Alcohol and Drug Counselor Requirements in Nebraska
Alcohol and drug counseling is a demanding career not without its challenges. But for those with a passion for helping people climb out from what could be the darkest point in their lives as they work to overcome addiction, it can also be incredibly rewarding. Nebraska’s alcohol and drug counselors, a vital part of the substance abuse recovery community, save lives and transform families and communities through their work in hospitals, rehab facilities, community recovery centers, correctional facilities, and beyond.
Nebraska’s alcohol and drug counselors are regulated and licensed by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) as Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (LADC).
Licensure is dependent upon completing addictions-related coursework and practical training, working under supervision, and passing a licensing examination. Individuals working toward licensure hold the Provisional Drug and Alcohol Counselor (PLADC) designation while completing the required supervised clinical experience hours.
Select a Nebraska Alcohol and Drug Counselor Topic Below…
- LADC Education Requirements
- Training and Experience Requirements
- Examination Requirements
- Application Process
- IC & RC Reciprocity
- Additional Information
LADC Educational Requirements
To become an LADC, you must be at least 19 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. You must also complete 270 contact hours of education in alcohol and drug counseling, broken down as:
- 45 contact hours of counseling theories and techniques:
- 45 contact hours of group counseling
- 30 hours of human growth and development
- 15 hours of professional ethics
- 30 hours of alcohol/drug assessment, case planning, and management
- 30 hours of multicultural counseling
- 45 hours of medical and psychosocial issues of alcohol/drug abuse and addiction
- 30 hours of chemical dependency clinical issues
The DHHS maintains a directory of approved courses through colleges and universities in Nebraska that meet the above requirements.
Training and Experience Requirements
You must also complete at least 300 hours of supervised practical training, which includes at least 10 hours in each of the 12 domains. This period of training must be completed under the supervision of a qualified supervisor, which is identified as an LADC or a psychologist or psychiatrist with training in substance abuse counseling.
You must have at least one hour of face-to-face supervision for every 10 hours of training.
Once this period of supervised training is completed, you’ll apply for the Provisional Drug and Alcohol Counselor (PLADC) designation, which you’ll hold while you complete the required clinical training hours.
Once you’ve earned the PLADC designation, it’s time to complete the required clinical training. The total number of required hours you’ll need to complete will depend upon your highest level of education with a qualifying degree. Applicants must complete at least 6,000 hours of paid supervised work experience, although a number of hours can be substituted as follows:
- Associate’s degree in addictions or chemical dependency: substitute for 1,000 hours
- Bachelor’s degree in counseling, addictions, social work, sociology, or psychology: substitute for 2,000 hours
- Master’s degree or higher in counseling, addictions, social work, sociology, or psychology: substitute for 4,000 hours
Examination Requirements
You must hold the PLADC to be eligible to take the required exam. You’ll need to complete the Examination Application and return it to the DHHS.
Once your application is approved, the DHHS will pre-register you to take the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam. You can expect to receive an email from SMT with instructions for registering and taking the exam.
DHHS will send you the official exam score from IC&RC.
The Application Process
Once you’ve taken and passed the ADC and have completed all required experience hours, you must apply to become an LADC by completing the Alcohol and Drug Counselor application and submit it, along with a Verification of Employment form (Attachment 1), to the DHHS.
IC & RC Reciprocity
Addiction counselors credentialed by IC&RC member boards may ask their member boards to endorse them. To be eligible, you must hold credentials at the reciprocal level and complete the Reciprocity application.
Additional Information
The Licensure Unit can be reached at 402-471-2117 or [email protected].
Nebraska NAADAC, a state affiliate of the Association for Addiction Counselors, serves as an additional resource for addiction professionals.