How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor in Arkansas

Arkansas landed itself at the top of a national list in 2022, but for all the wrong reasons. According to a survey drawing from Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, the state ranked third in the nation for substance use based on a variety of metrics, including overdose rates, drug-related arrests, and opioid prescription numbers that appeared to go well beyond what would be routinely prescribed.

And though there’s been something of a reversal in that trend in more recent years that serves as a testament to the work being done by the state’s Licensed Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (LADAC) and other treatment professionals, that sobering examination of Arkansas’ drug abuse epidemic has put the issue front and center in the minds of many people here in the Natural State.

But there’s hope on the horizon, with an increasing number of programs and services unfolding at both the state and regional levels. Licensed Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (LADAC), Alcohol and Drug Counselors (ADC), and other treatment professionals are an important part of these efforts, providing individuals and communities with the education, resources, and support they need to break the cycle of drug addiction.

You too can be part of the solution.

Steps to Becoming Certified as a Substance Abuse Counselor in Arkansas

The Arkansas State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (SBEADAC) is the government agency responsible for licensing substance abuse counselors in Arkansas, using a two-tier credentialing system based on education and experience:

Additionally, the Arkansas Substance Abuse Certification Board (ASACB) is a state-level, nonprofit professional association that certifies substance abuse counselors in line with common IC&RC standards:

So which credentialing body should you choose?

Credentials through both organizations serve a purpose. You’ll need a state license issued through the SBEADAC to legally practice as a full authority substance abuse counselor in Arkansas, but earning ADC certification through the ASACB will help you get there.

Think of certification as your path to becoming licensed:

The SBEADAC is a state government body that offers licenses in alcoholism and drug abuse counseling, regulating the profession in a similar manner as other Arkansas state professional boards, like those dedicated to nursing, social work, marriage and family therapy, and mental health counseling. Licensing grants the legal authority to practice in the state. It ensures the safety of the public by establishing high standards for professional practice, while offering certain protections to license holders and allowing their services to be reimbursed by healthcare insurance providers operating in the state.
The ASACB is a non-governmental professional organization offering voluntary certification in alignment with the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC), which administers the exam that most states use when certifying substance abuse counselors. By itself, ADC certification does not grant the legal authority for clinical practice in the state of Arkansas. Only licensure can do that. But it does satisfy many of the requirements for state licensure, creating a streamlined path to becoming licensed. It also serves as an additional layer of professional recognition that’s widely recognized among the professional community, both in Arkansas and in other states that adhere to IC&RC standards and exams.

The Addiction and Drug Counselor (ADC) credential serves as an entry point to earning the Licensed Associate Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselor (LAADAC) license in Arkansas. Here in this guide we’ll be describing how to earn both your ADC certification and your LAADAC license.

Here are the steps you’ll take to become a substance abuse counselor in Arkansas:

1. Complete Required Training and Earn a Bachelor’s or Higher Degree in Substance Abuse Counseling or Similar Major

2. Complete Three Years of Supervised Work Experience

3. Take and Pass a National Qualifying Exam and Apply for ADC Certification

4. Apply for the LAADAC Credential

This guide will take you through the step-by-press process to becoming a Licensed Associate Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselor (LAADAC) Arkansas by way of ADC certification.

1. Complete Required Training and Earn a Bachelor’s or Higher Degree in Substance Abuse Counseling or Similar Major

The first step to becoming an Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) requires completing a course of formal training and education equal to 300 clock hours. You can earn the required hours through a certificate program or through the Center for Addiction Studies and Research, an ASACB-approved distance-learning provider of education for substance abuse certification.

You can also meet this requirement by completing a combination of college coursework, workshops, seminars, and live internet training. College coursework credits are converted into clock hours. Each three-credit course equals 42 hours, so you’ll only need to complete seven college courses to meet this requirement.

Becoming a Licensed Associate Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LAADAC) in Arkansas requires you to hold a bachelor’s or higher degree in substance abuse counseling, addictions studies, or a related major in behavioral health. Since you’re aiming to meet licensure requirements, it’s wise to consider going all-in on education at this point by enrolling in a bachelor’s degree program.

And since a bachelor’s program will include a clinical practicum, you’ll begin gaining valuable experience applicable toward certification and licensure even before you graduate. More on that in Step 2.

The Arkansas State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (SBEADAC) doesn’t name specific degree majors, but states that an approved education must cover 270 clock hours of mental health and alcohol/substance use disorder counseling topics, theory, practice, and research. Completing the requirements for ADC certification will more than meet this requirement.

All course content will be reviewed for approval by the SBEADAC Credentialing Committee.

