What is a Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor (LADC)?
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Addictions are difficult to overcome. They can be physical, mental, or emotional and can be caused by many things, including trauma, brain chemistry, and genetics. Addiction can lead to distorted thinking, behavior changes, and relationship problems. For many people, it can be hard to break out of the cycle of addiction. Many resources are available to help people struggling with addiction, including therapy, support groups, medication, and trained therapists.
Recovery is a long and difficult process, but it is possible to achieve lasting sobriety. For many people, their substance abuse counselor is the difference between staying sober and not. These trained professionals have completed education and training that has given them the skills to help individuals experiencing addiction. They offer support and guidance through individual and group sessions and help clients develop healthy coping strategies.
To practice, substance abuse counselors must obtain a license from their state’s board. Each state has its own official title for substance abuse counselors. Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Vermont all use the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC), while other states may call these professionals Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC), Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), or Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC).
Consult our comprehensive guide to learn more about each state’s requirements for substance abuse counselors, or keep reading to learn more about the specifics of LADC education, certification, and license requirements.
LADC Education and Work Experience Requirements
Education and work experience requirements for LADCs vary widely by state.
For example, in Kentucky, LADC candidates must have at least a master’s degree. The most common master’s degree earned is a master’s of science in addiction counseling. These degrees typically take at least two years to earn and include internship or practicum hours where students gain hands-on experience working with clients under supervision.
In Maine, by comparison, candidates can apply to become LADCs with a high school diploma and 2,000 hours of documented work experience as Alcohol and Drug Counseling Aides (ADCAs) and 4,000 hours of documented work experience as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADCs). However, applicants without ADCA or CADC certification can become LADCs with either a bachelor’s and 4,000 hours of documented work experience or a master’s and 2,000 hours of documented work experience.
LADC Certification Requirements
All states that use the title LADC require that licensure candidates earn a national certification. Depending on the state, this can be either an International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Internationally Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ICADC) or Internationally Certified Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ICAADC) certification, or an Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I); National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II (NCAC II); or Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) certification.
The requirements vary by certification agency and level of certification attained. For the IC&RC options, candidates must receive approval to sit for the exam from their state licensing board. Candidates should contact their licensing board to ensure they have the necessary qualifications. Once the IC&RC receives verification of eligibility, candidates will be able to sit for their exams.
The NAADAC NCAC I eligibility requirements are:
- A GED or high school or higher diploma
- A current credential or license as a substance use disorders/addiction counselor or professional counselor (social worker, mental health, marriage & family therapist, or LAP-C) issued by a state or credentialing authority
- Letter from a supervisor who has supervised the candidate for three years full-time or 6,000 hours verifying competency in all skills groups
- 270 contact hours of education and training in substance use disorders/addiction or related counseling subjects, including six hours of ethics education and six hours of HIV/other pathogens education in training within the last six years
- A signed and dated statement that the candidate has read and adheres to the NAADAC/NCC AP Code of Ethics
The NCAC II eligibility requirements are:
- A bachelor’s degree or higher in substance use disorders/addiction and/or related counseling subjects (social work, mental health counseling, marriage & family, psychology) from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning
- A current credential or license as a substance use disorders/addiction counselor or professional counselor (social worker, mental health, marriage & family therapist, or LAP-C) issued by a state or credentialing authority
- Three years full-time or 6,000 hours of supervised experience as a substance use disorders/addiction counselor
- 450 contact hours of education and training in substance use disorders/addiction, including six hours of ethics education and six hours of HIV/other pathogens education or training within the last six years
- A passing score on one of the following exams: National Certified Addiction Counselor Level II exam through NCC AP, MAC exam through the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), or AADC exam through the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC & RC)
For the MAC credential, candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- A master’s degree or higher in substance use disorders/addiction and/or related counseling subjects (social work, mental health counseling, marriage & family, psychology) from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning
- A current credential or license as a substance use disorders/addiction counselor or professional counselor (social worker, mental health, marriage & family therapist, or LAP-C) issued by a state or credentialing authority
- Three years full-time or 6,000 hours of supervised experience as a substance use disorders/addiction counselor
- 500 contact hours of education and training in substance use disorders/addiction, including six hours of ethics education and six hours of HIV/other pathogens education or training within the last six years
- A passing score on one of the following exams: National Certified Addiction Counselor Level II exam through NCC AP, MAC exam through the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), or AADC exam through the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC & RC)
Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor (LACD) State License Requirements
Licensing requirements for LADCs vary by state. However, most states require the following qualifications:
- Advanced education in substance abuse or addiction
- Extensive supervised work experience
- Passing a national exam from the NAADAC or the IC&RC
- A background check
- A clean drug screening
- An application and/or licensing fee
- A completed application
Kimmy Gustafson
WriterAt CounselingSchools.com, Kimmy Gustafson’s expertly crafted articles delve into the world of counseling and mental health, providing valuable insights and guidance to readers since 2020. In addition to feature pieces and interviews, she keeps the state licensing tables current. Kimmy has been a freelance writer for more than a decade, writing hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics such as startups, nonprofits, healthcare, kiteboarding, the outdoors, and higher education. She is passionate about seeing the world and has traveled to over 27 countries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. When not working, she can be found outdoors, parenting, kiteboarding, or cooking.