- CCAPP Credentialing issues the CADC-II using the IC&RC Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ADC) exam, delivered by Prometric/ISO-Quality Testing.
- The exam has 150 multiple-choice questions (125 scored, 25 unscored) in a 3-hour, closed-book session.
- Passing requires a scaled score of 500 on IC&RC's 200-800 range, not a raw percentage.
- Evidence-Based Treatment, Counseling, and Referral is the heaviest domain at 30% of the exam.
What This Cheat Sheet Covers
This is a compressed, one-page-style reference for candidates who already understand the basics of the CADC-II and just need the hard numbers, domain weights, and mechanics in front of them before exam day. It is not a substitute for structured preparation - for that, see the full CADC-II Study Guide 2026 - but it works well as a final review sheet or a quick sanity check while you're building a study plan.
Everything below reflects the CADC-II as certified by CCAPP Credentialing (California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals), which uses the IC&RC Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ADC) examination. If you're still confirming what the credential actually is before committing to a study timeline, start with What Is CADC-II? or CADC-II Requirements 2026.
CADC-II Exam Snapshot
Keep this section pinned to your desk. It's the skeleton every other study decision hangs on.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Certifying body | CCAPP Credentialing |
| Exam used | IC&RC Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ADC) examination |
| Testing provider | Prometric, administered through ISO-Quality Testing (IQT) |
| Question count | 150 multiple-choice items: 125 scored, 25 unscored pretest |
| Time limit | 3 hours |
| Format | Closed-book, computer-based testing |
| Passing score | 500 on the IC&RC 200-800 scaled range |
| Blueprint effective date | November 2022 (general guidance updated April 2025) |
The Four Domains at a Glance
The ADC blueprint splits content into four domains. Knowing the weight of each one tells you where to spend your limited study hours. For a deeper breakdown of what each domain actually tests, see the CADC-II Exam Domains 2026 guide.
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| Scientific Principles of Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders | 25% |
| Evidence-Based Screening and Assessment | 20% |
| Evidence-Based Treatment, Counseling, and Referral | 30% |
| Professional, Ethical, and Legal Responsibilities | 25% |
Domain 1: Scientific Principles of Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders (25%)
Covers pharmacology, models of addiction, withdrawal presentations, and how co-occurring mental health conditions interact with substance use.
- Neurobiology of substances of abuse and withdrawal syndromes
- Biopsychosocial models of addiction
- Recognizing co-occurring disorder patterns
Domain 2: Evidence-Based Screening and Assessment (20%)
Focuses on selecting and interpreting screening tools, intake procedures, and diagnostic criteria used to determine level of care.
- Standardized screening and assessment instruments
- Diagnostic criteria application
- Placement and level-of-care decisions
Domain 3: Evidence-Based Treatment, Counseling, and Referral (30%)
The largest domain on the exam. It tests counseling techniques, treatment planning, case management, and referral practices grounded in evidence-based approaches.
- Individual, group, and family counseling approaches
- Treatment and recovery planning
- Referral, coordination of care, and case management
Domain 4: Professional, Ethical, and Legal Responsibilities (25%)
Covers confidentiality law, documentation standards, scope of practice, and ethical obligations toward clients and the profession.
- Confidentiality and mandated reporting
- Documentation and record-keeping standards
- Professional boundaries and scope of practice
Fees and Registration Mechanics
CADC-II costs come in two separate payments: an application-review fee and a testing fee. Both have member and non-member tiers.
| Fee | Member Rate | Non-Member Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Application review | $165 | $310 |
| Exam fee | $174 | $338 |
| Combined total | $339 | $648 |
These figures cover application review and the exam itself - they do not include the 315 hours of approved education, the supervised practicum, or other training expenses. For a full cost breakdown, including how membership status affects your total outlay, read CADC-II Certification Cost 2026.
Key Takeaway
Joining CCAPP as a member before you apply can cut your combined exam and review fees roughly in half - confirm current membership pricing before you submit your application.
Eligibility Requirements Recap
You can't schedule the exam until CCAPP verifies your prerequisites. Here's the shorthand version; the full explanation lives in CADC-II Requirements 2026.
