What Are the Requirements for Becoming a Substance Abuse Counselor?

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Social Worker greeting an adult with a handshake.

The Bachelor of Science in Substance Abuse Counseling is a cutting-edge, research-oriented program that provides students with essential knowledge, competencies, and skills to kick start careers in substance use disorder (SUD) counseling.

What Certification and Licensure Requirements Does UC’s Substance Abuse Counseling Program Fulfill?

While the program is not designed to meet the educational requirements for professional licensure, it does meet the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board requirements for becoming a Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant (CDCA). It also meets the requirements for corresponding certifications in many other states.

The program also meets three of the four requirements (the degree, education hour, and Core Function experience [220 hours]) for becoming a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor III (LCDC III) in Ohio, as well as some of the requirements for corresponding certifications and licenses in many other states.

In Ohio, students pursuing the LCDC III must also meet a fourth requirement: document 2,000 hours (approximately one year) of supervised SUD related field work experience before sitting for the Alcohol and Drug Counselor Exam. Students complete three hundred hours of this field work experience during the internship courses within the program. The remaining hours are not provided as part of, nor a requirement of, the program.

Because the number of required work field experience hours necessary for obtaining bachelor’s degree level licensure varies by state, students are advised early in the program to determine how many are required for licensure goals in the state(s) where they will practice.

Ohio State Licensure Requirements

As mentioned above, students pursuing the LCDC III in the state of Ohio must meet four requirements:

Degree – Behavioral Science Bachelor’s Degree.
Education – Completion of 180 hours of Specific Education for Substance Use Disorder Professionals.
Core Function – 220 Hours Practical Work Experience.
Work Experience – SUD-related field work experience or supervised internship/practicum totaling 2,000 hours (approximately one year).

The chart below shows how the Substance Abuse Counseling program at UC meets three of these four requirements:

1. Degree

2. Education

3. Core Function

4. Work Experience

B.S. in Substance Abuse Counseling

Hours met through Substance Abuse Counseling degree requirements

Hours met through internship coursework (SACN 5050 & SACN 5051)

UC covers 300 of the 2,000 hours of work experience required. Students may complete the remainder of the 2,000 hours during their degree program (i.e., outside the internship courses) or after graduation. Hours must be completed prior to sitting for the Alcohol and Drug Counselor Exam.

Pursuing Licensure in Another State

Academic and professional requirements to become a licensed Substance Abuse Counselor vary from state to state. This directory is intended for future counselors who want to learn about substance use disorder treatment licensing and certification in their state, and it includes information about Single State Agencies (SSA), governmental, and non-governmental agencies.

The most-common requirements for licensures in other states:

Educational Preparation (associate, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, etc.) – This will vary depending on the level of licensure that the student is seeking.
Supervised Work Experience – In Ohio, this is currently 2,000 hours. It can be more or less in other states.
Exam – Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ADC) Examination.
Continuing Education – This is often required to maintain licensure.

