State & National Certification in Substance Abuse Counseling

Written by Sam Medley

Each state has its own substance use disorder (SUD) counselor credentialing requirements and processes.

In most states, you’ll go through an official government licensing agency to earn your credentials, no different than social workers, mental health counselors, and marriage and family therapists. In others, you go through one or more state-level non-governmental professional associations that have been delegated the authority to grant credentials that local employers and the broader substance use disorder and human services professional community recognize.

The legal authority to practice substance abuse counseling can only be granted at the state level. National certification alone won’t get it done.

But regardless of what type of credentialing body grants the legal right to practice in your state, one of these two big national organizations will play a part in every SUD counselor’s professional journey in every state:

In this guide, we’ll cover what you need to know about both, which states are aligned with NAADAC or IC&RC standards, and the exact role that organization will play in the state credentialing process you end up going through.

The Two Players in the Substance Abuse Counselor National Certification Game

While the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) and the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) are different organizations, they share some similarities. They both offer exams that states use to certify new counselors. They also set general standards that states often look to when establishing minimum requirements that counselors must meet — everything from degree level and specific curriculum components to the number of supervised practice hours it takes to be credentialed at different levels.

IC&RC - International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium

Every state in the US is home to a chapter of the IC&RC except for Alaska. However, they also have chapters in Canada, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean. The majority of jurisdictions in the US have adopted IC&RC policies and use their tests to certify new counselors.

By helping so many jurisdictions develop counselor certification requirements, the IC&RC aims to make requirements more uniform across the country. This helps counselors transfer their certifications to other jurisdictions and go where they’re needed most.

NAADAC - National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors

The NAADAC has chapters in all 50 states as well as in Antigua and Barbuda and Cyprus. While more states have adopted IC&RC policies than NAADAC policies, the NAADAC prides itself on its large professional network that provides support for counselors while being active in local and national policy issues.

Which Certification Exams Does My State Recognize?

In pretty much every state, you’ll have to pass an exam before you become an SUD counselor. However, most states don’t make up their own exams. Instead, they typically use exams created by the NAADAC or the IC&RC.

The NAADAC has three main counselor exams:

The National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I) Exam: an exam for entry-level counselors
The National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II (NCAC II) Exam: an exam for mid-level to advanced counselors
The Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) Exam: an exam for highly-advanced counselors who often provide clinical services and practice independently

The IC&RC also has three main counselor exams that, like the NAADAC exams, are designed for counselors at different levels as described in the name of the exam:

The Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) Exam
The Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) Exam
Clinical Supervisor (CS) Exam

According to a report about the SUD counselor workforce published by the US Department of Health and Human Services, 27 states only accept IC&RC exams. Six states only accept NAADAC exams. The remainder accept exams from both organizations.

While all states use these exams, each state sets their own standards for education and experience requirements that may diverge from the requirements NAADAC and IC&RC have for becoming nationally certified independent of meeting state requirements.

And each state has some variation on the professional titles that are used for counselors at the various levels. Some stick to NAADAC or IC&RC titles while others have their own equivalent title such as substance use disorder counselor, certified addiction counselor, or licensed addiction counselor.

State	Exams Accepted
Alabama	NAADAC and IC&RC
Alaska	NAADAC
Arizona	NAADAC and IC&RC
Arkansas	IC&RC
California	IC&RC
Colorado	NAADAC
Connecticut	IC&RC
Delaware	IC&RC
Florida	IC&RC
Georgia	NAADAC and IC&RC
Hawaii	IC&RC
Idaho	IC&RC
Illinois	IC&RC
Indiana	NAADAC and IC&RC
Iowa	IC&RC
Kansas	NAADAC
Kentucky	IC&RC
Louisiana	IC&RC
Maine	IC&RC
Maryland	NAADAC and IC&RC
Massachusetts	IC&RC
Michigan	IC&RC
Minnesota	NAADAC and IC&RC
Mississippi	IC&RC
Missouri	IC&RC
Montana	NAADAC
Nebraska	IC&RC
Nevada	IC&RC
New Hampshire	IC&RC
New Jersey	IC&RC
New Mexico	NAADAC
New York	IC&RC
North Carolina	IC&RC
North Dakota	NAADAC
Ohio	IC&RC
Oklahoma	IC&RC
Oregon	NAADAC
Pennsylvania	IC&RC
Rhode Island	IC&RC
South Carolina	NAADAC
South Dakota	IC&RC
Tennessee	NAADAC
Texas	IC&RC
Utah	NAADAC and IC&RC
Vermont	IC&RC
Virginia	NAADAC and IC&RC
Washington	NAADAC
West Virginia	IC&RC
Wisconsin	NAADAC
Wyoming	NAADAC

States That Accept Both Exams: Choosing a Certification That’s Right for You

If you live in a state that has IC&RC and NAADAC affiliates that both offer certification, which one you choose to get certified through depends on one major factor: your own career goals.

If you’re planning on moving to another state or at least want to be able to later, getting your counselor certification through the IC&RC might be a good bet. More states accept IC&RC exams than NAADAC exams. But on top of that, the IC&RC is focused more on making licenses transferable to other jurisdictions than the NAADAC. That being said, though, transfer policies vary from state-to-state. No matter what state you move from and to, you’ll likely have to go through a reciprocity process which is the process by which certification boards determine whether a counselor from another state meets their own standards.

