There are five membership grades:

1. Associate
2. Pre-accredited
3. Accredited
4. Inactive
5. Accredited Supervisor

A. ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

Associate Membership is open to anyone who supports the aims of the IAAAC.

1. Benefits of Associate membership:

• Receipt of the Association Magazine
• Notification of seminars, workshops etc.
• Inclusion on the association�s mailing list
• Representation on the Executive Committee
• Support from a National Body representing their interests

  Associate members may not:

• Represent themselves as accredited Members of the IAAAC
• Refer to their Associate Membership on stationary
• Refer to their Associate Membership in any publicity or advertisement
• Represent themselves as speaking for or on behalf of the IAAAC

B. PRE-ACCREDITED MEMBERSHIP

Is assigned to an individual who, post training, is working towards fulfilling the criteria needed to become an Accredited Member. Pre-accredited members may represent themselves as such on letterheads and in advertisement.

2. Pre Accreditation Requirements

Acceptance as a Pre-accredited member requires that an applicant is working towards:

2.1) 500 hours of counselling work, post training, 75% of this must be individual client counselling.

2.2) 500 hours must reflect a variety of presenting addiction problems.

2.3) All IAAAC Counsellors are required to have Clinical supervision monthly.

2.4) Supervision at 2.3 must be effected/conducted by an IAAAC recognised Supervisor (or equivalent) other than the Supervisor utilised during training.

In addition -

2.5) Supervisor�s reports are required to verify that the applicant has achieved the required competency in addiction counselling.

2.6) Evidence of Garda Vetting. *

2.7) The Accreditation Committee may invite any applicant for interview as part of the Accreditation process.

C. ACCREDITED MEMBERSHIP

3. Accredited Membership Requirements

Accreditation means that a person has achieved a recognised standard of competence in addiction counselling/psychotherapy.

An applicant will:

3.1) Be a fully paid up Associate or Pre-accredited member of the IAAAC.

3.2) Have successfully completed a recognised Addiction Counselling Training course, 7 NFOQs (National Framework of Quality), Hetac Level 7 minimum which is consistent with criteria for recognition by IAAAC, which contains the following etc :-

• A minimum of 100 hours of clinical supervised client work during addiction counsellor training.
• A minimum of 600 course hours of staff-student contact, including skills, theory, addiction counselling practice and self development modules.
• A detailed study of at least one model of chemical dependency/addiction counselling with an introduction to other schools/models of counselling for comparison and contrast.
• Have knowledge and understanding of process addictions ie. Sex, gambling and food.
• Have knowledge and understanding of harm reduction.
• Have knowledge and understanding of relapse prevention.
• Assignment of an individual supervisor to each student, who will guide and monitor the trainee�s progress.
• Supervision that addresses case work and the impact of that work on the trainee, at a personal level.
• A minimum of 100 hours personal therapy/development. These hours may include certified participation in Therapeutic Group process to a maximum of 50% of total requirement.

3.3) Show ongoing professional and personal development with certification of the required number of hours and evidence of the successful completion of same.

3.4) Have completed 500 hours of individual client work experience, post training.

3.5) These 500 hours must reflect a variety of presenting addiction problems.

3.6) Submit completed IAAAC application form with necessary documentation.

3.7) Submit supervisor�s reports, one from training and one from work experience, verifying that the applicant has achieved the required competency in addiction counselling.

3.8) Accept and work within IAAAC Code of Ethics and Practice.

3.9) Subscribe to the IAAAC�s Articles and memoranda of Association.

3.10)Submit evidence of Professional Personal Indemnity insurance.

3.11)Supply evidence of Garda Vetting where appropriate.

4. Clinical Supervision

4.1) Clinical supervision means that counselling sessions are reviewed with a supervisor, using case notes, audio or video recording, or actual on the spot observation by the Supervisor if when appropriate.

4.2) During addiction counsellor training each student must attend clinical supervision.

4.3) Following training, the counsellor must attend monthly clinical supervision, with a Supervisor other than that referred to in indent 4.2.

4.4) The Supervisor must be an accredited counsellor (IAAAC, IACP or equivalent), with five years working experience in addiction counselling, and have completed a recognised course in Supervision training. All Supervisors must be accredited with, or recognised by IAAAC.

4.5) Following accreditation, clinical supervision continues on a monthly basis, 25% can be achieved through group or peer supervision.

4.6) Peer supervision will be considered provided it is in line with our ethical code.

5. Experience in Addiction Counselling

5.1) Work experience means working as an Addiction Counsellor in individual or group counselling.

5.2) Minimum requirements:

• 500 hours in individual and group counselling within a minimum of 2 yrs and a maximum of 5 years
• 500 hours in individual and/or group counselling will be considered provided the required supervision is in place and the conditions/articles/Code of Ethics of the voluntary organisation is in accordance with IAAAC principles.

5.3) Applicants must accept the Code of Ethics of the IAAAC.

5.4) Approved applicants must subscribe to the Articles and Memorandum of the IAAAC.

6. How to Apply

Application forms are available, on request, from the Membership Coordinator, IAAAC, Senior House, All Hallows College, Grace Park Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.

Applicants will receive two copies of Supervisor report forms for completion. One to be completed and signed by the Supervisor attended by the trainee during his/her training. The other to be completed and signed by the Supervisor/s attended during his/her Pre-Accreditation period.

D. Inactive Membership.

This category is the domain of Accredited Members who for the time being have ceased to be actively engaged in addiction counselling.

7.1) Members must declare their inactive status on their annual registration form.

7.2) Members may renew their active status without recourse to associated and/or Pre-accredited phases of accreditation. However all other criteria must be adhered to.

7.3) Members who wish to re-activate full membership status need to engage in client work and have appropriate supervision in place and abide by C.P.D.

E. Accredited Supervisor

8.1) The Criteria and requirements for membership of this category is addressed in a separate document available from the offices of the IAAAC.

9. Annual Registration

9.1) All membership categories must register on an annual basis.

9.2) Registration must be renewed in July of each year by payment of a registration fee.

9.3) The Annual registration application will be accompanied by:

• Evidence of clinical supervision by IAAAC approved Supervisor.
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD), 30 hours is the minimum requirement.
• Evidence of Current Professional Personal Indemnity insurance.
• Evidence of Garda Vetting (see Code of Ethics). *
• Evidence of on-going monthly supervision in place.

9.3) An accredited member who does not renew membership for more than one year may forfeit his/her membership.

9.4) Every five years members submit to a re-accreditation procedure. This procedure allows accredited members establish their suitability and competency to continue as accredited members and re-commit to the Code of Ethics of the Association. Failure to do so will result in re-accreditation being denied.

Effective from 7th December 2009

IAAAC Executive Committee