Alcohol and Drug Counselor Requirements in Connecticut
Connecticut’s alcohol and drug counselors serve as advocates, coaches, and educators. They’re the ones out there every day offering real help to people who might otherwise be lost in the throes of substance use disorder, providing vital support and resources aimed at overcoming the disease of addiction.
Connecticut’s alcohol and drug counselors (A&DCs) are credentialed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health as either a:
- Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC)
- Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC)
Candidates must complete a specified number of education and training hours, fulfill an experience requirement, and pass an examination to qualify for certification/licensure as a drug and alcohol counselor in Connecticut.
Select a Connecticut Substance Abuse Counselor Topic Below…
- Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor Educational Requirements
- Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor Educational Requirements
- Supervised Experience and Practical Training Requirements for Licensure or Certification
- Examination Requirement for Licensing or Certification
- Third Party Credentialing
- Endorsement Requirements
- Application Process
- Additional Information
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor Educational Requirements
Applicants for the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) designation must complete at least 360 hours of relevant education, 240 of which must be specific to drug and alcohol abuse. The remaining 120 may pertain to other areas of human behavior.
Drug and alcohol coursework must include the following:
- Assessment and treatment planning: 30 hours
- Special populations and ethnically diverse groups: 12 hours
- Pharmacology: 18 hours
- Ethics: 12 hours
- HIV/ AIDS: 6 hours
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor Educational Requirements
Applicants for the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) designation must earn a master’s degree or higher in a relevant area such as counseling, psychology, marriage and family therapy, or psychology. At least 18 semester hours must be in counseling and related subjects.
Candidates must also document 360 hours of relevant education, 240 of which must be specific to drug and alcohol abuse.
Supervised Experience and Practical Training Requirements for Licensure or Certification
CADC applicants must complete a period of supervised experience totaling at least three years (6,000 hours). The experience must include direct work with individuals with alcohol or drug dependency issues. At least 2,000 hours must be spent in core counseling functions.
LADC candidates must complete a period of supervised experience totaling at least two years (4,000 hours).
Both CADC and LADC candidates must also complete at least 300 hours of supervised practical training that can be earned as part of the work experience or an internship. It must include at least 10 hours in each of the following core counseling functions:
- Screening
- Intake
- Orientation
- Referral
- Assessment
- Treatment planning
- Counseling
- Report and record keeping
- Case management
- Client education
- Crisis intervention
- Consultation
Examination Requirement for Licensing or Certification
Both CADC and LADC candidates must take and pass the International Certification Examination for Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Counselors (IC&RC). This is administered by the Connecticut Certification Board.
The Department of Health will notify the Connecticut Certification Board after they’ve reviewed the candidate’s application. Applicants will then receive an email from the CCB with instructions for registering for the exam.
Third Party Credentialing
The Connecticut Certification Board also offers the following certification options for drug and alcohol counselors in Connecticut:
- Counselor in Training (CIT)
- Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC)
- Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC)
- Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS)
CCB certification is voluntary and not a requirement to practice in the state.
CCB has reciprocity with International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (IC&RC/AODA) member boards, both in the United States and abroad. Therefore, a candidate who is certified by a member board of the IC& RC/AODA is considered to have met experience and education requirements in Connecticut.
Endorsement
A counselor who is credentialed by an agency that has similar or higher requirements may be credentialed without examination in Connecticut.
The Application Process
Applications are only accepted online through the State of Connecticut’s eLicense website.
However, supplemental forms must be downloaded, printed, and sent to the Department.
There is a $190 fee for certification or licensure. The application must be notarized. A recent photographed must be attached.
Supervisor verification forms must be sent directly to the Department by the person who completes them. (The candidate will fill out the top portion of the form before giving it to the person whose verification is needed.)
Additional Information
The Department of Public Health is the source of information about current requirements. Questions about certification/licensure can be directed to the Department at (860) 509-7603 or [email protected].
The Connecticut Certification Board is the source for examination information.