Substance Use Disorder Counselor Requirements in Utah
To become a substance abuse counselor in Utah, you need at least an associate degree plus 200 hours of SUD education, 200 practicum hours, and 2,000 supervised work hours. Utah offers three licensure levels: SUDC (associate degree), ASUDC (bachelor’s degree), and MAC (master’s degree). All levels require passing NAADAC or IC&RC certification exams.
There’s a good chance you’re here because you understand what addiction does to people and families. Maybe you’ve experienced it yourself, or watched someone you love fight through it. That understanding—that deep knowledge of how hard recovery is—makes you exactly the right person for this work.
Utah’s substance abuse counseling community may be smaller than some states, but it’s focused and effective. While Utah typically reports lower addiction rates than the national average, thousands of people still need help every year. Some treatment centers report that Utah’s natural environment and established recovery network attract clients from other states, though formal data is limited.
Best of all, Utah’s Substance Use Disorder Counselor Licensing Board offers a streamlined certification process. Whether you’re starting with an associate degree or already hold a master’s, there’s a clear path forward. The Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) has created three distinct licensure levels that recognize different education backgrounds and experience levels.
Substance Use Disorder Counselor (SUDC) Requirements
The entry-level Substance Use Disorder Counselor license is designed for those with an associate degree or higher. You don’t need a degree specifically in substance abuse counseling, but your education must come from an institution accredited by a Council for Higher Education Accreditation-recognized (CHEA) agency.
Your education needs to include three key components: 200 hours of substance use disorder education, a 200-hour practicum where you work directly with clients, and prerequisite courses in general psychology and human growth and development. You’ll also complete a two-hour suicide prevention class, which can be a workshop rather than a formal college course.
After completing your education, you’ll need 2,000 hours of supervised work experience. This breaks down to meeting with your clinical supervisor for at least one hour for every 40 hours of client contact you provide. Only paid employment counts toward this requirement—volunteer work doesn’t qualify.
Those 2,000 supervised hours might sound like a lot, but they serve a critical purpose: they give you time to develop your skills, learn from experienced counselors, and build the confidence you need to work independently with clients facing life-or-death decisions about their recovery.
Advanced Substance Use Disorder Counselor (ASUDC) Requirements
If you’re aiming for the Advanced Substance Use Disorder Counselor level, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in substance use disorder treatment, psychology, social work, marriage and family counseling, or mental health counseling. The education requirements are more substantial at this level: 300 total class hours plus 350 practicum hours.
You’ll still need those prerequisite courses in general psychology and human development, plus the two-hour suicide prevention course. The bigger change comes in your supervised experience requirement: 4,000 hours of post-degree supervised work. That’s double the SUDC requirement, and for good reason—ASUDC licensure qualifies you for more independent practice and clinical responsibility.
The supervision structure remains the same: one hour of direct supervision for every 40 hours of client contact. At this pace, you’re looking at roughly two to three years of full-time work to complete your 4,000 hours.
If you’re already licensed as an SUDC, Utah gives you credit for the work you’ve already done. You can count 200 class hours, 200 practicum hours, and 2,000 supervised experience hours from your SUDC licensure toward ASUDC requirements. This means you’re not starting from scratch—your SUDC work counts.
Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) Requirements
The Master Addiction Counselor license is Utah’s newest and highest licensure level. To qualify, you need a master’s degree in substance use disorder treatment or counseling. There’s an alternative path if you hold a graduate degree in a related field, such as social work or psychology: you’ll need to pair it with an associate degree in substance use disorder counseling and a 200-hour SUD treatment practicum.
The supervised experience requirement for MAC licensure is 3,000 clinical hours, structured differently from the other levels. Of those 3,000 hours, 1,200 must be dedicated to direct client care, and 100 hours to direct clinical supervision. Your supervisor should also observe you working with clients for at least 25 hours throughout your training period.
This supervised experience typically takes about two to three years to complete if you’re working full-time in a clinical setting. The MAC license represents the highest level of independent practice in Utah’s substance abuse counseling system.
Examination Requirements
No matter which licensure level you pursue, you’ll need to pass a national certification exam. Utah accepts exams from two organizations: the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) and the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC).
