How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor in New Mexico

Created by SubstanceAbuseCounselor.org Contributing Writer

Wastewater testing for illicit substances can be revealing, especially when you test the wastewater from high schools across New Mexico. In 2024 the verdict came in:

52% of high schools outside of metro Albuquerque tested positive for cocaine
75% of schools in metro Albuquerque tested positive for cocaine
13% of schools tested positive for fentanyl
Nearly 100% of schools tested positive for meth and amphetamines, though how much of that is due to legal use of ADHD medication is unknown

Drug and alcohol abuse are often afflictions associated with those at the margins of society. Here fentanyl leads the way for overdose deaths in New Mexico.

But substance abuse among the state’s most protected population – students living at home with their parents – sets off alarm bells on a whole other level. Something needs to be done, and fast, before the fentanyl crisis seeps even further into our neighborhoods.

In New Mexico the front line of defense against addiction starts with Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (LADAC).

This is where you come in. You’ve seen the ravages of substance abuse and you’re ready to make a difference. Whatever’s inspired you, your help couldn’t have come at a better time!

Steps to Becoming Certified as a Substance Abuse Counselor in New Mexico

New Mexico law requires you to be licensed if you want to engage in substance abuse counseling. The Counseling and Therapy Practice Board (CTPB) is the state agency responsible for issuing substance abuse licenses, which are as follows:

Licensed Substance Abuse Associate (LSAA) – This is the initial license you need so you can fulfill the supervised work experience requirement to become fully licensed. As an LSAA your scope of practice is limited to supervised work at public or private institutions. This can involve initial development of an intervention plan, basic problem solving, and client education in an individual or group counseling session.
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC) – This license allows you to engage in substance abuse counseling independently without supervision. You can work for a public or private agency or as an independent practitioner.

To become licensed you’ll follow these steps:

1. Earn an Associate or Higher Degree in Counseling or a Related Field and Additional Clock Hours in Substance Use Disorders

2. Apply For the LSAA License Through the New Mexico Counseling and Therapy Practice Board (CTPB)

3. Complete a Period of Supervised Work Experience Under Your LSAA Credential

4. Apply for the LADAC License Through the CTPB

5. Pass the National Certified Addiction Counselor Level I (NCAC I) Exam

Step 1 – Earn an Associate or Higher Degree in Counseling or a Related Field and Additional Clock Hours in Substance Use Disorders

The LSAA is your stepping stone to becoming an LADAC, with education requirements for the LADAC building on LSAA requirements. The LADAC also has a supervised experience requirement, though the more education you have the less supervised experience you’ll need to qualify for the LADAC.

We recommend earning a bachelor’s degree in substance abuse counseling. Here’s why:

It fulfills the education requirements for both the LSAA and LADAC
It decreases the amount of supervised work experience you’ll need to qualify for the LADAC by 1,000 hours
It can give you a notable advantage when you hit the job market looking for a place to complete your supervised work experience as an LSAA – this can mean it’s easier to find a job plus you can also negotiate for a higher salary
While earning a relevant master’s degree can go even further in reducing other requirements and expanding your opportunities, starting with a bachelor’s degree means you can begin working sooner and there’s a lower cost for entry. You can always choose to go for your graduate education later.
It’s never been easier to earn a bachelor’s degree in substance abuse counseling thanks to competitive online programs that admit students from throughout the country, including transfer students who’ve already completed an associate degree

All that being said, we’ll lay out exactly what the education requirements are for the LSAA and the LADAC so you can decide for yourself.

LSAA and LADAC Education Requirements

To qualify for both the LSAA and the LADAC you’ll need at least an associate degree in:

If you already earned an associate degree and it’s in a different field then check with the CTPB because they might approve it on a case-by-case basis.

And specifically, you need to complete a certain amount of “clock hours” in the field of substance abuse.

For the LSAA:

For the LADAC:

This is typically done through academic credit at a rate of one semester credit being equal to 15 clock hours. That works out to 6 semester credits for the LSAA and 18 semester credits for the LADAC. You could likely fulfill this requirement through electives or a focus within your associate degree program without needing to complete extra study.

Additionally, substance abuse certificate programs offered through New Mexico schools and community colleges are all designed to fulfill this requirement. In fact, there’s no certificate program less than 18 credits.

