Maintaining Your C-CATODSW Certification

Major Takeaways:

With over 59 million Americans using illegal drugs or misusing prescriptions each year, the demand for Certified Clinical Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Social Workers (C-CATODSWs) is rapidly rising.
C-CATODSWs must renew their certification every two years by completing 20 approved continuing education (CE) hours, including 3 hours focused on professional ethics.
Acceptable CEUs must be relevant to addiction social work—such as trauma-informed care or co-occurring disorders—and must come from NASW-approved providers like CE4Less, PESI, or accredited universities.
Timely renewal requires careful organization, including tracking CE certificates, avoiding unapproved courses, and submitting all documentation and fees through the NASW Credentialing Portal.

To give you a quick glimpse of just how important Certified Clinical Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Social Workers are, here’s some data from the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS):

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More than 1 in 8 Americans aged 12 and older used drugs in just the past month. That’s a 3.8% jump from the previous year.
Zooming out, around 59.3 million people—about 1 in 5—have used illegal drugs or misused prescription medications in the last year alone.
Half of all Americans aged 12 and up—roughly 138.5 million people—have used drugs at some point in their lives.

These numbers paint a powerful picture of just how widespread drug use is in the United States and how it’s continuing to rise. As a result, more and more professionals are choosing to earn the C-CATODSW credential to help address the growing need for qualified experts in substance use disorders.

The Certified Clinical Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Social Worker (C-CATODSW) credential shows you have advanced skills in addiction services. It also shows your commitment to ethical and evidence-based care.

Once you earn your C-CATODSW credential, your learning doesn’t stop there. You’re committed to continuing to grow as a professional. To maintain your certification, you must stay current, meet specific requirements, and renew it on a regular basis. This ensures ethical, evidence-based, and updated practice.

So this guide is here to help you navigate your C-CATODSW certification renewal with as little stress as possible. We’ll walk through everything—from how often you need to renew, to the continuing education you need, to where to find those courses, and how to stay organized.

Related:

Overview of the C-CATODSW Credential

Before we jump into the details of C-CATODSW certification renewal, let’s take a moment to talk about what this credential really means—and why it matters so much.

The NASW awards the C-CATODSW to social workers who have developed special skills and knowledge in helping people with alcohol, tobacco, and other drug problems. It shows that you’ve worked hard to meet high standards through education, training, and hands-on experience.

What makes the C-CATODSW different from a general social work license is its sharp focus on substance use issues. With this credential, you’re right in the middle of addiction treatment, offering the following:

clinical assessments
counseling
relapse prevention
shaping policies

It’s challenging work, often complicated, but incredibly meaningful.

And because the world of addiction is always shifting—new drugs appear, treatment approaches change, and cultural needs evolve—maintaining the C-CATODSW credential is really important. That way, your skills stay fresh, and you can continue making a real difference for the people who count on you.

Renewal Timeline and Frequency

The C-CATODSW certification needs to be renewed every two years—that’s every 24 months. This means you must demonstrate that you’ve maintained and fulfilled all the necessary C-CATODSW continuing education requirements before your certification expires.

Here’s what we recommend you do right away:

Mark your expiration date on your calendar. Even better, set multiple reminders—one six months before, another three months before, and a final one a month before your renewal is due.
Keep your contact info updated with NASW. That way, you won’t miss any important emails or renewal notices.
Start planning your continuing education units (CEUs) early. Don’t wait until the last minute to scramble for credits—it’s much easier and less stressful if you space it out over time.

Taking these simple steps now will make your renewal process smoother and less stressful.

If you’re late, NASW usually offers a short grace period (often a few months). But beware, there may be a late fee. And if you wait too long, your certification could lapse. If that happens, you might have to reapply and go through the entire certification process again, including retaking exams or coursework.

Continuing Education (CEU) Requirements

The first part you need to know about this whole NASW certification renewal process is the continuing education (CEU) requirements. These are the courses and training hours you need to complete to show that you’re staying up to date with the latest knowledge and skills in addiction treatment.

Total CE Hours Required

To maintain your C-CATODSW certification, you must complete 20 continuing education (CE) contact hours every two years.

