Addiction Oral Study Guide

The 12 Core Functions and 46 Global Criteria to assess competence for SUD treatment certification, with oral exams incorporating these elements. The Core Functions cover responsibilities such as screening, intake, assessment, treatment planning, counseling, case management, crisis intervention, client education, referral, record-keeping, and professional consultation. Candidates must understand these functions and their criteria for exam preparation. Oral exams involve practical application through questions related to each function, requiring thorough memorization of study materials to alleviate performance anxiety.

If you are also looking for study material for the Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor exam (AADC), I wrote a blog post that you can read by clicking here. 

12 Core Functions

The IC&RC does not administer a single, standardized oral exam specifically over the 12 Core Functions and 46 Global Criteria for Addiction. Instead, the 12 Core Functions and 46 Global Criteria are part of the broader framework used to assess the competence of individuals seeking certification in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Most states adopt an oral exam that uses the 12 Core Functions and 46 Global Criteria to assess the examinee's knowledge of how to take someone through the SUD treatment process.

The 12 Core Functions represent major areas of responsibility for addiction professionals, and the 46 Global Criteria break down these functions into specific competencies. These functions and criteria serve as a guide for the development of certification exams, including written and oral components.

Here is a general overview of the 12 Core Functions and their related criteria:

1. Screening:

1. Evaluate psychological, social, and physiological signs and symptoms of alcohol and other drug use and abuse.

2. Determine the client’s appropriateness for admission or referral.

3. Determine the client’s eligibility for admission or referral.

4. Identify any coexisting conditions (medical, psychiatric, physical, etc.) that indicate the need for additional professional assessment and/or services.

5. Adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and agency policies governing alcohol and other drug abuse services.

2. Intake:

6. Complete the required documents for admission to the program.

7. Complete the required documents for program eligibility and appropriateness.

8. Obtain appropriately signed consents when soliciting from or providing information to outside sources to protect client confidentiality and rights.

3. Orientation:

9. Provide an overview to the client by describing program goals and objectives for client care.

10. Provide an overview to the client by describing program rules, and client obligations and rights.

11. Provide an overview to the client of program operations.

4. Assessment:

12. Gather relevant history from a client including but not limited to alcohol and other drug abuse using appropriate interview techniques.

13. Identify methods and procedures for obtaining corroborative information from significant secondary sources regarding the client’s alcohol and other drug abuse and psycho-social history.

14. Identify appropriate assessment tools.

15. Explain to the client the rationale for the use of assessment techniques to facilitate understanding.

16. Develop a diagnostic evaluation of the client’s substance abuse and any co-existing conditions based on the results of all assessments to provide an integrated approach to treatment planning based on the client’s strengths, weaknesses, and identified problems and needs.

5. Treatment Planning:

17. Explain assessment results to the client in an understandable manner.

18. Identify and rank problems based on individual client needs in the written treatment plan.

19. Formulate agreed upon immediate and long-term goals using behavioral terms in the written treatment plan.

20. Identify the treatment methods and resources to be utilized as appropriate for the individual client.

6. Counseling:

21. Select the counseling theory(ies) that apply(ies).

22. Apply technique(s) to assist the client, group, and/or family in exploring problems and ramifications.

23. Apply technique(s) to assist the client, group, and/or family examine the client’s
behavior, attitudes, and/or feelings if appropriate in the treatment setting.

24. Individualize counseling by cultural, gender, and lifestyle differences.

25. Interact with the client in an appropriate therapeutic manner.

26. Elicit solutions and decisions from the client.

27. Implement the treatment plan.

7. Case Management:

28. Coordinate services for client care.

29. Explain the rationale of case management activities to the client.

8. Crisis Intervention:

30. Recognize the elements of the client crisis.

31. Implement an immediate course of action appropriate to the crisis.

32. Enhance overall treatment by utilizing crisis events.

9. Client Education:

33. Present relevant alcohol and other drug use/abuse information to the client through formal and/or informal processes.

34. Present information about available alcohol and other drug services and resources.

10. Referral:

35. Identifying need(s) and/or problem(s) that the agency and/or counselor cannot meet.

36. Explain the rationale for the referral to the client.

37. Match client needs and/or problems to appropriate resources.

38. Adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and agency policies governing procedures related to the protection of the client’s confidentiality.

39. Assist the client in utilizing the support systems and community resources available.

11. Reports and Record Keeping:

40. Prepare reports and relevant records integrating available information to facilitate the continuum of care.

41. Chart the ongoing information about the client.

42. Utilize relevant information from written documents for client care.

12. Consultation with Other Professionals:

43. Recognize issues that are beyond the counselor’s base of knowledge and/or skill.

44. Consult with appropriate resources to ensure the provision of effective treatment services.

45. Adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and agency policies governing the
disclosure of client-identifying data.

46. Explain the rationale for the consultation to the client, if appropriate.

The oral exam will likely involve questions and scenarios related to these functions and criteria, assessing the candidate's ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations. Candidates should review the specific requirements and guidelines for the certification they are pursuing to understand how these functions and criteria are incorporated into the certification process.

How To Prepare

The prerequisites for the oral exam vary from state to state. Texas and Oklahoma seem to share a similar framework for both licensure and certification oral examinations. From my personal experience with the oral exam, I had 45 minutes to complete it. The initial 5 minutes were dedicated to receiving instructions, and this time did not count against my overall test duration. Subsequently, I responded to 12 questions that addressed each core function along with the corresponding global criteria.

For example, “Give an example of how you would use screening with a client and give examples of the criteria that are part of the screening process.”

The procedure was fairly simple. The aspect that tends to unsettle many is the anxiety related to performance. I sat before a panel of four and recited the contents of my oral study guide. Indeed, I created a study guide and committed it to memory. This significantly lowers the risk of stumbling to the point where your mind goes blank. It provides you with a fair opportunity to recall the material because you have memorized it thoroughly.

How I Can Help

I created prep materials, some of which are exactly what I used to pass the oral exam with a 92% on my very first try. I provide instructions and guidance on how to pass the first time, just like I did. Click here to learn more.

More Resources

If you are interested in learning more, click here. For more information on this topic, we recommend the following:

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Additional addiction oral exam study materials.

About the Author

Jessica Taylor is a licensed therapist and board certified coach who contributes to the promotion of mental health and addiction awareness by providing educational resources and information.