100+ Free NAADAC NCAC I Practice Questions

Candidates must hold a high school diploma or GED, be currently licensed or certified by their state as an addiction counselor, have 6,000 hours (3 years) of supervised full-time addiction-counseling experience, 270 contact hours of substance-use-specific education, and 300 hours of supervised practical training across the 12 Core Functions. Adherence to the NAADAC/NCC AP Code of Ethics is required.

The NCAC I is a 150-question, single-best-answer multiple-choice examination delivered in a 3-hour testing window. It is offered as a computer-based test at NAADAC-approved testing centers or as a paper-and-pencil version through state-board administrations. Items are written from the SAMHSA TAP 21 addiction-counseling competencies, with content aligned to the 12 Core Functions, DSM-5-TR, and ASAM Criteria.

The NAADAC NCC AP application fee is $235 (non-refundable) in 2026. State member boards charge an additional examination administration fee that varies by jurisdiction, typically $200-$300, bringing the total to roughly $235-$535 depending on whether your state board bundles or separates fees. NAADAC publishes the current schedule at naadac.org/Applications-fees and notes that fees are subject to change with notice.

The NCC AP uses a criterion-referenced cut score set by national job-analysis panels rather than a fixed percentage. In practice the cut historically translates to roughly 67% correct on the 150-item form, but NAADAC reports results as pass/fail with a scaled score. Candidates do not need to achieve a specific percentile against other test-takers.

The 12 Core Functions of addiction counseling (screening, intake, orientation, assessment, treatment planning, counseling, case management, crisis intervention, client education, referral, reports and recordkeeping, consultation) form the backbone of the NCC AP blueprint and account for roughly 40% of NCAC I items. They were defined in the original IC&RC/NAADAC job analyses and are reinforced in SAMHSA's TAP 21. Mastering the workflow each function describes is the single highest-yield preparation activity.

Most working counselors report 80-120 hours of focused review over 6-10 weeks, including a large MCQ bank, a re-read of SAMHSA TAP 21, a focused review of the NAADAC Code of Ethics, and DSM-5-TR SUD chapter review. Candidates who have been in active practice for 3+ years often need less time on the 12 Core Functions and more on pharmacology, ethics, and 42 CFR Part 2.

More than 25 US states and territories accept NCC AP exams (NCAC I, NCAC II, MAC) as the testing requirement for state-level credentials such as CADC, LCDC, CSAC, CADAC, and equivalent titles. The exam alone does not confer state licensure - you must still apply to your state board and meet its experience, education, and supervision requirements. The NAADAC States and Boards page lists current jurisdictions accepting NCC AP exams.

NCAC I requires a high school diploma or GED and 270 contact hours of SUD education; NCAC II requires a bachelor's degree and 450 contact hours plus 10,000 hours (5 years) of supervised experience. Both exams are 150 questions in 3 hours and cover the same domains, but NCAC II questions emphasize advanced clinical judgment, treatment planning complexity, supervision, and program-level decision-making. Many counselors take NCAC I first and progress to NCAC II after earning a bachelor's degree.