP 21-A, The Clinical Supervisor and The MAT Counselor publications.

CERTIFICATION EXAMS SCIENTIFICALLY VALIDATED

	Dr. Biddle explains exam development and review

The ACE Exam will be the updated version of the RAS exam, currently used for the nationally-accredited Registered Addiction Specialist (RAS) certification issued by Breining Institute, the Certified Alcohol & Other Drug Counselor (CAODC) certification issued by the California Association of Drinking Driver Treatment Programs, and the Certified Drug, Alcohol and Addiction Counselor (CDAAC) certification issued by the Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors.

The PCS Exam will be the updated version of the CSC exam, currently used for the Clinical Supervisor Credential (CSC) and the Master Counselor in Addictions (MCA) certifications issued by Breining Institute.

These updated exams will replace the currently administered RAS and CSC examinations in 2011. Candidates who are currently preparing for the existing versions of those exams are encouraged to take the current exams before the end of this year.

For educators and employers interested in obtaining copies of the publications, ordering information is available by selecting the picture of each book, below:


The Addiction Professional: Manual for Counselor Competency (2nd Edition) Published: 2008 Pages: 528 Format: 8 1/2 x 11 Publisher: Breining Institute Link to ordering information		Addiction Counseling Competencies: The Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes of Professional Practice (TAP 21) Published: 2006 Pages: 224 Format: 8 1/2 x 11 Publisher: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Link to ordering information		The MAT Counselor: Handbook for Certification of Counselors working in a Medication-Assisted Treatment Setting Published: 2010 Pages: 228 Format: 8 1/2 x 11 Publisher: Breining Institute Link to ordering information		The Clinical Supervisor: Training Manual for Clinical Supervisor Competency in the Addiction Treatment Setting Published: 2010 Pages: 246 Format: 8 1/2 x 11 Publisher: Breining Institute Link to ordering information		Competencies for Substance Abuse Treatment Clinical Supervisors (TAP 21-A) Published: 2007 Pages: 60 Format: 8 1/2 x 11 Publisher: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Link to ordering information

Examination Psychometric Expert

Daniel A. Biddle, PhD
CEO, Biddle Consulting Group, Inc.

Biddle Consulting Group, Inc., is a Human Resources consulting firm dedicated to providing the highest quality products and services related to Equal Employment Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Employee Selection (Testing and Screening).

Subject Matter Expert (SME) Panel Members




	SME panel members (from left) Cook, Wynn, Urbano and Kistner.




	SME panel members (from left) Klug, Belzman, Rowland, Russell and Maldonado.




	SME panel members (from left) Daniels, Sellars, Brown-Lindsey and Bond.

Michael Belzman, PhD, MDAAC, M-RAS
Founder / CEO, Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors (ACADC)

Kimberly Bond, MA, MFT
President, Mental Health Systems, Inc.
Board Member, Therapeutic Communities of America
Board Member, California Association of Alcohol and Drug Program Executives (CAADPE)

Vannessa Brown-Lindsey, DrAD, M-RAS
President / CEO, Another Choice, Another Chance

Kathy L. Christopher, JD, M-RAS
Dean of Academic Affairs, Breining Institute

Jana Cook, MD, PhD
Project Scientist, University of California, San Diego, Department of Psychiatry
Executive Committee, Forensic Addictions Corrections Treatment (FACT) Board of Directors

Warren Daniels, MA, CADC II, M-RAS
CEO / Executive Director, Community Recovery Resources
Chair, California Foundation for the Advancement of Addiction Professionals (CFAAP)
Former President, California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC)

Wayne Kistner, JD
General Counsel, California Association for Alcohol / Drug Educators (CAADE)

Kathleen Klug, BA, RAS
Private practice

Luky Maldonado, CAODC
Senior Vice President, Safety Center Incorporated
Chair, California Association of Drinking Driver Treatment Programs (CADDTP)

Shirley Rowland, DrAD, RAS
Senior Mental Health Counselor, CalWORKS Clinical Team, County of Sacramento

Theresa Russell, DrAD, MCA
Dean of Instruction, Breining Institute

Jim Sellars, MA, CADC II, SAP
Quality Management Coordinator, CRC Health Corporation
Chair, California Certification Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CCBADC)

Armond Urbano, CAS II, RAS II, NCAC I
Director, Training and Education, California Association of Addiction Recovery Resources (CAARR)

Sally Wynn, MA, MCA, CSC
Private practice
Technical Assistance and Training Consultant