All exams at all levels consist of 150 multiple-choice questions. Here’s how the exams break down by licensure level:
| License Level | NAADAC Exam Options | IC&RC Exam Options |
|---|---|---|
| SUDC | NCAC I (National Certified Addiction Counselor Level I) | ADC (Alcohol and Drug Counselor) |
| ASUDC | NCAC II (National Certified Addiction Counselor Level II) | AADC (Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor) |
| MAC | NCAC II or MAC (Master Addiction Counselor) | AADC (Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor) |
You can take an exam at a higher level than your license requires. For example, if you’re applying for SUDC licensure, you can take the NCAC II exam instead of NCAC I. This gives you flexibility if you’re planning to advance your career and don’t want to retake exams later.
The Application Process
You can submit your application either by mail or online through the UtahID registration system. Along with the application form itself, you’ll need to arrange for your school to send official transcripts directly to the DOPL, and your supervisor will need to submit verification forms documenting your supervised experience hours.
The application fees vary by license level: $120 for Master Addiction Counselor applicants, and $85 for both SUDC and ASUDC applicants. These fees cover the administrative processing of your application and the verification of your credentials.
When you’re ready to take your certification exam, you’ll register through the Association of Utah Substance Abuse Professionals (AUSAP). The exam fee is $210 if you’re an AUSAP member, or $225 for non-members. Given that membership saves you $15 on the exam and provides access to professional networking and continuing education resources, many applicants choose to join AUSAP.
Out-of-State Licensure and Reciprocity
If you’re already licensed in another state, Utah offers reciprocity options that can streamline your licensure process. The process depends on whether your home state has licensing requirements similar to Utah’s.
Utah considers states like Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado to have similar requirements. If you’re licensed in one of these states, you can apply for Utah licensure by submitting a verification form and paying the appropriate fees. This reciprocity path is significantly faster than going through the whole application process.
If your home state’s requirements differ substantially from Utah’s, you’ll need to submit transcripts, experience hour verification forms, and exam scores directly to the DOPL. They’ll review your credentials and determine whether you meet Utah’s standards.
Regardless of your home state, you must have held your license for at least one year and be in good standing to qualify for any reciprocity consideration. This ensures you have established professional experience and a clean disciplinary record.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a degree to become an addiction counselor in Utah?
How long does it take to get licensed as a substance abuse counselor in Utah?
Can I get licensed in Utah with an out-of-state addiction counselor license?
What’s the difference between NAADAC and IC&RC certification exams?
How much does it cost to get licensed as an addiction counselor in Utah?
Can I count volunteer work toward my supervised experience hours in Utah?
What happens if I already have an SUDC license and want to advance to ASUDC?
Do I need to complete continuing education to maintain my Utah license?
Key Takeaways
- Utah offers three levels of substance abuse counselor licensure: SUDC (associate degree), ASUDC (bachelor’s degree), and MAC (master’s degree), each with increasing education and supervision requirements.
- Entry-level SUDC licensure requires an associate degree plus 200 hours of SUD education, 200 practicum hours, and 2,000 supervised work hours—typically achievable in 2-3 years.
- All licensure levels require passing either the NAADAC or the IC&RC national certification exam, consisting of 150 multiple-choice questions.
- Utah accepts reciprocity from states with similar requirements (such as Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado) if you’ve been licensed for at least 1 year and are in good standing.
- Application fees range from $85 to $ 120; exam fees are $210 to $ 225; and only paid employment counts toward supervised experience hours.
- If you hold an SUDC license, you can apply those credentials toward ASUDC requirements, making career advancement more efficient.
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Additional Resources and Contact Information
For more detailed information about Utah’s licensing process, contact the Division of Professional and Occupational Licensing by email or by phone at (801) 530-6628. If you’re calling from within Utah, use their toll-free line at (866) 275-3675.
For questions about certification exams or study materials, contact the Association of Utah Substance Abuse Professionals via their website or by phone at (801) 558-3622. AUSAP provides valuable resources for exam preparation and professional development throughout your career.
Salary Disclaimer: 2024 US Bureau 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.