On the other hand, you can become nationally certified through the NAADAC without going through a state affiliate. And because NAADAC national certification standards are often higher or equal to state standards, national certification might mean you can qualify for certification in additional states that accept NAADAC exams. On top of that, the NAADAC also offers career services, training opportunities, and conferences to its members. If you’d like to focus on networking, the NAADAC may be able to help.

How the Certification Agencies Influence State Education Requirements for Substance Abuse Counselors

Passing an exam is likely only one requirement you’ll have to meet to become an SUD counselor in your state. But before you can even register for your exam, you’ll have to get all or most of the education requirements out of the way first.

The minimum education requirements you need to meet largely come down to the level of certification you’re seeking — mid-level credentials in most states require an associate or bachelor’s degree, while advanced certification for independent practitioners most often require a master’s. Setting those requirements is a function of your state credentialing body.

But at each credential level, those requirements are also at least influenced by the exam your state recognizes — either the NAADAC exam or the IC&RC exam. In states where either exam is accepted, you’ll usually find the state goes with the lesser degree requirement.

And in all cases, degree programs in each state are typically built around helping students meet the requirements set by the state credentialing body.

Education Requirements in States That Only Accept NAADAC Exams

In states that just accept NAADAC exams, state credentialing bodies are most often NAADAC affiliates. This means that they’re members of the NAADAC network and use NAADAC certification requirements as guidelines for their own requirements. However, some states’ certification boards aren’t necessarily NAADAC affiliates — they just look to the NAADAC for guidance.

Fortunately, the NAADAC has pretty straightforward education requirements. Applicants typically need a certain level of degree, whether a certificate, bachelor’s, or master’s in substance abuse counseling or related field. On top of that, applicants also need to complete a certain number of education hours about substance use disorder-related topics, sometimes beyond what is included in the degree program if the degree wasn’t expressly built to satisfy state requirements. Additional courses can typically be completed through a college or seminars, workshops, and classes offered by approved organizations.

Certification Level	Minimum Degree Required	Number of SUD Education Hours Required
National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I)	High school diploma or GED	270
National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II (NCAC II)	Bachelor’s degree in an SUD or counseling-related subject	450
Master Addiction Counselor (MAC)	Master’s degree in an SUD or counseling-related subject	500

States with NAADAC-affiliated certification agencies typically follow these guidelines pretty closely. However, some states add their own education requirements. For example, many require students to take classes on specific subjects like domestic violence, HIV, and suicide prevention.

And in some states aligned with NAADAC standards, minimum requirements are less rigorous than the ones set for national certification, especially when it comes to meeting supervised experience hour requirements. In these cases, it’s possible to simply go all-in on national certification since your state credentialing body will recognize it as exceeding state requirements. Your legal authorization to practice still comes from the state credentialing authority in this case.

Education Requirements in States That Only Accept IC&RC Exams

The IC&RC doesn’t enforce strict national guidelines about counselor education requirements. They generally let their local affiliates establish their own requirements. This means that requirements vary pretty widely between states that only accept IC&RC exams.

Certification Level	Minimum Degree Required	Number of SUD Education Hours Required
Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC)	High school diploma or GED (Associate degree or bachelor’s degree in some states)	150 – 350 hours
Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC)	Master’s degree (Bachelor’s degree in some states)	180 – 350 hours
Clinical Supervisor (CS)	Master’s degree	~30 hours of clinical supervisor education in addition to other requirements

While this may seem to make counselor education standards a bit confusing, this system has certain advantages. Perhaps the most important one is that states can establish standards based on their needs and resources. For example, some states don’t have very many college-level counselor education programs. Requiring a college degree for certification would likely mean there wouldn’t be many new professionals entering the workforce.

However, if you’re in an IC&RC state that doesn’t require all counselors to have some sort of degree, there’s another factor to consider that may necessitate earning a degree anyway: employer education standards. Some employers prefer counselors with at least an associate degree or bachelor’s degree for entry- to mid-level positions. If you’re looking for high-level clinical or administrative positions, you may even want to pursue a master’s degree at some point in your career.

Another important thing to consider in IC&RC states is that some require applicants to have degrees in SUD counseling or related subjects like social work, addiction studies, and behavioral health. In others, a degree in any subject qualifies as long as you complete the required number of SUD-specific education hours.

How the Certification Agencies Influence State Experience Hour Requirements for Substance Abuse Counselors

Aside from education, another important requirement when becoming a SUD counselor is earning enough supervised practice hours. These are hours in which you counsel clients, perform documentation and administrative duties, and carry out other tasks under the guidance of an experienced professional.

When it comes time to pursue your own counselor certification, supervised experience hour requirements are extremely important to pay attention to. This is because there is a lot of variance between states regardless of whether the NAADAC or IC&RC has the most influence in the state.

