ICUDDR-GCCC is the leading global credentialing organization for drug demand reduction professionals, dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
ICUDDR-GCCC was established in 2009, as the Asian Centre for Certification and Education of Addiction Professions (ACCE) under Colombo Plan's Drug Advisory Programme to provide training and credentialing for addiction professionals, funded by the US Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. By 2013, ACCE had reached 1500 professionals and expanded its Commission to 24 members by 2015, becoming the International Centre for Credentialing and Education of Addiction Professionals (ICCE). In 2019, ICCE evolved into the Global Centre for Credentialing and Certification (GCCC), maintaining high standards and expanding certification areas. In 2024, GCCC was transferred to the International Consortium of Universities for Drug Demand Reduction (ICUDDR). This evolution over the past decade to professionalize the workforce in the delivery of evidence-based services in prevention, treatment, and recovery support is ongoing. Through the engagement of professionals, policymakers, funders, and its Commission, GCCC is continually ensuring those seeking services for substance use disorders receive the highest quality services to lead a life of good health and recovery.
As of 30 September 2024, there are 2,312 ICAP Credentialed Professionals in 80 countries.
GCCC’s mission is to professionalize and expand the drug demand reduction workforce in each region through the development and dissemination of a global credential, known as the International Certification of Addiction Professional (ICAP) based on international standards for substance use professionals.
By providing experience verification and appropriate exams to ensure that governments and other employers hire and utilize the most qualified professionals. By doing so, ICUDDR-GCCC aims to improve the likelihood of positive outcomes for individuals, families, and communities affected by drug-related challenges. Furthermore, ICUDDR-GCCC serves as a focal point for credentialing opportunities and provides evidence-based information about Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Support services.
ICUDDR-GCCC offers resources, promotes best practices, and fosters collaboration among stakeholders to advance the goals of drug demand reduction and enhance public health globally.
The ICUDDR-GCCC currently promotes credentialing and policy changes. ICUDDR continues to create an enabling environment focused on credentialing and certification across all jurisdictions. It supports policy level advocacy to promote the adoption of regulations requiring credentialed staff to be able to provide Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Support services in Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and Eastern Europe regions. ICUDDR-GCCC promotes a schedule of exams to facilitate the credentialing process for both the pre-service and in-service workforce.
It currently offers credentials in the following areas:
ICAP I - Treatment
ICAP II - Treatment
ICAP III -Treatment
ICAP IV – Treatment
ICAP-Prevention
ICAP- Recovery Support
ICAP-RN – New credential being introduced in 2025 for registered nurses
Please see Link
- Ensure quality, consistency across jurisdictions, and professionalism in addiction services through the standardization of qualifications and credentials of the treatment workforce.
- Increase accountability, enhance patient trust, and promote workforce readiness
- Strengthen substance use recovery, treatment and recovery support teams' capacities to provide higher quality, evidence-based interventions through continuous learning as part of the re-credentialing process.
- Contribute to the implementation of the WHO/UNODC International Treatment Standards in coalition countries.
- Strengthening local capacities to enable countries to establish policy specific initiatives to support the introduction of credentialing of the workforce as a minimum quality standard for services offering prevention, treatment, and recovery support for individuals and communities impacted by substance use.
- Contributing to improving the quality of care for individuals with substance use disorders accessing prevention, treatment and recovery support in the country's addiction services.
- Local universities to incorporate ‘ICAP credential’ into their addiction study curriculums.
GCCC Director: Dr. Carmel Clancy – clancyc [at] icuddr [dot] org (clancyc[at]icuddr[dot]org)