State	State abbreviation	Agency	Link
Alabama	AL	AL Dept. of Mental Health, Substance Abuse Services Division	https://mh.alabama.gov/division-of-mental-health-substance-abuse-services/certification
Alaska	AK	Alaska Commission for Behavioral Health Certification	https://akcertification.org/
Arizona	AZ	Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing	https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/ProfessionalCounselors/ApplicationsForms.aspx
Arkansas	AR	Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners	https://www.azbbhe.us
California	CA	Board of Behavioral Sciences	https://www.bbs.ca.gov
Colorado	CO	Center for Credentialing & Education, State Board of Addiction Counselor Examiners	https://dpo.colorado.gov
Connecticut	CT	Connecticut Certification Board	https://www.ctcertboard.org
Delaware	DE	Delaware Certification Board	https://www.decertboard.org/certifications
District of Columbia	DC	District of Columbia Department of Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration (HRLA)	https://dchealth.dc.gov/service/addiction-counselors-licensing
Florida	FL	Florida Credential Board	https://flcertificationboard.org
Georgia	GA	Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia	https://adacbga.org/certifications
Hawaii	HI	Department of Health, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division	https://health.hawaii.gov/substance-abuse/home/counselor-certification
Idaho	ID	Idaho Board of Alcohol/Drug Counselor Certification	https://www.ibadcc.org/certification
Illinois	IL	Illinois Certification Board	https://www.iaodapca.org
Indiana	IN	Behavioral Health & Human Services Licensing Board	https://www.in.gov/pla/social.htm
Iowa	IA	Iowa Board of Certification	https://iowabc.org/credentials
Kansas	KS	Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board	https://ksbsrb.ks.gov/professions/addiction-counselors
Kentucky	KY	Kentucky Board Of Alcohol And Drug Counselors	https://adc.ky.gov
Louisiana	LA	Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority	https://www.la-adra.org
Maine	ME	Board of Alcohol & Drug Counselors	https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing
Maryland	MD	Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists	https://health.maryland.gov/bopc/Pages/index.aspx
Massachusetts	MA	Bureau of Substance Addiction Services	https://www.mass.gov/orgs/bureau-of-substance-addiction-services
Michigan	MI	Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals	https://www.mcbap.com/
Minnesota	MN	Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy	https://mn.gov/boards/behavioral-health
Mississippi	MS	Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors	https://www.lpc.ms.gov/secure/index.asp
Missouri	MO	Missouri Credentialing Board	https://missouricb.com
Montana	MT	Board of Behavioral Health	http://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/bbh
Nebraska	NE	Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services	http://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Licensing-Home-Page.aspx
Nevada	NV	Nevada State Board of Examiners for Alcohol, Drug, and Gambling Counselors	http://alcohol.nv.gov
New Hampshire	NH	New Hampshire Board of Licensing for Alcohol and Other Drug Use Professionals	https://www.oplc.nh.gov/board-licensing-alcohol-and-other-drug-use-professionals
New Jersey	NJ	State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners	https://certbd.org
New Mexico	NM	Counseling and Therapy Practice	http://www.rld.state.nm.us/boards/Counseling_and_Therapy_Practice.aspx
New York	NY	National Board for Certified Counselors, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services	https://oasas.ny.gov/providers/professional-credentialing
North Carolina	NC	North Carolina Substance Abuse counselor Professional Practice Board	https://www.ncsappb.org/credentialing
North Dakota	ND	North Dakota Board of Addiction Counseling Examiners	http://www.ndbace.org
Ohio	OH	Chemical Dependency Professionals Board (CDPB)	https://ocdp.ohio.gov/
Oklahoma	OK	Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol Professional Counselor Association	https://www.odapca.org
Oregon	OR	Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists	https://www.oregon.gov/oblpct/Pages/index.aspx
Pennsylvania	PA	Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors	https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing
Rhode Island	RI	Rhode Island Certification Board	https://www.ricertboard.org
South Carolina	SC	South Carolina Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists	https://www.llr.sc.gov/cou
South Dakota	SD	Board of Addiction and Prevention Professionals	https://dss.sd.gov/licensingboards/bapp/bapp.aspx
Tennessee	TN	Board of Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists and Licensed Pastoral Therapists, Board of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors	https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/pcmft-board.html
Texas	TX	Texas Certification Board of Addiction Professionals	https://www.tcbap.org
Utah	UT	Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing	https://dopl.utah.gov
Vermont	VT	Vermont Alcohol and Drug Certification Board	https://sos.vermont.gov/alcohol-drug-abuse-counselors
Virginia	VA	Virginia Board of Counseling	https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/counseling
Washington	WA	Washington Department of Health, Board of Professional Counseling	https://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/ProfessionsNewReneworUpdate/SubstanceUseDisorderProfessional
West Virginia	WV	West Virginia Certification Board for Addiction & Prevention Professionals	https://www.wvcbapp.org
Wisconsin	WI	Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board	https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/BoardsCouncils/MPSW/Default.aspx
Wyoming	WY	Wyoming Mental Health Professions Licensing Board	https://mentalhealth.wyo.gov

Begin Your Education in Substance Abuse Counseling at UC—Contact Us Today

Understanding state licensure requirements is crucial on your pathway to becoming a substance abuse counselor. However, your first step is finding a bachelor’s degree program that will serve as your career’s foundation! If the flexibility of an online degree program appeals to you, then UC’s online Bachelor of Science in Substance Abuse Counseling may be the perfect match for your goals.

Still have questions? Contact an Enrollment Advisor and get the answers you need or visit the program webpage for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What can you do with a bachelor’s degree in substance abuse counseling?

After achieving the appropriate level of licensure, substance abuse counseling graduates may pursue further education or work in a variety of settings. These settings may include hospitals, outpatient treatment facilities, DUI programs, or private practice.

What is the job outlook for substance abuse counseling?

Due to increased demand and addiction/mental health insurance coverage, careers in substance abuse and addiction counseling are flourishing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of 19% from 2023 to 2023, much faster than the average.