Boot Camp for IC&RC Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) Exam

More Than Therapy's TEAMS LLC's March 2026'a Free Brunch and Learn Event

Boot Camp for IC&RC Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) Exam

Join our in-person Boot Camp designed to boost your confidence and sharpen your skills. Whether you're prepping for the first time or need a solid refresher, this event covers everything to help you pass the AADC exam with ease. Connect with experts, dive into key topics, and get hands-on support. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to advance your career!

By the end of this 4‑hour training, participants will be able to:

1. Apply IC&RC AADC Domain I competencies to interpret complex screening/assessment vignettes and determine appropriate level of care and diagnoses.
2. Develop advanced treatment plans that reflect collaborative, recovery‑oriented goals and document referrals and continuing care in line with Domain II expectations.
3. Differentiate between evidence‑based counseling and education strategies across individual, group, and family modalities as emphasized in Domain III.
4. Analyze ethical scenarios involving supervision, boundaries, confidentiality, and co‑occurring disorders, consistent with Domain IV and NCASPPB ethical standards.
5. Implement an efficient study plan using the AADC content blueprint and sample questions to improve exam readiness.

• 9:00–9:10 – Welcome, overview, logistics
• • Brief review of NCASPPB/IC&RC AADC exam structure: 150 questions (125 scored + 25 pretest), 3‑hour exam window, four domains and their weights.
  • Explain how today’s boot camp mirrors the blueprint and what 4 CE hours will cover.
• 9:10–9:25 – Exam blueprint walk‑through
• • Handout: condensed AADC domain/competency list pulled from candidate guide.​
  • Poll participants on their weakest domains to tailor emphasis.
• 9:25–9:55 – High‑yield Domain I review (interactive)
• • Rapid review of: rapport/engagement, purpose of screening vs assessment, co‑occurring SUD/MH recognition, danger to self/others, diagnostic formulation, and placement criteria.​
  • Mini‑cases: participants work in pairs to identify level of care using placement criteria, primary vs secondary diagnoses, and immediate risk steps.
• 9:55–10:00 – 5‑minute Q&A and transition.

Teaching methods: mini‑lecture, poll, small‑group case work, large‑group debrief.

• 10:00–10:10 – Domain II quick overview
• • Emphasize collaborative treatment planning, recovery supports, and documentation of progress and referrals.​
• 10:10–10:40 – Treatment planning lab
• • Provide one complex vignette (co‑occurring SUD + MH + medical/social stressors).
  • In small groups, participants identify: problem list, long‑term goals, SMART objectives, EBPs/interventions, and needed referrals/community supports.​
• 10:40–10:50 – Collaboration and continuing care
• • Brief teaching points on strengthening recovery outside primary treatment (peer support, MAT providers, housing, employment supports).​
  • Focus on how exam questions test “best next step” vs “what you might do in your real agency.”
• 10:50–11:00 – Group debrief and key “test‑taking pearls.”

Teaching methods: guided practice, group planning exercise, instructor feedback.

• 11:00–11:10 – Domain III overview
• • Emphasize counseling modalities (individual, group, family), psychoeducation, motivational strategies, and cultural competence.​
• 11:10–11:40 – Skills‑to‑items mapping
• • Compare how MI, CBT, relapse prevention, and trauma‑informed care show up in scenario‑based multiple‑choice items, based on AADC outline.​
  • Walk through 8–10 sample questions that emphasize treatment interventions, stages of change, and managing resistance.
• 11:40–11:55 – Micro‑role‑plays and rationales
• • Volunteers role‑play brief MI‑consistent vs MI‑inconsistent responses; group names which would be “correct” in exam logic and why.
• 11:55–12:00 – Break instructions and quick reflective question (“What is your default intervention? How might the exam reward or penalize that?”).

Teaching methods: Q&A, item analysis, role‑play, large‑group discussion.

• 12:00–12:10 – Domain IV overview (Professional Responsibilities & Ethics)
• • Link to NCASPPB ethical standards and supervision requirements (e.g., adherence to Board ethical standards, supervisor roles).
• 12:10–12:35 – Ethics and supervision case vignettes
• • Scenarios around boundaries, dual relationships, telehealth, documentation, mandatory reporting, working within scope and training, cultural and power dynamics.
  • Emphasize how exam expects prioritization of client safety, law, and Board ethics.
• 12:35–12:50 – Test structure, strategies, and study planning
• • Review of time management (e.g., 150 questions in 180 minutes), educated guessing, handling “all are correct” items, and dealing with anxiety.
  • Show sample exam blueprint‑aligned study schedule (e.g., 4–6 weeks focused on weakest domains).
• 12:50–1:00 – Post‑test, evaluation, wrap‑up
• • 10–15 question post‑test mapped to domains (for CE documentation and formative feedback).
  • Collect course evaluations required for NCASPPB training approval records, recap learning objectives, instructions for claiming 4 CE hours.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher More Than Therapy