Addiction Counselor Requirements in Colorado
To become an addiction counselor in Colorado, you earn one of three DORA credentials: Certified Addiction Technician (CAT), Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS), or Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC). Each requires supervised hours, BHA addiction training, a NAADAC exam, and Colorado’s jurisprudence exam. The CAT needs only a high school diploma, while the LAC requires a master’s degree.
If you’re weighing Colorado’s addiction counselor requirements, you’re looking at a growing field. Colorado employs 14,920 substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, and the state projects that number to grow 33.3% between 2024 and 2034. That’s about double the 16.8% growth ProjectionsCentral projects nationally for the same occupation.
Colorado also gives you more than one way in. You don’t need a four-year degree to start. You can begin as a technician with a high school diploma, earn supervised hours while you work, and move up the ladder as your education catches up with your experience.
This guide walks you through exactly what it takes to become a certified addiction counselor in Colorado: the training, the hours, the exams, and the paperwork, from your first supervised shift to independent practice.
Understanding Colorado’s Three-Tier System
Colorado’s Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) issues three addiction counseling credentials through its State Board of Addiction Counselor Examiners. Think of them as rungs on a ladder. Each one builds on the last and widens what you can do.
Certified Addiction Technicians (CATs) work under supervision in treatment programs. Since 2021, Colorado law lets CATs facilitate psychoeducation and therapy groups, not just co-facilitate them. It’s real clinical work, and a supervisor backs you up.
Certified Addiction Specialists (CASs) practice under supervision or consultation, and they can also supervise CAT and CAS candidates. Most CAS applicants arrive with a bachelor’s degree in addiction counseling or another behavioral health field.
Licensed Addiction Counselors (LACs) hold Colorado’s full license. A master’s degree in addiction counseling or a related behavioral health field, plus supervised hours, qualifies you to evaluate and diagnose substance use and co-occurring disorders and to practice without supervision.
You can start wherever your education puts you. If a master’s degree is years away, start as a CAT. If you already hold a behavioral health bachelor’s degree, you can aim straight for the CAS.
What Happened to CAC I, II, and III?
If you’ve searched for “CAC classes” or “CAC certification” in Colorado, you’ve run into the old names. In 2020, House Bill 20-1206 replaced the Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) I, II, and III credentials with the CAT and CAS, and House Bill 21-1305 updated the education, hours, and supervision rules the following year. The training courses many people still call “CAC classes” are the BHA courses this guide explains below.
| Credential | Minimum Education | Supervised Hours | National Exam | Practice Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT | High school diploma or equivalent | 1,000 over at least 6 months | NAADAC NCAC I | Under supervision or consultation |
| CAS | Bachelor’s in a behavioral health or human services field | 3,000 over at least 18 months (can include CAT hours) | NAADAC NCAC II | Under supervision or consultation, can supervise candidates |
| LAC | Master’s or doctorate in a behavioral health science | At least 2,000 direct clinical hours | NAADAC MAC | Independent practice, including diagnosis |
Certified Addiction Technician (CAT) Requirements
The CAT is the entry point, and it’s the only Colorado credential you can earn without a college degree. Here’s what you’ll need.
Education and age. You need a high school diploma or its equivalent, and you need to be at least 18.
Supervised experience. You’ll complete at least 1,000 hours of supervised clinical experience over a minimum of six months. Your supervisor can be an LAC or a CAS. Since 2024, a licensed clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or professional counselor who meets the LAC education requirements can supervise you as well.
Training. You’ll complete the nine CAT courses required by Colorado’s Behavioral Health Administration (BHA). Topics include addiction counseling skills, case conceptualization and documentation, ethics, and the principles of addiction treatment. The training section below explains how to find approved courses and track them.
Exams. You’ll pass the NAADAC National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I) exam and Colorado’s jurisprudence exam.
What you’ll do. CATs practice under supervision or consultation, following BHA rules. That includes facilitating psychoeducation and therapy groups, which Colorado law has allowed since 2021. Your supervisor and employer shape your day-to-day duties within those limits. It’s where you learn the craft and find out whether this work fits you.
Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) Requirements
The CAS opens up a fuller clinical role. The requirements rose in 2021, so if you’ve read older guides, check the numbers here.
Education. You need a bachelor’s degree in a behavioral health concentration or a human services equivalent. If your degree falls outside the usual fields, the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE) reviews it for equivalency before you apply. DORA no longer handles those reviews itself.
Supervised experience. You’ll complete at least 3,000 hours of supervised clinical work over a minimum of 18 months. The 1,000 hours you earned as a CAT can count toward that total, so you won’t start from zero if you’re moving up.
Training. You’ll complete the BHA’s CAS courses in addition to the CAT courses. Some of them have to come from a BHA-approved instructor or an approved academic program.
Exams. You’ll pass the NAADAC NCAC II exam and Colorado’s jurisprudence exam.
What you’ll do. A CAS practices under supervision or consultation, like a CAT, but with a higher level of education and experience behind the credential. A CAS can also supervise CAT and CAS candidates, which makes this credential a step toward leadership as well as clinical depth.
Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) Requirements
The LAC is Colorado’s full professional license. It’s the only addiction credential that lets you practice independently.
Education and age. You need a master’s or doctoral degree in the behavioral health sciences from an accredited school, or a program the board deems equivalent. Eligible fields include counseling, clinical or counseling psychology, clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, and psychiatric nursing. Colorado doesn’t require CACREP accreditation specifically. You’ll also need to be at least 21.
Supervised experience. Colorado requires at least 2,000 direct clinical hours of clinically supervised work experience in the addiction field. Telesupervision counts. You don’t have to wait until after graduation to start: the BHA says students in clinical master’s programs can earn hours while supervised by a CAS or LAC. The BHA estimates the hours take about 18 months.
Training. You’ll complete the BHA’s LAC courses, which cover topics such as clinical supervision, ethics, and co-occurring disorders.
Exams. You’ll pass the NAADAC Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) exam and Colorado’s jurisprudence exam.
What you’ll do. Colorado law includes clinical evaluation and diagnosis of substance use, addiction, and co-occurring disorders in the LAC’s scope. You can practice without supervision, open a private practice, and supervise CAT, CAS, and ADDC candidates.
Addiction Counselor Candidate (ADDC) Registration
Working toward your LAC? You’ll likely register as an Addiction Counselor Candidate (ADDC) while you build your supervised hours. The registration shows that you’re a candidate practicing under supervision on the path to licensure.
Since 2024, you need to pass Colorado’s jurisprudence exam before you register. Your registration gives you three years to meet the remaining LAC requirements. If it runs out before you finish, Colorado’s renewal and reinstatement rules apply. Before your second renewal, and every renewal after that, you’ll need 60 professional development hours for each three-year period.
If you hold an equivalent credential from another state, you can register as an ADDC while you work to meet Colorado’s requirements. Out-of-state registrants get a one-year period instead of three.
Required Addiction Training and CERTS
Colorado’s Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) sets the addiction-specific training for every credential level. This is the coursework many people still call “CAC classes.”
The courses stack. CAT candidates complete nine courses. CAS candidates add the CAS courses on top of those, and LAC candidates complete the LAC set. Some courses at each level have to come from a BHA-approved trainer or an approved academic program, so check a course’s approval status before you pay for it.
The BHA uses CERTS, its online training system, to track your required addiction training courses. DORA relies on that record when it reviews your application. If you completed coursework through a college, follow the BHA and DORA instructions for documenting it, since transcript coursework follows its own rules. Log each BHA course as you finish it rather than reconstructing your history at application time.
The BHA publishes its current training requirements for each credential, along with its list of approved trainers, on its learning and development pages.
Colorado Addiction Counselor Exams
Every Colorado credential requires two exams: a national NAADAC exam that matches your credential level and Colorado’s own jurisprudence exam.
NAADAC Exams by Credential Level
Each tier has its own NAADAC exam:
- CAT: National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I)
- CAS: National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II (NCAC II)
- LAC: Master Addiction Counselor (MAC)
Colorado runs these exams through its approved exam-administration process. Current state testing information directs CAT, CAS, and LAC applicants through the Colorado Association of Addiction Professionals (CAAP) to register for the NAADAC exams, and you schedule your exam after that. NAADAC lists a $150 base exam fee, and states can add administrative fees, so check CAAP for current Colorado pricing. You’ll need to have passed the exam within five years before DORA receives your application, so you can sit it before you finish your hours.
Colorado Jurisprudence Examination
The jurisprudence exam tests your knowledge of Colorado’s mental health laws and rules, not clinical skills. It’s open-book and online, and DORA links to the testing vendor from its mental health FAQ. You’ll pay a small fee for each attempt, so read the statute and rules before you start.
The questions test how Colorado’s mental health practice act and the board’s rules apply to everyday practice. Take it seriously even though it’s open-book. These rules govern your practice every day.
The Application Process
DORA’s Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO) handles every addiction counselor application through its Online Services portal. Here’s how it works.
Create your account. You’ll start your CAT, CAS, or LAC application in DPO Online Services. The portal shows the current fee for your credential before you submit.
Confirm your education. Arrange for official transcripts. If your degree needs an equivalency review, complete it through CCE before you apply.
Document your supervised hours. Your supervisor completes DORA’s work verification form, a signed statement confirming your hours, the supervision you received, and that you met accepted standards of practice. Supervisors keep their supervision records for five years, so ask early if you need copies.
Show your training and exam results. Your BHA coursework appears in CERTS, and you’ll submit proof of your NAADAC and jurisprudence exam results.
Disclose your history honestly. Colorado reviews criminal history case by case rather than disqualifying applicants automatically. Since 2024, state law also limits how long most convictions can count against a license applicant.
Track your status. You can check your application online. An open application stays active for one year, which gives you time to fill any gaps DORA identifies.
