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