Steps to Earning Substance Abuse Counselor Certification in Massachusetts

You’re sure to have plenty of questions when it comes to earning the credential that will allow you to practice as a substance abuse counselor in Massachusetts. Not to worry. We’ve broken down the process into easily manageable steps that will allow you to move toward certification with confidence.

1. Complete a 260-Hour Certificate Program in Alcohol and Drug Education and a 300-Hour Practicum

The first step to becoming an LADC II involves completing a program in alcohol and drug education through a BSAS-approved Addiction Education Program. The program must include at least 260-hours of classroom-based alcohol and drug education, and a 300-hour hands-on substance abuse practicum.

You may choose to complete a program that’s not approved by the BSAS; however, it will need to be reviewed by the BSAS during the application process.

There are a large number of programs in Massachusetts that meet the 260-hour education requirement. Offered through community colleges, treatment centers, and four-year colleges and universities throughout the state, substance abuse counseling certificate programs take about a year to complete and include the required practicum.

Of course, you always have the option of meeting these requirements through a full bachelor’s degree program. Even though attaining a bachelor’s degree isn’t part of the state requirements for certification in Massachusetts, doing so comes with some clear benefits. Through general undergraduate coursework, you would naturally come away with a broader skillset in communication and critical thinking, and a broader understanding of the social and cultural contexts that can contribute to addiction. And at the most practical level, a bachelor’s degree would not only include the 300-hour practicum requirement, it would reduce the number of supervised work experience hours required for certification by a third.

2. Document 6,000 hours of Supervised Work Experience in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment, Intervention, and Prevention

Once you’ve completed the required education and practicum, it’s time to land a job where you can begin to accrue the 6,000 hours (about three years) of supervised experience required to earn the LADC II credential.

Like many fields that have significant practice hour requirements as a condition for licensure, employers throughout Massachusetts routinely hire license candidates to provide the guidance and supervision they need. This opens the door to a years-long mentorship with an employer that fosters your growth and advancement, helping you achieve your LADC II license, and eventually even an LADC I.

During this time, you’ll be gaining experience in diagnostic assessment, intervention, and alcoholism and/or drug counseling to establish and maintain recovery and support relapse prevention. Your experience must include providing direct patient services. All experience must be obtained within the last ten years.

If you earned a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, you’ll only need to complete 4,000 hours (about two years) of supervised work experience. Earning a bachelor’s degree may position you for more professional opportunities and will also serve as an excellent precursor to a master’s degree and the LADC I credential (see the Earn a Higher Degree and Gain More Experience to Become a Become a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor I (LADC I) section).

3. Take and Pass the IC&RC CADC Exam

Once your application has been approved, you’ll need to take and pass the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Alcohol and Drug Counselors (ADC) exam, a computer-based exam that consists of 150 multiple-choice questions.

The Massachusetts Board of Substance Abuse Counselor Certification (MBSACC) administers all IC&RC exams. You must download, complete, and submit the Licensing Test Reservation form on the MBSACC site when you’re ready to take the ADC exam.

Upon approval, the MBSACC will forward your information to the testing company, ISO Quality Testing, who will then contact you (via email) with instructions for registering for the exam. You’ll have the opportunity to choose the location, date, and time of your exam. ISO Quality Testing will email you the results of your exam.

Note: Once you take and pass the ADC exam, you’ll have the opportunity to apply to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) with the MBSACC. The CADC credential is reciprocal with other members of the IC&RC.

4. Apply to Become an LADC II through the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services Alcohol and Drug Counselor Licensing Unit 

You must apply for licensure through the BSAS eLicensing System. To gain initial access, you’ll need to call 781-774-6627.

To maintain your LADC II credential, you must renew your license every two years upon the completion of at least 40 hours of continuing education in addictions, counseling techniques, and/or behavioral science.

With a Master’s Degree and More Experience, You Can Become a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor I (LADC I) in Massachusetts

The ability to practice substance abuse counseling independently in Massachusetts is reserved for those who have earned the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor I (LADC I) credential. The credential also comes with the authority to act as a supervisor to other drug and alcohol counselors.

To become an LADC I, you’ll need to 1) earn a master’s or doctoral degree in substance use disorder counseling, psychology, or any other behavioral science; and 2) pass the IC&RC Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (AADC) Exam. 

The additional practicum training, classroom hours, and experience requirements are the same as those for the LADC II, and don’t have to be repeated assuming you completed all 6,000 hours of supervised experience, a 300-hour practicum, and 260 alcohol and drug education hours in the course of becoming an LADC II. 

Note: Once you meet the requirements for LADC I and pass the AADC exam, you’ll have the opportunity to apply for the Certified Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor – Advanced Level (CADC II), a credential offered through the MBSACC in alignment with International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) standards recognized throughout the US.

The CADC II credential is reciprocal with other state board members of the IC&RC, allowing for better mobility from state to state and broader recognition of your skill level.

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Massachusetts

Between October 2022 and September 2023, the CDC reported a national opioid overdose rate of 32.3 deaths per 100,000 people. However, in many parts of Massachusetts, the rate of opioid overdose deaths far exceeded the national rate (sometimes nearly double the national rate), which speaks to the continued demand for substance abuse counseling professionals throughout the state: