Substance Abuse Counselor / Alcohol and Drug Counselor Requirements in Maryland
There’s no simple solutions to the complex, systemic problem that Maryland’s dual prescription opioid and street-grade fentanyl crises represent. But one thing you can be sure of is that the state’s substance use disorder professional community has a hand to play in it. Working with ordinary people and those struggling at the margins, you’ll find them in the heart of Baltimore, its surrounding communities, and in every corner of the state that in-patient facilities and outpatient programs can reach. Maryland’s substance abuse counselors are in the trenches every day, providing life-changing resources and services. And with the right credentials, you can be one of them.
Maryland substance abuse counselors are regulated and credentialed by the Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists, part of the Maryland Department of Health. They are credentialed through the state at three levels:
- Certified Supervised Counselor – Alcohol and Drug (CSC-AD)
- Certified Associate Counselor – Alcohol and Drug (CAC-AD)
- Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC)
Trainee status as an Alcohol and Drug Trainee (ADT) may be awarded before a degree has been earned.
Select a Maryland Alcohol and Drug Counselor Topic Below…
- Requirements: Alcohol and Drug Trainee (ADT)
- Requirements: Certified Supervised Counselor – Alcohol and Drug (CSC-AD)
- Requirements: Certified Associate Counselor – Alcohol and Drug (CAC-AD)
- Requirements: Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC)
- Application Process
- Additional Information
Requirements: Alcohol and Drug Trainee
You can earn the ADT credential by earning at least 15 semester hours of coursework in drug and alcohol counseling and alcohol and drug ethics. If you’ve already earned an associate degree or higher in a health and human service counseling field, you will need to show proof that you’ve completed a college course in alcohol and drug ethics.
You can hold the ADT credential for up to 6 years, although it must be renewed every two years.
Requirements: Certified Supervised Counselor – Alcohol and Drug
A CSC-AD is only permitted to provide alcohol and drug counseling services under the supervision of a Board-approved supervisor.
To become a CSC-AD, you must have an associate degree in a health or human services counseling field. If you earned an associate degree in a related field (must be approved by the Board), it must include at least 30 credit hours in counseling.
You must also complete at least 24 credits in alcohol and drug counselor training and either complete an internship of at least 6 credits or complete at least 1,000 hours of alcohol and drug counseling experience as an ADT.
All applicants must also take and pass the National Certified Addiction Counselor I (NCAC I) exam and the Maryland Law Assessment (offered through the CCE Academy).
Requirements: Certified Associate Counselor – Alcohol and Drug
To become a CAC-AD, you must earn a bachelor’s degree in a health and human services counseling field or in a similar program approved by the Board. If you earned a bachelor’s degree in a related field (must be approved by the Board), the degree must include at least 45 credit hours in counseling.
You must also complete at least 33 credits in alcohol and drug counselor training AND either complete an internship of at least 6 credits or complete at least 1,000 hours of alcohol and drug counseling work.
All applicants must also complete at least 1,000 hours of clinically supervised experience in alcohol and drug counseling as a CSC-AD or an ADT and take and pass the National Certified Addiction Counselor II (NCAC II) exam and the Maryland Law Assessment (offered through the CCE Academy).
Requirements: Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC)
To become an LCADC, you must earn a 60-credit master’s degree in a health and human services counseling field. If you earned a 48-credit master’s degree, you must complete additional coursework. You must also complete an internship of at least 6 credits or complete at least 1,000 hours of alcohol and drug counseling work as a licensed graduate alcohol and drug counselor, CSC-AD, CAC-AD, or ADT.
You must also complete at least two years (2,000 hours) of supervised clinical experience in alcohol and drug counseling, 1,500 hours of which must be in direct clinical counseling services. During this time, you must hold the Licensed Graduate Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LGADC) credential. Learn more about applying for the LGADC here.
All applicants must take and pass the Masters Addiction Counseling (MAC) exam and pass the Maryland Law Assessment (offered through the CCE Academy).
The Application Process
If you’re not sure whether you meet the educational requirements as outlined by the Board, you may complete a Pre-Application for Alcohol and Drug Counselor.
You must download, complete, and notarize the appropriate application and upload it, along with a passport-sized photo, copy of your passing exam score, and a criminal background check, through the Board’s online portal.
All application fees must be paid here.
Additional Information
The Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists be reached at 410-764-4732.