You can also complete your clock hours through CTPB-recognized continuing education courses, with one clock hour equaling one hour of continuing education. Continuing education can be:

Keep track of your hours of education on the CTPB’s Attachment D (LSAA, LADAC) which you can find on their website. You’ll submit this with your application for licensure.

Step 2 – Apply for the LSAA License Through the New Mexico Counseling and Therapy Practice Board (CTPB)

All license applications are submitted online through the New Mexico Professional Licensing User System (NM-PLUS). You’ll need to create an account. The CTPB’s mailing address for additional documents is:

Counseling and Therapy Practice Board
New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department
P.O. Box 25101
Santa Fe, NM 87504

A complete application for an LSAA includes the following:

Verification that you’re at least 21 years old
Sealed official transcripts showing completion of at least a qualifying associate degree; you can also have your school email these to the CTPB at [email protected]
Attachment D showing you’ve fulfilled your education clock hour requirements
A 2-inch by 2-inch photo of yourself taken within the past six months
$75 application fee
Attachment C that shows you’ve located a supervisor and established an Experience Plan

Wait, Attachment C and an Experience Plan? We’ll go over those right now.

Step 3 – Complete a Period of Supervised Work Experience Under Your LSAA Credential

The purpose of becoming an LSAA is so you can gain the hours of supervised work experience you need to qualify for full and independent licensure as an LADAC.

Your first step in this process is to find an employer who’s willing to hire you on the condition that you work as an LSAA towards becoming licensed as an LADAC. This is a typical arrangement employers are familiar with, and you’ll see job advertisements searching for aspiring LADACs in exactly your situation.

Your employer will provide you with a supervisor, and your supervisor must be licensed as such by the CTPB. You can find a list of all approved supervisors on the CTPB’s website. Most likely your supervisor will be an LADAC with supervisor status, but they can also be another licensed mental health professional with substance abuse experience and supervisor status.

Before you begin work, you and your supervisor will fill out Attachment C, also known as an Experience Plan. This form is available on the CTPB’s website. Submit this with your LSAA licensure application, and upon approval the CTPB will issue your LSAA license.

At this point you can begin accruing hours of supervised work experience.

So how much supervised work experience do you need to qualify for the LADAC license? That depends on your level of education:

If your highest level of education is an associate degree then you need three years and 3,000 supervised client contact hours, and 200 hours of direct supervision
If you have a bachelor’s degree then you need two years and 2,000 supervised client contact hours, and 100 hours of direct supervision
If you have a master’s degree then you need one year and 1,000 supervised client contact hours, and 50 hours of direct supervision

Once you complete your supervised experience requirements have your supervisor fill out Attachment B, verifying this, which is available on the CTPB’s website.

The LSAA expires every two years on September 30, so if you need additional time to complete your supervised work experience then make sure to renew it. If you time your application right and have a bachelor’s degree you might even be able to avoid LSAA renewal and transition right into an LADAC.

Step 4 – Apply for Your LADAC License Through the CTPB

You can apply for the LADAC license just like you did for the LSAA through your online NM-PLUS account. Mail in these accompanying documents:

Official sealed transcripts from your school
A recent 2x2-inch photo of yourself
Attachment D verifying your clock hours of education
Attachment B verifying your supervised work experience – your supervisor should mail this in
$150 fee

Once the CTPB approves your application it will send you the information you need to register for the NCAC I Exam.

Step 5 – Pass the National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I) Exam

The NCAC I Exam is affiliated with The Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC). You can take it at any Kryterion testing center, including those in:

The test itself is 150 multiple-choice questions which you’ll have three hours to complete. It covers these five broad areas:

You can find plenty of free and paid study prep guides out there to help you prepare for this exam. The NAADAC even offers a free webinar series.

Once the CTPB is notified by the NAADAC that you’ve passed the exam then it will issue your LADAC credential. Congratulations! You’re well on your way to making a difference in your community’s fight against drug and alcohol addictions.

With a Master’s Degree and More Experience Comes Advanced Certification Options in New Mexico

A master’s degree in substance abuse counseling can help your underlying knowledge and career potential in many ways. As you saw, it can save you years and thousands of hours of supervised work experience as an LSAA.

