Free Practice Questions for NAADAC NCAC I

Candidates need a GED, high school diploma or higher; a current credential or license as an addiction counselor or professional counselor issued by a state or credentialing authority (associate, provisional, intern or trainee credentials are not accepted); at least three years full-time or 6,000 hours of supervised experience as an addiction counselor; and at least 270 contact hours of education and training, including six hours of ethics and six hours of HIV/other pathogens training within the last six years. They also need a passing score on the NCAC Level One exam or the IC&RC ADC exam, written verification of competency from a supervisor, and a signed statement of adherence to the NAADAC/NCC AP Code of Ethics.

The NCAC I written examination has 150 multiple-choice questions with a total testing time of three hours. Registration is online through NCC AP's testing partner, Kryterion, after NCC AP (or your state board) approves you and sends a code; testing is on demand at a testing center or by distance proctoring. NAADAC lists nine skill groups the exam evaluates, from treatment admission and clinical assessment to documentation, case management, discharge and continuing care, and physiology and psychopharmacology.

The NCC AP application/certification review fee for NCAC I is $235 (non-refundable), and renewal every two years is $200. Test applications and fees are separate from the credential application, and candidates testing for a state credential arrange the exam through their state board. NAADAC publishes the current schedule at naadac.org/Applications-fees and notes that fees are subject to change with notice.

NAADAC states that a score of 67% (100 of 150 questions) is passing on the NCAC I written examination.

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) describe the counselor's workflow. NAADAC's NCAC I page lists nine related skill groups, such as treatment admission (screening, intake and orientation), clinical assessment, counseling services, documentation and case management, and weights the exam across five areas rather than by core function.

Most working counselors report 80-120 hours (OEP estimate) 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.