CDCA Bundle CEU Policy Changes & FAQ

As shared in a prior announcement, beginning July 1st, 2026, the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board (OCDP) is changing the way OCDP will accept CEUs for the CDCA-PRE and CDCA applications. This change will impact both, CDCA-PRE/CDCA applicants, as well as existing CDCA-PRE/CDCA continuing education providers and sponsors. The OCDP Board has released a new FAQ about these changes, which is also included below.

For more detailed information about the requirements of a CDCA bundle, please visit CDCA Bundles. For any questions or clarification, please contact [email protected].

INFORMATION FOR CDCA APPLICANTS: Beginning July 1st, 2026, CDCA-PRE and CDCA initial applicants will no longer be able to use multiple individual CEU certificates. Courses (or a series of courses) must be completed and formatted within a CDP Board newly approved CDCA bundle. The CDCA-PRE and/or CDCA Education bundle will still contain the same number of hours currently in each content area; however, the topics covered within those areas are now more specific. This will allow for a foundation of learning that every CDCA-PRE and CDCA applicant will receive. All current CDCA “bundles” will be expired at the end of the year and only new bundles will be approved to meet CDCA application requirements.

Individuals wishing to obtain a CDCA-PRE or CDCA certification will be directed to a page on the OCDP Board website with a listing of all board approved CDCA bundles by provider, along with contact information on how to access the 40- or 30-hour course from the specific provider.

INFORMATION FOR CE PROVIDERS: The OCDP Board is inviting all current one-and two-year Education providers or any continuing education sponsors that currently have approved CDCA bundles to submit for a free review of their content. To participate in a free content review, all content must be submitted to the OCDP Board by December 31st, 2025. These reviews typically cost $350, so the OCDP recommends sending your application and content for review and board approval so you may save $350.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ):

Q1: Are the newly approved CDCA bundles required for application AND renewal?

A1: CDCA bundles are ONLY required for the initial CDCA preliminary and CDCA applications. Multiple individual CEU certificates are still eligible to meet renewal requirements.

Q2: Will CDCA preliminary applicants still be required to take the OCDP ethics course on e-Based academy after the bundles are implemented?

A2: No, CDCA preliminary applicants will NOT need to take the e-Based academy OCDP ethics course, unless the approved Bundle provider is using this course to meet the ethics requirement within their approved Bundle.

Q3: Can applicants still use college courses to apply for the CDCA PRE or CDCA instead of a CDCA bundle?

A3: Yes, applicants can absolutely still use college courses, however they cannot use a combination of both college coursework and CEUS after July 2026. Also, since 50% of TOTAL education must be completed less than five years prior to applying, if college coursework education is older than five years an applicant must take an approved education bundle or take all new college coursework to meet application requirements.   

Q4: How does this update affect applicants who are in the process of completing their education requirements?

A4: Anyone who started CEU’s for the CDCA-PRE before December 31st, 2025, and apply prior to December 31st, 2026, can be approved by since CEUs or older CDCA packages.

Anyone awarded their CDCA-PRE after January 1st, 2026, must complete the CDCA Renewable education by approved bundle, because education must be completed after the CDCA-PRE is awarded.

Q5: If as a CE approved provider, we already have a CDCA PRE and CDCA Bundle approved by the Board located in CE Broker, do we have to apply to be approved?

A5: Providers that currently have an approved CDCA Preliminary or CDCA bundle should check their current bundle and make sure courses align with the updated specific content or contact the OCDP Board to apply for a free content review.

Q6: Does this mean all single courses need to be expired by the end of the year?

A6: No, Providers and Sponsors do NOT need to stop offering single courses. Single courses in Content Areas 1-9 are very important for new applications for the LCDC II, LCDC III, and LICDC. Additionally, all renewable licenses and certifications need these hours for renewal.

Again, for additional questions or clarification about these changes, please contact [email protected].