And while the CTPB is the only agency that can issue a license that allows you to legally work as a substance abuse counselor in New Mexico, once you are licensed you’ll find there are additional optional credentials offered by private organizations. Employers may state a preference for one of these, so they can also be valuable for padding your CV.

There are literally dozens of organizations out there offering optional substance abuse credentials. Having a master’s degree in substance abuse counseling will unlock some of these, and decrease the years of experience you’ll need to qualify for others.

We’re going to mention the two most prominent national substance abuse counseling organizations that have established a local presence in New Mexico. They each offer their own credentials that require varying levels of education, experience, and examinations. We’re noting them here just so you’re aware of them. And remember: they’re optional, and come after getting credentialed by the CTPB:

The New Mexico Credentialing Board for Behavioral Health Professionals (NMCBBHP) is the state affiliate of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC). The NMCBBHP has its own list of credentials you can consider should you choose.
The New Mexico Association of Addiction Professionals (NMAAP) is the state affiliate of the national NAADAC. While its state-level representation isn’t as robust as the NMCBBHP’s, the NAADAC is well-established nationally and offers a range of national credential options.

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces

The DEA says fentanyl is the number-one drug driving crime and violence in Albuquerque. In Santa Fe the New Mexico Department of Health announced in 2024 that it’s dramatically expanding services to assist residents suffering from opioid addictions.

Substance abuse is getting worse. If you can appreciate sharp irony, and you almost have to sometimes to survive in this field, then the flip side of this coin is job security. Between just 2019 and 2023 the number of substance abuse counselor jobs in the state grew by an incredible 46%.

As you research this field more you’ll come across these well-known agencies that see substance abuse up close every day:

Santa Fe Recovery Center – Operating facilities in Santa Fe and Gallup, this organization provides treatment for men and women through detox, sober living, residential, and outpatient programs.
Open Minds Healing and Recovery – Based from centers in Las Cruces and Alamogordo, this team of 13 counselors is versed in a range of therapeutic techniques. Its team includes social workers, clinical counselors, and LADACs.
UNM Health – Anyone who works in this field in Albuquerque is familiar with UNM Health. In addition to its Milagro Program, Jail Diversion Services, behavioral health, and Native American programs, its Addiction and Substance Abuse Program literally does it all: outpatient detox, case management, psychiatric services, medication-assisted treatment, and psycho-therapeutic services including group, individual, family, and couples.

Substance Abuse Counselor Salary in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, and Throughout New Mexico

Where demand increases so does salary. Over the past four years the average substance abuse counselor salary in New Mexico has increased by 31%.

That rule holds true when you compare the statewide salary at the mid-level range in this field, represented by the 75^th percentile, and at the most experienced level, represented by the 90^th percentile:

In fact, New Mexico ranks in the top-10 of all states in the nation for offering the highest average substance abuse counselor salary.

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Albuquerque

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Santa Fe

Of all cities in the nation Santa Fe offers the 7th-highest average substance abuse counselor salary.

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Las Cruces

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Farmington

Substance Abuse Counselor Degree Options in New Mexico

The colleges and universities offering substance abuse counseling degrees in New Mexico all provide the minimum education you’ll need to become an LADAC. That means associate degree programs or the option to add a certificate onto a degree.

That also means your CV is going to be next to a lot of other aspiring LADACs who have the minimum education it takes. Earning a bachelor’s degree puts you one level up and helps you stand out. And with online options your computer can literally be your classroom!

Central New Mexico Community College

School of Health, Wellness and Public Safety (HWPS)
Accreditation: HLC
Campus, Online, Hybrid

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell

Accreditation: HLC
Campus

Undergraduate Certificates

Eastern New Mexico University-Ruidoso Branch Community College

Accreditation: HLC
Campus

Undergraduate Certificates

Northern New Mexico College

Department of Arts and Human Sciences
Accreditation: HLC
Campus

Associate Degrees

Santa Fe Community College

School of Liberal Arts
Accreditation: HLC
Campus

Undergraduate Certificates

Associate Degrees

Western New Mexico University

College of Education
Accreditation: HLC
Online

Undergraduate Certificates

Bachelor's Degrees

Master's Degrees

Graduate Certificates

2023 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures shown here for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. Job growth projections are from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, CareerOneStop. Figures are based on state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2024.