EMAC

The Examination for Master Addictions Counselors (EMAC)
Satisfactory performance on the EMAC is one of the criteria used by NBCC® to identify professionals who may be eligible to become a Master Addictions Counselor (MAC).
 
The EMAC is an examination developed by the master's level addiction counselors for use in the certification and licensure processes.  The purpose of the EMAC is to allow evaluation of professional counselors' applied knowledge of job-related activities.  Successful performance on the EMAC necessitates understanding of important components in addictions counseling, including the following content areas:
 
Content Areas
  1. Addiction Counseling Practices
    • Provide counseling to clients with special issues such as disabilities and physical abuse
    • Provide individual, group, family counseling and/or crisis intervention for clients and/or their significant others
    • Apply ethical and/or Federal counseling legal standards
    • Implement treatment plans to ensure client understanding of psychopharmacological interactions of drugs/medications being used.
  2. Treatment Planing and Implementation
    • Construct comprehensive care/treatment plans including goals, objectives, strategies, time frame, discharge criteria, and aftercare/continuing care
    • Evaluate care/treatment outcomes
    • Formulate DSM-IV classification (Axes IV)
    • Develop a therapeutic relationship with client
  3. Orientation to Treatment Process
    • Assess compatibility of program services for client
    • Inform client about treatment process
    • Inform client about legal issues and rights
    • Provide other referral sources, if not admitted
  4. Assessment
    • Assess potential for client to harm self/others
    • Determine severity of client's addiction
    • Determine alcohol and other drug (AOD) signs and symptoms of intoxication or withdrawal
    • Assess client's external support systems
  5. Prevention
    • Prepare age specific prevention materials
    • Develop programs based on needs assessment
    • Promote healthy life style choices
Selected References
NBCC® does not endorse any particular materials as being effective in preparing for your participation in the EMAC.  The following references are presented only with the potential to be helpful in preparing for the EMAC.  EMAC performance enhancement is neither implied nor expressed.
 
  • Berg, I.K., & Miller, S.D. (1992). Working with the problem drinker: A solution focused approach. New York: Norton.
  • Coombs, R.H., & Zeidonis, D. (1995). Handbook on drug abuse prevention: A comprehensive strategy to prevent the abuse of alcohol and other drugs. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
  • Doweiko, H.E. (1996). Concepts of chemical dependency (3rd edition). Boston: Brooks/Cole.
  • George, R.L. (1990). Counseling the chemically dependent: Theory and practice. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
  • Kaufman, E., & Kaufmann, P. (1992). Family therapy of drug and alcohol abuse: A practitioner's handbook. New York, Guilford Press.
  • Washton, A.M. (1995). Psychotherapy and substance abuse: A practitioner's handbook. New York, Guilford Press.
 
Scoring Procedures
Each form of the EMAC contains 100 multiple choice questions.  All questions are scored for criterion purposes, therefore the examinee should respond with equal effort to all questions.  The minimum criterion score (passing) is derived from a modified Angoff procedure.
 
Examimation Results
You can expect to receive your score report via first class mail approximately eight weeks after the exam date.  No scores are released by telephone.  EMAC score report contains:
 
  • Five content area scores and the total number of correct repsonses
  • The group mean and standard deviation for each content area and the total score
  • The minimum criterion score (passing) for that form of the EMAC

If your total score meets or exceeds the minimum criterion score, you have passed the EMAC.