Substance Abuse Counselor Licensure By State Guide

Substance abuse counselors are included under the wider umbrella of addiction counselors, who typically must be licensed to practice. Licensure ensures that counselors have the skills, knowledge, and experience to provide quality treatments for addictions in clinical settings. Substance abuse counselor requirements tend to vary more by state than other professional counseling roles. This guide provides the typical steps to licensure and clarifies state requirements for substance abuse counselor licensure and certification with a detailed table.

Table of Contents

What Is the Difference Between Licensure and Certification?

The differences between licensure and certification can be confusing, especially because the way the terms are used can vary by state. “Certification” is also used as a general term for the state credentialing process, even in states where the term “licensure” is preferred. The following definitions can help you understand the way these concepts work in practice.

• A substance abuse counselor license is a state-issued credential that allows a counselor to work within a defined practice area. A license is a legal privilege to practice, as long as the person holding the license follows state rules.
• Substance abuse counselor certification can mean a state-issued credential or a certification from a national professional organization. Many people use “certification” in place of “licensure” when talking about credentials.
• Some states use “certification” in place of, or interchangeably with, “licensure” for certain categories of counselors. The term sometimes distinguishes counselors with less than a master’s degree from master’s-level counselors, who typically have expanded practice privileges.
• In contrast to state certification, national certification on its own is not a legal right to practice. However, in many states, national certification is a key part of the credentialing process.

Addiction Counselor Certification Requirements by State

The table below outlines the minimum educational requirements for a substance abuse counselor license or credential by state.

Table notes:
— No license associated with this degree level.
* Typically supervised practice.
** No license is required to practice in this state, but you must hold an acceptable national certification from a recognized organization.
^ At least 60 credits toward a bachelor’s degree.

Notes:
— No license associated with this degree level.
* Typically supervised practice.
** No license is required to practice in this state, but you must hold an acceptable national certification from a recognized organization.
^ At least 60 credits toward a bachelor’s degree.

Steps to Substance Abuse Counselor Certification

The process to become a substance abuse counselor varies by state and by license level. In states that have a tiered licensing structure, which means that you can advance to higher levels with education and experience, you may even repeat some steps in this process. In general, the steps to earning a substance abuse counselor license are:

• Earn the minimum required education for your state. Some states recognize a high school diploma or an associate or bachelor’s degree for the entry-level credential for substance abuse professionals if the applicant has completed acceptable counselor education, such as a certificate program or specific college coursework. In most states, you need at least a master’s degree for independent practice.
• Pass a background check. The timing of your background check may vary based on license and supervised experience requirements, but you’ll typically undergo a full state and national background check at least once during the certification process.
• Complete supervised experience. Most types of substance abuse counselor certification require at least some supervised counseling experience. As a general rule, the more advanced the license, the more supervision you must complete.
• Apply for a license. You’ll apply for your license through the appropriate state board. Most states use an online application.
• Pass your state’s required tests for addiction professionals. States may have their own exams or use nationally recognized tests, such as those from the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC). The state board must give you permission to take the exam before you’ll be allowed to register.
• Keep your license current. After it’s issued, you’ll need to renew your license periodically. Expect to complete continuing education as part of the renewal process.

National Certifications for Substance Abuse Counselors

Beyond being a license requirement in some jurisdictions, earning professional certification in addiction counseling can help build your skills and better qualify you for open positions. There are numerous reputable national programs for certifying or credentialing substance abuse counselors. These include:

• IC&RC: Offers credentials including Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC), Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (AADC), Prevention Specialist (PS), Certified Criminal Justice Addictions Professional (CCJP), Peer Recovery (PR), and Peer Recovery-Associate (PR-A)
• National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Offers the Master Addictions Counselor (MAC) certification
• National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP): Offers certifications including National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I), National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II (NCAC II), Master Addiction Counselor (MAC)
• American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders (American Academy): Offers the Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) credential

Substance Abuse Counselor License Reciprocity

If you’re licensed as a substance abuse counselor in one state, you aren’t automatically allowed to practice counseling in other states. However, you may be eligible to transfer your license to another state through a process called reciprocity. The IC&RC reciprocity process can help smooth this transition if you have IC&RC certification and are moving your license between two states that participate in the IC&RC.

If one or both states aren’t IC&RC member boards, you may still be eligible for reciprocity. Visit our counseling license reciprocity guide and your state licensing board for more information.

Related Articles

• Counseling Schools and Programs Guide
• Guide to Counseling Licensure
• Substance Abuse Counseling Degree and Licensure Guide
• Substance Abuse Counselor Career Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a substance abuse counselor do?

A typical substance abuse counselor job description includes tasks such as meeting with clients in recovery to assess their needs, goals, and progress; developing treatment and recovery plans; conducting individual and group therapy sessions; organizing and supervising support groups; helping clients identify their unwanted behaviors and develop balanced response strategies; and collaborating with family members, other healthcare professionals, and organizations to coordinate and help clients access care.

Can you be a substance abuse counselor without a degree?

Degree requirements for substance abuse and addiction counselors vary by state. In some states, you can work as a substance abuse counselor without a degree. However, you must typically be supervised by and/or working for a licensed professional with a master’s degree. States also commonly require certification or credentialing by a professional association if you don’t have a degree.

Do you have to be licensed to work as a substance abuse counselor?

A license isn’t required in all states. However, in states that don’t require licensure, you generally must be certified or credentialed by a recognized agency or organization in order to work as a substance abuse counselor. The scope of practice will vary by state and your education and experience level.

What is the difference between a substance abuse counselor and an addiction counselor?

A substance abuse counselor, sometimes known as a substance use disorder counselor or drug and alcohol counselor, specifically focuses on helping people who struggle with addiction to substances. Substance abuse counselors are addiction counselors, but the term “addiction counselor” can also refer to someone trained to treat other addictions, such as gambling. Some states, including Florida and Nevada, have specific licenses for gambling addiction treatment professionals.

How is an Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor different from a substance abuse counselor?

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) sponsors act as peer mentors to sponsees working on recovery by explaining the principles of AA and helping sponsees through the program’s 12 Steps. Peer mentors or sponsors generally don’t need to be certified or licensed because they aren’t providing professional help; their role is to support their sponsees, and they can’t accept payment. In contrast, substance abuse counselors provide professional help to many people, including people in AA and similar programs. Substance abuse counselors are paid for their work and usually have multiple clients.