Additionally, you’ll need to complete at least six hours of ethics training within the two years prior to submitting your application for LAADAC licensure. And since your required period of supervised experience (discussed in the next step) lasts three years, you’ll need to get that training outside of your bachelor’s program. You’ll find qualifying short-course training programs in ethics available through online providers, local community colleges, and webinars announced periodically throughout the year on the SBEADAC website.

2. Complete Three Years of Supervised Work Experience

After earning your bachelor’s degree, it’s time to complete three years of supervised work experience under the guidance of an Arkansas state Licensed Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC) in a real world clinical setting. This is a requirement for both ADC certification and LAADAC licensure.

This period of field experience, building on the principals and practices learned in the classroom, is your opportunity to apply that knowledge in your work with actual clients recovering from substance use disorders. Of course, this makes it the most critical piece to your career preparation. Your experience will involve performing tasks that cover the 12 core functions of substance use disorder counseling:

Screening
Intake
Orientation
Assessment
Treatment Planning
Counseling
Case Management
Crisis Intervention
Client Education
Referral
Report and Recordkeeping
Consultation with Other Professionals

A Bachelor’s Degree Reduces the Experience Requirements for ADC Certification

The supervised experience required for ADC certification without a degree is the same – 6,000 hours (about three years) of clinical work experience. But good news! If you earned a bachelor’s degree you won’t need nearly as many hours to be eligible for certification.

What this means is that you’ll be eligible for ADC certification after only two years of supervised experience, but would need to continue on with one more year to meet the requirements for LAADAC licensure.

A supervised practicum of at least 300 hours must be part of your documented work experience. Your practicum must be completed in an Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) facility, under the supervision of a Clinical Supervisor (CS) or someone with a master’s degree who is licensed as a behavioral healthcare provider in Arkansas. By completing a bachelor’s degree, you’ve more than likely already satisfied the 300-hour practicum requirement as part of your program.

After you’ve earned the required education but before you begin your period of training, you’ll need to register as a Counselor in Training (CIT). This process includes creating an account with Certemy, the ASACB’s online portal, and passing a background check. The CIT is valid for a period of five years. If you haven’t earned the required clinical experience hours for ADC certification during this time, you’ll need to re-register for the CIT.

Documenting Your Experience for LAADAC Licensure

Before you can register as a CIT, you must secure a Certified Clinical Supervisor who is willing to take you on. You can secure that arrangement through local employers throughout Arkansas. Many employers are willing to hire LAADAC candidates to provide clinical training and documented supervised experience, either for a limited duration or with the idea that you’ll be hired for the long term. This is a great arrangement for employers, who get the opportunity to familiarize candidates with the specific client types, culture, and specialties the clinic focuses on, while candidates get invaluable real-world exposure while accumulating the hours required for ADC certification and LAADAC licensure.

There’s no guarantees that this will result in longterm employment for you once you’ve earned your LAADAC license, but it’s a very real possibility that it will.

Your supervised work experience will be documented by your supervisor, and then attested to by you and your supervisor on the Verification of Supervision form, along with details on job duties you performed.

3. Take and Pass a National Qualifying Exam and Apply for ADC Certification

As the last step before applying for ADC certification through the Arkansas Substance Abuse Certification Board (ASACB), you’ll need to pass the IC&RC Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) written exam. This exam tests your knowledge and competency in various critical areas of substance abuse counseling, including:

Clinical Evaluation
Treatment Planning
Referral
Service Coordination
Counseling
Client, Family, and Community Education
Documentation
Professional and Ethical Responsibility

SBEADAC’s only statement on the final exam for vetting LAADAC and LADAC candidates is that it must be a national qualifying written exam as prescribed by SBEADAC. Of course, SBEADAC would accept the IC&RC Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) exam you take in the course of becoming certified for the purpose of qualifying for LAADAC licensure.

You’ll apply to take the written exam through Certemy.

After passing the exam, you can submit your application to the ASACB for ADC certification. First, complete the official application form through Certemy (linked above), including detailed information about your education, work experience, and supervision.

Along with your application, submit the non-refundable application fee of $250. You’ll also need to sign the ASACB code of ethics, agreeing to adhere to the professional standards expected of certified counselors, and provide three personal references who can attest to your character and suitability for the role.

You’ll also need to write a personal philosophy statement outlining your beliefs, values, and approach to substance abuse counseling.

Once your application is reviewed and approved, you’ll be granted ADC certification and be on your way to making a significant difference in the lives of people struggling with addiction in Arkansas.

