Addiction Counselor Requirements in Florida
Florida offers two addiction counselor credentials through the Florida Certification Board: the Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) for intermediate-level work under supervision, and the Certified Addiction Professional (CAP) for independent clinical practice. CAC requirements start at 270 training hours with a high school diploma, while CAP requires a bachelor’s degree and 150-250 hours of specialized training.
Florida’s addiction counselors are committed to ensuring that those struggling with substance abuse disorder have the services and resources they need to find their own path toward recovery. Through evidence-based treatments and strategies, addiction counselors from the massive Miami metro area to Daytona Beach to St. Petersburg are helping countless Floridians reclaim their lives from addiction.
The path to becoming a certified addiction counselor in Florida is straightforward but rigorous. You’ll work with the Florida Certification Board (FCB), which oversees two distinct levels of professional credentials in the field.
Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to advance your credentials, understanding these requirements is your first step toward making a real difference in the lives of people fighting addiction.
Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) Requirements
The CAC credential is designed for counselors who work alongside clinical staff and are supervised by a CAP or other qualified professional. This is an excellent entry point if you’re building your career in substance abuse treatment.
Education Requirements for CAC
You’ll need a high school diploma or equivalent to pursue CAC certification. While a degree isn’t required at this level, you’ll need to complete 270 hours of training through an FCB-approved provider within the last 10 years.
Your training must cover these specific areas:
- Clinical Evaluation: 25 hours
- Treatment Planning: 15 hours
- Counseling: 30 hours
- Case Management and Referral: 10 hours
- Client, Family and Community Education: 10 hours
- Documentation: 10 hours
- Ethical and Professional Responsibilities: 30 hours
- Understanding Addiction/Treatment Knowledge: 70 hours
- Application to Practice/Professional Readiness: 70 hours (must include at least four hours of HIV-AIDS and two hours of Domestic Violence)
CAC Experience Requirements
Your required experience hours depend on your highest level of education. All experience must have occurred within the last five years, and volunteer experiences or non-clinical internships don’t count toward these requirements:
- High school diploma or equivalent: 6,000 hours
- Associate’s degree in a related field or non-related bachelor’s degree: 5,000 hours
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field: 4,000 hours
- Master’s degree or higher in a related field: 2,000 hours
What Qualifies as a “Related Field”?
The FCB recognizes degrees in these areas as related to addiction counseling:
Counseling & Therapy: Addiction Studies/Counseling, Art/Dance Therapy, Counseling/Guidance, Drama/Expressive Arts Therapy, Marriage and Family Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, Music Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Pastoral Counseling, Recreational Therapy/Counseling, Vocational Counseling
Healthcare & Medicine: Behavioral Healthcare, Health Education, Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences, Public Health
Social Sciences: Child Development/Family Relations, Criminal Justice, Gerontology, Human Services, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology
Other: Divinity/Religion/Theology (only with a concentration in counseling)
If your degree isn’t listed above, you can apply for a Degree Equivalency Review with the FCB to determine if it qualifies.
On-the-Job Supervision Requirements
You’ll complete a period of on-the-job supervision in an individual or group setting. Requirements vary based on your education level:
- High school diploma or equivalent: 300 hours
- Associate’s degree in a related field or non-related bachelor’s degree: 250 hours
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field: 200 hours
- Master’s degree or higher in a related field: 100 hours
Your supervision hours must include at least 10 hours in each of these core areas: Clinical Evaluation, Treatment Planning, Counseling, Case Management and Referral, Client/Family/Community Education, Documentation, and Ethical and Professional Responsibilities.
Your supervisor must be a licensed physician or physician’s assistant, a licensed advanced registered nurse practitioner, a Master’s Level Certified Addiction Professional (MCAP), or a Certified Addiction Professional (CAP). All supervision must have occurred within the last five years.
CAC Examination
You’ll take and pass the IC&RC’s Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam to earn your CAC credential. You can purchase study materials from the National Certification Board to help you prepare.
