ABOUT FNWACCB
The First Nations Wellness/Addictions Counsellor Certification Board was created at the direction of the Association of BC First Nations Treatment Programs to meet and exceed existing competitive standards, as well as to meet the increasing accountability required by the federal government. Certification for First Nations Wellness/Addictions Counsellors’ was considered necessary because of the recognition that special skills and knowledge are needed to work effectively within First Nations communities.
The Association sought initial seed funding from Health Canada’s BCFNIHB, to establish an independent society for the certification process which became initially known as the First Nations Wellness/Addictions Counsellor Certification Board.
The First Nations Wellness/Addictions Counsellor Certification Board (FNWACCB) and their regional partner - the Association of BC First Nations Treatment Programs (ABCFNTP), believes that it is important that standards for certification of First Nations Wellness/Addictions Counsellors be established by First Nations.
The Board first convened in March 2005, with the charge of developing the standards and procedures required for certification. After this initial developmental phase, the Certification Board began the awarding of certificates in 2006. A time-limited application period was set aside to permit applications from individuals with prior experience to be eligible under the ‘grand-fathering’ guidelines which ended December 2008.
In July 2010, Health Canada select the FNWACCB as the national body which grants certification and ensuring the maintenance of competence among First Nations Wellness/Addictions Counsellors.
Certification provides a measure of competence which will be recognized far beyond First Nations communities, and constitutes an important step to ensure the continuation of First Nations Wellness and Addictions Programs.
Our Board certifies qualified Wellness/Addictions Counsellor Specialists. Our certification attests to the professional qualifications and competence of certified counsellors. Our standards for certification are compliant with 11 International Boards and 70 US Districts, including alcohol/drug groups and authorities in most Provinces and the U.S., First Nations alcohol/drug programs as well as various foreign alcoholism commissions, branches of the military and the First Nations Health Services.
The Board reports annually to the Registrar of Societies and its members and is actively engaged in relating its work to Provincial, Federal, National, and International endeavors, thus ensuring that certified Wellness/Addiction Counsellors are on par with their peers Internationally.