For current fees or questions about your situation, contact DPO directly at [email protected] or 303-894-7800.
Out-of-State Endorsement
Colorado doesn’t offer reciprocity for addiction counselors. If you’re credentialed in another state, you’ll apply by endorsement instead.
With endorsement, DORA reviews your existing credential and experience against Colorado’s standards. Out-of-state hours count when they meet Colorado’s requirements. You’ll still pass Colorado’s jurisprudence exam, like every other applicant.
If your experience falls short of Colorado’s standards, the ADDC registration gives you a bridge. You can register as a candidate and use your one-year window to close the gap.
Colorado has joined the Counseling Compact, but it covers licensed professional counselors only. No interstate compact currently covers Colorado’s addiction counseling credentials.
Renewal and Continuing Professional Competency
All CAT, CAS, and LAC credentials expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years. The next renewal date is August 31, 2027. If DORA issues your credential within 120 days of the deadline, you’ll receive the following cycle’s expiration date instead.
Colorado calls its continuing education requirement Continuing Professional Competency (CPC). To renew, you’ll complete:
- 40 professional development hours (PDH) per two-year cycle
- At least two types of professional development activities, with no more than 20 PDH in any one category
- A professional practice self-assessment and a learning plan
If you hold more than one Colorado mental health credential, 40 PDH covers them all. DORA audits a sample of licensees after each cycle, so keep your records.
Salary and Career Outlook in Colorado
Colorado pays addiction and mental health counselors above the national rate. According to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, counselors in Colorado earn a median of $62,390, compared with $59,350 nationally. Pay ranges from $44,060 at the 10th percentile to $100,020 at the 90th.
Your credential level, work setting, and experience all shape where you land in that range. Peer recovery specialists and substance use disorder technicians, two related roles in addiction treatment, earn less, as the table shows.
| Occupation | Employment | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | 14,920 | $44,060 | $62,390 | $100,020 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants (Peer Recovery Specialists) | 5,410 | $38,440 | $47,690 | $65,450 |
| Psychiatric Technicians (SUD Technicians) | 1,740 | $40,940 | $47,430 | $59,810 |
Where you work in Colorado matters too. Boulder and Fort Collins-Loveland post the highest medians, while Denver employs the most counselors by far.
| Metro Area | Employment | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | 8,480 | $47,110 | $62,810 | $100,320 |
| Colorado Springs | 2,230 | $38,630 | $59,740 | $93,660 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | 900 | $40,070 | $71,120 | $97,160 |
| Pueblo | 700 | $37,280 | $58,380 | $84,790 |
| Boulder | 620 | $45,870 | $75,020 | $109,830 |
| Greeley | 410 | $39,330 | $59,580 | $90,740 |
| Grand Junction | 330 | $37,990 | $58,300 | $89,960 |
The job outlook is strong. ProjectionsCentral projects Colorado will add 5,040 counselor jobs between 2024 and 2034, a 33.3% increase. With retirements and job changes included, the state expects about 1,790 openings a year.
Your credential also shapes your career path. CATs can advance toward the CAS and LAC as they add education and hours. CASs and LACs can move into supervisory roles, and LACs can also open private practices and take on clinical leadership positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start working as an addiction counselor in Colorado without a college degree?
How long does it take to become an LAC in Colorado?
Does Colorado have reciprocity for addiction counselors from other states?
What’s the difference between a CAS and an LAC?
How much do Colorado’s addiction counselor exams cost?
What happened to Colorado’s CAC I, II, and III credentials?
Do I need malpractice insurance to practice in Colorado?
What happens if I have a criminal history?
Key Takeaways
- Colorado offers three addiction counseling credentials: CAT (high school diploma), CAS (behavioral health bachelor’s degree), and LAC (master’s or doctorate), each with a wider scope of practice.
- Supervised hours rise with each level: 1,000 for the CAT, 3,000 over 18 months for the CAS, and at least 2,000 direct clinical hours of clinically supervised work experience for the LAC.
- Every credential requires BHA addiction training tracked in CERTS, a NAADAC exam (NCAC I, NCAC II, or MAC), and Colorado’s jurisprudence exam.
- Colorado doesn’t offer reciprocity. Out-of-state counselors apply by endorsement and can use the ADDC registration to close any gaps.
- Credentials renew on August 31 of odd-numbered years with 40 professional development hours per cycle.
- Colorado counselors earn a median of $62,390 according to May 2025 BLS data, and the state projects 33.3% job growth from 2024 to 2034.
Ready to Start Your Addiction Counseling Career in Colorado?
Whether you’re starting as a technician or transferring a credential from another state, Colorado’s three-tier system gives you a clear path forward. Find accredited programs and take your first step toward making a difference.
Salary figures for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, Social and Human Services Assistants (Peer Recovery Specialists), and Psychiatric Technicians and Aides (Substance Use Disorder Technicians) come from May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics city, state, and national data. 2024-34 job growth projections come from ProjectionsCentral state and national data. These figures are not school-specific, and conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed September 2026.