Supervised Practice Hour Requirements in States That Only Accept NAADAC Exams

If you want to become certified as a counselor directly through the NAADAC and not your local state affiliate, you’ll have to complete 6,000 supervised practice hours no matter what level of certification you’re pursuing. However, most states that require the NAADAC exam don’t adhere to this requirement. In fact, most have lower requirements.

For example, in Colorado, counselors must go through a state-run agency that only accepts NAADAC exams. However, it only takes 2,000 supervised experience hours to qualify for a full substance use disorder counselor license. About 2,000 to 4,000 hours is a relatively common requirement in NAADAC states for all levels of licensure.

But no matter what the specific hour requirement is in your state, if it’s a state influenced mostly by NAADAC policies, you’ll likely spend your supervision hours working on nine skill areas outlined in NAADAC standards:

Admissions, intake, screening, intake, and client orientation.
Clinical assessment
Treatment planning
Group, family, and individual counseling (also includes crisis intervention techniques and client education.
Documentation
Case management
Discharge planning and continuing care
Your ethical and legal responsibilities including professional development.
The psychopharmacology and physiology of substance use disorders.

In some states, you might have to spend a certain number of hours on each skill group. Your supervisor will likely submit a final assessment of your mastery of each area. You’ll also be tested on your knowledge of each skill area on the final exam.

Supervised Practice Hour Requirements in States That Only Accept IC&RC Exams

In states that require IC&RC exams, supervised practice hours vary widely, often more than in NAADAC states. Once again, this is because the IC&RC typically lets their state affiliates determine their own certification requirements.

Certification	Supervised Practice Hours Required
Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC)	4,000 to 6,000 hours
Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC)	2,000 to 10,000
Clinical Supervisor (CS)	~4,000 hours of supervision practice in addition to other requirements

Like the NAADAC, the IC&RC breaks down counselors’ duties into a few specific skill areas. While there is some overlap, the IC&RC’s counselor skill areas are broken up slightly differently. Additionally, counselors preparing for different levels of certification have different skill sets to master.

If you’re applying for Alcohol and Drug Counselor certification, you’ll need to work on four domains:

The science behind substance use disorders and common co-occurring disorders. This domain covers identifying risk factors, assessing clients, and helping them overcome health and mental health problems that often come with substance use disorders.
Using evidence-based methods to screen and assess clients. This includes administering and interpreting tests, using interviewing techniques, and making treatment plans based on your assessment.
Counseling and referrals. In addition to including group, family, and individual counseling techniques, this domain also includes discharge planning and working with other professionals as needed.
Ethical and Legal Duties. This includes logistical skills such as record-keeping and more nuanced skills such as setting appropriate boundaries and maintaining an inclusive counseling environment.

If you’re applying for Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, you’ll need to work on the same domains but will likely practice more advanced skills. But if you’re applying for the Master Addiction Counselor certification, you’ll also work on assessing other counselors and developing and evaluating treatment programs. In any case, you’ll be tested on these domains on your final exam and your supervisor will likely evaluate you based on them.

Standard Supervised Experience Requirements Found in All States

No matter what kind of exam your own state accepts, completing supervision hours isn’t always just a matter of finding a place to work and working enough hours. For your supervision hours to count, your supervision experience may have to meet other requirements, as well.

During supervision, you may need to:

Work directly with your supervisor for a set number of hours. During your supervised work experience, you may not always have to work directly under your supervisor. However, some states say applicants should work directly with their supervisors for a certain amount of time, usually a few hundred hours. This is so they can take notes on your progress and give in-depth guidance.
Work under a specific type of supervisor. In most states, your supervisor needs to be an experienced, licensed or certified professional. While this typically includes certified SUD counselors, some states allow applicants to work under psychologists, social workers, child and family therapists, and other behavioral professionals, as well.
Perform certain tasks for your hours to count. State regulations vary widely on what actually counts as supervised experience. Some say that as long as applicants are doing duties a counselor would do (including paperwork and meetings), then all hours count. But some are a little more strict. In such states, only direct patient contact hours or hours spent working directly with your supervisor count.
Work in a specific capacity. Depending on where you live, your local board may count hours spent working as a volunteer towards your supervised experience hour requirement. But not all states follow that rule. In some, you might have to be a paid employee or complete a practicum while you earn your degree for your hours to count.
Get a training license. In states with strict counselor certification laws, you may have to become an SUD counselor trainee or associate before starting your supervised experience. This typically includes completing some of your education hours and undergoing a background check.

The Bottom Line – You Need to Investigate Your State’s Certification Requirements

The IC&RC and NAADAC are both highly-recognized and highly-respected substance abuse counselor certification agencies. While IC&RC exams are accepted in more states than NAADAC exams, both organizations have local affiliates across the country that support the recovery workforce, advocate for equitable access to treatment, and educate their communities. Certification through either organization can be a great way to become involved in such efforts.

Of course, the core function of substance abuse counselor certification is two-fold. It’s there for your own professional preparation and advancement, but also to ensure you meet the education and experience standards your state has set to ensure the safe and effective delivery of counseling and other treatment services to your clients.

That means you’ll always need to have the official approval of your state credentialing authority to make your way in the field. So the wisest place to start is by investigating your own state’s requirements for becoming a substance use disorder counselor.