Alcohol and Drug Counselor ADC Study Guide 2026–2027 | 200 Practice Questions

Prepare for the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination with a complete, illustrated study guide organized by the exam's four current content domains. It teaches the science, assessment, counseling, and ethics content the exam tests, condenses high-yield facts into quick-reference tables, and includes 200 exam-level practice questions with detailed answer explanations.

WHAT'S INSIDE

• 130 pages, 8.5 × 11 in, print-ready PDF with a clickable table of contents
• Current exam facts: 150 questions (125 scored, 25 unscored pretest), 3 hours, three or four answer choices per question, scaled scores of 200–800 with a passing score of 500, member-board registration, Prometric test-center or remote delivery, ID rules, and the 90-day retake wait
• Domain I · Scientific Principles: the reward circuit and three-stage addiction cycle, every major substance class (intoxication, withdrawal, risks), pharmacology (tolerance, synergism, antagonism, routes), withdrawal timelines and medical risk, CIWA-Ar and COWS, medications (methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram, naloxone), risk and protective factors, models of addiction, co-occurring disorders, and special populations
• Domain II · Screening and Assessment: CAGE, AUDIT, DAST-10, CRAFFT, and more; biopsychosocial assessment; the ASI; ASAM's six dimensions; DSM-5-TR substance use disorder criteria, severity, and remission specifiers; stages of change; cultural factors; suicide and violence risk assessment
• Domain III · Treatment, Counseling, and Referral: treatment planning with SMART objectives and level-of-care matching, motivational interviewing, CBT and relapse prevention, contingency management, group counseling (stages, Yalom's therapeutic factors, leader skills), family counseling, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, referral and warm handoffs, case management, mutual support options, and client, family, and community education
• Domain IV · Professional, Ethical, and Legal Responsibilities: 42 CFR Part 2 (consent, redisclosure, every exception), HIPAA, duty to warn, mandated reporting, informed consent, boundaries and dual relationships, scope of practice, ethical decision-making, liability, counselor impairment, and documentation (SOAP, DAP, BIRP, objective language)
• 35 quick-reference tables plus 8 diagrams, charts, and flowcharts
• 2 practice tests with 100 exam-level questions each (200 total), weighted by the official domain percentages
• Complete answer keys with an explanation for every question, including why the other options are wrong
• 8-week and 4-week study schedules, FAQs, test-taking strategies, and test-anxiety techniques

WHO IT'S FOR

• Counselors preparing for the IC&RC ADC exam for an alcohol and drug counselor credential (such as CADC, LADC, or CAC, depending on the member board)
• Addiction studies students and graduates entering substance use disorder counseling
• Supervisors and educators supporting ADC exam preparation

FORMAT

Instant digital download. Study on any device or print at home. No physical item will be shipped.

PLEASE NOTE

All exam and organization names referenced are trademarks of their respective owners. This product is not affiliated with or endorsed by IC&RC or any testing organization.