- 315 hours of approved alcohol/drug education
- 255-hour supervised practicum completed under an approved supervisor
- 6,000 supervised experience hours, which include the practicum hours
- Signed verification forms and ethics commitments submitted with your application
These aren't optional line items - they're gatekeeping requirements checked before an admission letter is ever issued. If you're weighing whether the full path is worth pursuing, Is the CADC-II Certification Worth It? breaks down the tradeoffs, and CADC-II Jobs covers who actually hires for this credential once you're certified.
Passing Score and Scoring Logic
The CADC-II exam does not report a percentage correct. Instead, IC&RC converts your raw score onto a scaled range of 200 to 800, and you need to reach 500 to pass. This scaling means two candidates who answer a different number of questions correctly on different exam forms can both land at exactly 500, because the scale accounts for item difficulty across forms.
One Week Per Domain: A Weight-Based Review Plan
If you have roughly a month before your test date, allocate study time proportional to domain weight instead of splitting evenly across four weeks. Domain 3 carries 30% of the exam, so it earns extra review days; Domain 2 carries the least weight at 20%, so it gets fewer.
Scientific Principles of Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders (25%)
- Review pharmacology and withdrawal presentations
- Study biopsychosocial addiction models
- Drill co-occurring disorder scenarios
Evidence-Based Screening and Assessment (20%)
- Practice reading and interpreting screening instruments
- Review diagnostic criteria application
- Work through level-of-care placement questions
Evidence-Based Treatment, Counseling, and Referral (30%)
- Focus extra hours here - it's the largest domain
- Review counseling modalities and treatment planning
- Practice case-management and referral scenarios
Professional, Ethical, and Legal Responsibilities (25%) + Full Review
- Study confidentiality law and documentation standards
- Review scope-of-practice and boundary scenarios
- Take a full-length practice run on the practice test site to simulate the 3-hour format
For candidates who want more detail on pacing and how difficult each domain tends to feel in practice, How Hard Is the CADC-II Exam? and the general CADC-II Study Guide go further than this cheat sheet can.
Renewal and Continuing Education
Passing the exam isn't the finish line - CADC-II certification renews on a two-year cycle, and lapses are avoidable if you track requirements early.
| Renewal Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cycle length | Every 2 years |
| Total CE hours required | 50 hours |
| Ethics/confidentiality hours required | 9 hours (part of the 50) |
| Renewal fee (member) | $150 |
| Renewal fee (non-member) | $400 |
Building a habit of logging CE hours right after you pass - rather than scrambling in month 23 - keeps the renewal fee the only surprise you'll face.
Test-Day Checklist
The exam is closed-book and computer-based, delivered at a Prometric testing center through ISO-Quality Testing (IQT). A few mechanics catch candidates off guard if they haven't planned ahead:
- Bring approved government-issued identification - check the exact acceptable ID formats before your appointment.
- Bring your admission letter; you won't be seated without it.
- Expect no reference materials, notes, or personal items at your workstation.
- Plan your pacing across all 150 questions within the 3-hour window, since scored and unscored items aren't distinguishable.
Before booking, confirm current testing windows and blackout periods in CADC-II Exam Dates 2026, since scheduling availability through Prometric can shift by region.
Key Takeaway
Run at least one full-length timed practice exam on a CADC-II practice test platform under real 3-hour conditions so the pacing feels familiar, not improvised, on test day.
FAQ
CCAPP Credentialing (California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals) issues the CADC-II, using the IC&RC Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ADC) examination administered through Prometric via ISO-Quality Testing (IQT).
There are 150 multiple-choice questions - 125 scored and 25 unscored pretest items - to complete within a 3-hour, closed-book, computer-based session.
You need a scaled score of 500 on IC&RC's 200-800 range. This is not a raw percentage; see CADC-II Passing Score 2026 for details on how scaling works.
Evidence-Based Treatment, Counseling, and Referral carries the most weight at 30% of the exam, making it the highest-priority domain when study time is limited.
Combined application-review and exam fees total $339 for members or $648 for non-members, before accounting for the required 315 hours of education, the practicum, or other training costs. Full details are in CADC-II Certification Cost 2026.