OASAS Reinforces Committment To New York's Addictions Workforce

ALBANY, NY (01/16/2008)(readMedia)-- State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo today announced a series of measures aimed at streamlining the credentialing process for New York’s 6,300 addictions professionals.

Embracing the concept of making the addictions field a profession of choice, Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo called upon a diverse group of experts to provide guidance on attracting and retaining talent. Chaired jointly by representatives from OASAS and the provider community, and comprised of managers, supervisors and line staff from across the state, this Talent Management Committee is charged with developing hard-hitting recommendations, strategies and actions that will have a positive impact on the issues and challenges facing the addictions workforce. Several of the recommendations coming from this group will go into effect statewide in 2008.

“New York’s addictions workforce is far and away the brightest and most dedicated in the entire nation, and we at OASAS are equally committed to making the addictions field a profession of choice statewide,” said Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo. “These changes will help relieve credentialed professionals of a number of burdensome requirements that have been in place for far too long.”

Among the changes that will provide relief beginning in January 2008 are:

Elimination of the Case Presentation Method (CPM) Oral Examination – Once the final step of the CASAC examination process, the CPM examination will be replaced by an enhanced written examination that is expected to be introduced in the summer of 2008. By eliminating the CPM examination, OASAS expects to reduce the timeframe for getting credentialed in New York by as much as four months.

Extending the Current Two-Year CASAC Renewal Cycle to a Three-Year Renewal Cycle – This important change is being implemented to provide relief to the more than 6,300 credentialed professionals in the OASAS service delivery system. By moving to a three-year cycle, OASAS hopes to ease the burden of renewal and provide professionals more time to meet the associated renewal requirements.

Maintaining the OASAS Renewal Fee at $150 – While the two-year renewal cycle will be extended to three years, the Renewal Fee will remain unchanged at $150. This will enable OASAS to provide its credentialed professionals with a modest degree of financial relief as we move forward with our program of reform and reinvestment.

Modifying the Professional Education Requirement for Renewal – While it will be necessary to proportionally increase the total number of clock hours needed for renewal of credentials (from 40 to 60) to assure reciprocity with other states, OASAS is providing more flexibility in the range of acceptable coursework to support professional growth on a more individualized basis.

Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo continued, “These changes will have an immediate impact on the field’s recruitment and retention efforts, and will send an important message to all addictions professionals in New York that positive change is indeed underway.”

For more information, please call the OASAS Credentialing Unit Information Line at 1-800-482-9564 or visit the OASAS website at www.OASAS.state.ny.us.

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