Certified Addiction Professional (CAP) Requirements
The CAP credential is Florida’s advanced certification for addiction professionals who provide direct clinical counseling and related services. The CAP is recognized under Florida’s State Medicaid plan, which means you’ll be able to serve a broader range of clients in more settings.
Education Requirements for CAP
You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in a related field to pursue CAP certification. The FCB divides qualifying degrees into two pathways based on whether your degree is in a counseling-related field or a broader behavioral health field.
Your degree pathway determines how many hours of content-specific training you’ll need:
- Counseling-related degree: 150 hours of training
- Behavioral health degree: 250 hours of training
Content-Specific Training Breakdown
Your training must be distributed across these core competency areas. The first number shows hours required for counseling-related degrees, and the second shows hours for behavioral health degrees:
- Understanding Addiction/Treatment Knowledge: 40 hours (counseling-related) / 60 hours (behavioral health)
- Trauma-Informed Care: 7 hours (both pathways)
- Suicide Prevention/Intervention: 7 hours (both paths)
- Crisis Management/Intervention: 7 hours (both paths)
- Application to Practice/Professional Readiness: 35 hours (both paths)
- Medication-Assisted Treatment/Harm Reduction: 6 hours (both paths)
- Documentation: 12 hours (counseling-related) / 15 hours (behavioral health)
- Recovery Oriented Systems of Care/Person Centered Counseling: 12 hours (counseling-related) / 15 hours (behavioral health)
- Case Management/Care Coordination: 12 hours (counseling-related) / 15 hours (behavioral health)
- Professional Ethics/Ethics for Helping Professionals: 6 hours (both pathways)
- Clinical Evaluation: 0 hours (counseling-related) / 26 hours (behavioral health)
- Treatment Planning: 0 hours (counseling-related) / 15 hours (behavioral health)
- Counseling: 0 hours (counseling-related) / 30 hours (behavioral health)
CAP Experience Requirements
Your experience requirements depend on which degree pathway you’re following:
- Counseling-related degree: 2,000 hours of documented work experience
- Behavioral health degree: 4,000 hours of documented work experience
All experience must have occurred within the last five years.
Direct Supervision Requirements
You’ll complete a period of direct supervision within the last five years (not to exceed three hours per week or 156 hours per year):
- Counseling-related degree: 100 hours minimum
- Behavioral health degree: 150 hours minimum
CAP Examination
You’ll take and pass the IC&RC Certified Addiction Professional (CAP) exam, which is administered through the Florida Certification Board. This 100-question multiple-choice exam tests your knowledge of Clinical Evaluation, Treatment Planning, Case Management and Referral, Counseling, Client/Family/Community Education, Documentation, and Professional Responsibilities. You can download the CAP exam preparation guide from the FCB.
CAC vs CAP: Which Path Is Right for You?
Understanding the differences between these two credentials can help you plan your career path effectively.
| Credential | Education Required | Training Hours | Experience Hours | Practice Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAC (Certified Addiction Counselor) | High school diploma or equivalent | 270 hours | 2,000-6,000 hours (depending on education) | Work under supervision alongside clinical staff |
| CAP (Certified Addiction Professional) | Bachelor’s degree in a related field | 150-250 hours (depending on degree type) | 2,000-4,000 hours (depending on degree pathway) | Independent clinical practice, Medicaid-recognized |
If you’re starting your career with a high school diploma or are transitioning from another field, the CAC provides a solid foundation. You’ll gain hands-on experience while working toward a bachelor’s degree if you choose to advance to the CAP level later.
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in a related field, pursuing the CAP directly makes sense. You’ll have more autonomy in your practice and access to a broader range of employment opportunities, including positions that accept Medicaid reimbursement.
Application Process and Timeline
All applications are completed through the FCB’s online portal. The process is straightforward once you’ve gathered your documentation.
