I'm not going to sugarcoat it: I failed the CADC exam in March and again in July. Both times I thought I'd studied enough, but the ethical scenarios and co-occurring disorders sections absolutely wrecked me. I'd been in the field for four years and figured my clinical experience would carry me — it doesn't. The exam tests very specific frameworks, not just what you do on the job.
What changed for the third attempt was actually using a structured CADC practice test routine instead of just rereading my IC&RC materials. Doing timed practice questions exposed exactly where my thinking was off, especially around the 12 Core Functions and documentation standards. I also found a study guide that broke down the TAP 21 competencies in plain language instead of the dense IC&RC wording.
My exam tips for anyone early in this process: don't skip the legal and ethical content, it's heavier than you expect, and practice under real time pressure. I passed with a 78 this past October. Happy to share what worked if anyone's in a similar spot.