Mandatory Ethics CEUs

At least 3 of those 20 hours must focus on professional ethics. The ethics CEUs for clinical social workers ensure that you continue to practice responsibly and ethically.

CEU Content Areas that Qualify

The CEUs you complete should be relevant to your practice in addiction social work. Acceptable content areas include:

Clinical assessment and diagnosis of substance use disorders
Trauma-informed care and harm reduction
Co-occurring disorders and dual diagnosis treatment
Cultural competence in addiction social work
Recovery-oriented systems of care

What Doesn’t Count

Not all activities qualify for CE credit. Exclusions include:

General workplace training without accreditation
Unsupervised reading or self-directed learning
Courses not approved by NASW or other credentialing bodies

Approved CEU Providers and Resources

Knowing how to renew C-CATODSW entails knowledge of where you can earn your continuing education credits. Some trusted sources for CEUs include:

NASW CE Institute

They offer a bunch of online, self-paced courses and live webinars made just for social workers. You’ll find topics on addiction, ethics, and other relevant areas to keep your skills sharp.

CE4Less, Social Work Online CE Institute, PESI

These platforms are popular for reliable courses for social work CEUs for addiction specialists. Plus, you can take their classes from anywhere, making it super convenient.

University Coursework

If you’re enrolled in graduate or post-grad classes at an accredited university, those can count too, as long as they’re relevant to addiction and social work.

Local or State NASW Chapters

Check out your local NASW chapter—they often host affordable workshops, webinars, and conferences. It’s a great way to learn and connect with other social workers nearby.

Conferences and Training Events

Big national events like NAADAC or the CSWE Annual Program Meeting usually offer CE credits. These are excellent chances to dive deep into the field and network with professionals.

For a comprehensive list of where and how to renew C-CATODSW CEUs, visit the NASW Continuing Education page.

How to Submit Your C-CATODSW Renewal

Step-by-Step Submission Guide

Here’s a straightforward guide on how to submit your certified substance abuse social worker renewal requirements.

Log in to your NASW Credentialing Portal.
Update contact information and confirm credential type.
Report CEUs, upload supporting documentation (if required).
Pay the renewal fee ($95 for NASW members; $350 for nonmembers).
Submit and wait for confirmation.

Document Checklist

Certificates of completion
Ethics course verification
Course syllabi (if from a college or conference)
Transcripts (for university CE)

Keeping Your CEU Records Organized

Keeping track of approved CEUs for C-CATODSW is very important. It helps make the renewal process smooth and stress-free. Here are a few tips to stay organized:

Keep documentation for at least 4–6 years in case of an audit.
Use CEU tracking tools or create a CEU log in Excel or Google Sheets.
Back up certificates in cloud storage or a credential folder.

Staying Current Between Renewal Cycles

Waiting until the last six weeks to get all your CEUs is a recipe for stress and mistakes. Instead, try to:

Take 1 or 2 CEU courses every few months. It’s way less overwhelming.
Join a peer consultation or supervision group to keep discussing new ideas and challenges.
Subscribe to addiction-related journals and newsletters like Addiction Professional or Social Work Today.
Participate in C-CATODSW professional development, webinars, or local NASW events to stay connected.

Keeping a steady pace makes renewal feel like a natural part of your professional life, not a chore.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Everyone slips up sometimes, but these are the most common pitfalls you want to avoid:

Procrastinate until the last minute and scramble for CEUs.
Forget the mandatory ethics CEUs.
Take courses that aren’t approved by NASW and hoping they’ll count.
Let your contact information go out of date so you don’t get renewal reminders.
Lose your certificates and proof of CEUs.

Conclusion: Why Maintenance Matters

The C-CATODSW certification renewal is about showing your commitment to yourself, to your profession, and most importantly, to your clients.

Renewing means you’re:

Dedicated to ethical practice, even when things get complicated.
Committed to using the latest, best information and techniques in your work.
Demonstrating professionalism and accountability in a field that really matters.
Supporting people who often don’t have many advocates fighting for their recovery.

The sooner you start thinking about your renewal, the better off you’ll be. Mark your calendar. Look for CEU courses that excite you. Get organized.