4. Complete One More Year of Supervised Experience and Apply for the LAADAC Credential

Even after earning ADC certification through the ASACB on the basis of your bachelor’s degree and two years of supervised experience, you’ll still need to complete one more year of supervised experience before applying for LAADAC licensure through the Arkansas State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (SBEADAC).

After completing that final year, you’ll be able to submit your license application and supporting documents for LAADAC licensure to SBEADAC.

The Board provides a Licensure Submission Checklist to help you in this process.

The application process includes furnishing the same documents and information you already collected for your ADC certification application — proof of your completed bachelor’s degree in the behavioral health field, verification of your supervised work experience, and proof of at least six hours of ethics training within the last two years.

Additionally, you will also need to sign an agreement to abide by the code of ethics, provide three letters of reference, and pay a license fee of $265.

The SBEADAC will review your application. Once it has been approved, you are officially granted LAADAC licensure in Arkansas!

With a Higher Degree and More Experience Comes Advanced Certification Options

Advancing your education and experience can lead to higher certification levels through the ASACB. These include the (Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) and Clinical Supervisor (CS) designations. These same qualifications will make you eligible for the higher level license through SBEADAC, the Licensed Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC).

Requirements for Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) Certification Through ASACB:

Education: Obtain a master’s degree in a Behavioral Health or Human Services field.
Practicum: Complete a 300-hour supervised practicum covering the 12 core functions of addiction counseling.
Experience: Gain 2,000 hours (or 1 year) of work experience in the addictions field under a qualified supervisor.
Exam: Pass the IC&RC AADC Exam

There is no need to repeat any of the requirements you may have already met in the course of earning ADC certification and LAADAC licensure. In fact, with ADC certification and LAADAC licensure under your belt, the only remaining requirement for AADC certification and LADAC licensure is to earn a master’s degree.

Requirements for Clinical Supervisor (CS) Certification Through ASACB:

Prerequisites: Hold a current ADC or AADC certification.
Education: Complete 30 hours of pre-approved clinical supervision training, including six hours in clinical supervision skills. Training must cover five dimensions: Counselor Development, Professional/Ethical Standards, Program Development, Performance Evaluation, and Treatment Knowledge.
Experience: Accumulate five years (10,000 hours) of counseling experience, including 4,000 hours of clinical supervision experience.
Practicum: Complete a supervised practicum with 200 hours of face-to-face supervision.
Exam: Pass the IC&RC computer-based exam.

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Little Rock, Fayetteville, and Throughout Arkansas

Substance abuse counselors can make a meaningful impact all across Arkansas. In Little Rock, facilities like the Recovery Centers of Arkansas offer comprehensive treatment programs, while in Fayetteville, you can find opportunities at locations such as the Northwest Arkansas Psychological Group.

Other organizations in Arkansas where you may be able to find substance abuse counselor jobs include:

Embarking on a career as a substance abuse counselor in Arkansas not only allows you to help others but also offers you a fulfilling and rewarding professional path. With the ongoing need for these services, your role will be essential in supporting recovery and promoting healthier communities throughout the state.

Substance Abuse Counselor Salary in Little Rock, Fayetteville, and Throughout Arkansas

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for substance abuse counselors in Arkansas was $56,742 as of May 2023. Entry-level professionals in this field earned around $29,240, while highly experienced counselors earned $113,520 or more.

Little Rock: As of May 2023, the BLS reported a median salary of $59,717 for substance abuse counselors in Little Rock. Less experienced counselors earned about $30,120, while the top earners made more than $108,120.
Fayetteville: In Fayetteville, substance abuse counselors earned a median salary of $64,563. Those with less experience earned about $34,510, while those with the most experience earned $135,760 or more.

Substance Abuse Counselor Degree Options in Arkansas

Arkansas colleges and universities offer a variety of programs that meet the requirements for substance abuse counselor certification. For example, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock offers a BS in Social Work, which includes relevant coursework for substance abuse counseling, while the University of Arkansas Grantham offers an online BS in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Addiction Studies.

Many colleges and universities outside of Arkansas also offer online degree programs that meet the requirements to become a substance abuse counselor in Arkansas. Coursework may be offered in a fully online format, but in-person clinical placements would still be arranged at locations close to where you live.

Arkansas State University

College of Nursing and Health Professions, Social Work Department
Accreditation: HLC
Campus

Graduate Certificates

Option to complete with an MSW but this graduate certificate is not specifically a concentration within the MSW

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

School of Arts and Sciences
Accreditation: HLC
Online

Master's Degrees

University of Central Arkansas

College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Health Sciences
Accreditation: HLC
Online

Bachelor's Degrees

2023 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. Job growth projections 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 May 2024.