For CAC Applicants
You’ll find all mandatory forms and detailed instructions on the CAC application page. You’ll need to submit:
- Proof of completed training hours from FCB-approved providers
- Documentation of work experience
- Verification of supervision hours
- Application fee
For CAP Applicants
All mandatory forms and detailed instructions are available on the CAP application page. You’ll need to submit:
- Official transcripts showing bachelor’s degree completion
- Proof of content-specific training hours
- Documentation of work experience
- Verification of direct supervision hours
- Application fee
What Happens After You Apply
The FCB will review your application and notify you once it’s been approved. You’ll then receive registration information for scheduling your certification exam. Most applicants hear back within 4-6 weeks, though processing times can vary based on application volume.
After passing your exam, you’ll receive your official certification credential. You’ll need to maintain your certification by meeting the continuing education requirements set by the FCB.
Florida Addiction Counselor Salary and Career Outlook
Florida’s addiction counselors earn competitive salaries that reflect the critical nature of their work. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Florida earn a median annual wage of $52,770.
Here’s how salaries break down across different percentiles in Florida:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $35,140 | $16.89 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,490 | $19.95 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $52,770 | $25.37 |
| 75th Percentile | $63,290 | $30.43 |
| 90th Percentile | $79,140 | $38.05 |
Florida employs approximately 6,680 addiction counselors, making it one of the largest markets for these professionals in the United States. Employment is concentrated in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metro area, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford regions, though opportunities exist throughout the state.
The job outlook for addiction counselors nationally is robust, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 19% growth through 2033—much faster than the average for all occupations. Florida’s ongoing efforts to address the opioid crisis and expand access to substance abuse treatment services mean demand for qualified counselors continues to grow.
Additional Certifications Available in Florida
The FCB offers several specialized credentials that can help you expand your practice or focus on specific populations:
- Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist (CTTS): Specialized training in tobacco cessation counseling
- Certified Gambling Addiction Counselor (CGAC): Focus on gambling addiction treatment
- Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS): Peer support for individuals in recovery
The FCB also offers certifications in prevention, criminal justice, and other human service and mental health fields. These additional credentials can help you stand out in the job market and serve clients with specialized needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a certified addiction counselor in Florida?
What’s the difference between CAC and CAP certification in Florida?
Can I work as an addiction counselor in Florida while completing my certification requirements?
Does Florida recognize addiction counselor certifications from other states?
How much does it cost to get certified as an addiction counselor in Florida?
What’s the job outlook for addiction counselors in Florida?
Do I need a college degree to become an addiction counselor in Florida?
What kind of work settings do Florida addiction counselors work in?
Key Takeaways
- Florida offers two main addiction counselor credentials through the Florida Certification Board: CAC (intermediate level, requires a high school diploma) and CAP (advanced level, requires a bachelor’s degree).
- CAC certification requires 270 training hours plus 2,000-6,000 experience hours, depending on education level, with all training completed through FCB-approved providers.
- CAP certification requires a bachelor’s degree, 150-250 hours of specialized training, and 2,000-4,000 experience hours, with requirements varying by degree pathway (counseling-related vs. behavioral health).
- Both credentials require passing a certification exam and completing supervised practice hours before you can practice independently.
- Florida addiction counselors earn a median salary of $52,770 annually, with experienced counselors earning up to $79,140.
- The job outlook is strong, with 19% projected growth through 2033, driven by Florida’s ongoing efforts to expand access to substance abuse treatment.
- Florida participates in IC&RC reciprocity agreements, making it easier to transfer credentials from other states, though you’ll still need to meet Florida-specific requirements.
- You can work in the field while completing certification requirements under proper supervision, which is how most counselors gain their required experience hours.
Ready to Start Your Florida Addiction Counseling Career?
Find accredited training programs approved by the Florida Certification Board and take the first step toward helping Floridians overcome addiction and rebuild their lives.
Salary data sourced from the 2024 USUSureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed December 2025.
Disclaimer: Addiction counselor certification requirements in Florida are subject to change. While we make every effort to keep this information current and accurate, always verify requirements directly with the Florida Certification Board before beginning your application process. For specific questions about your situation, contact the FCB at 850-222-6314.