Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor Requirements in Illinois
Substance abuse remains an ongoing crisis throughout America’s Heartland, and Illinois hasn’t been spared the brunt of it. From the urban hubs of Chicagoland and Aurora to the suburbs of Naperville and Joliet, opioid and fentanyl use continues to wreak havoc on individuals, families, and communities. Alcohol and drug abuse counselors throughout the state are the heart and soul of the efforts being made in Illinois every day.
Substance abuse counselors here must earn certification through the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association (Illinois Certification Board – ICB), a member of the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC).
The Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC) remains the standard credential for substance abuse counselors in Illinois, although a number of other reciprocal certifications are also available:
- Certified Reciprocal Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CRADC)
- Certified Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CAADC)
- Certified Supervisor Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CSADC)
Select a Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor Topic Below…
- Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC) Requirements
- Certified Reciprocal Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CRADC) Requirements
- Certified Supervisor Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CSADC) Requirements
- Certified Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CAADC) Requirements
- Related Certifications
- Out-of-State Addiction Counselors
- Additional Information
Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC) Requirements
To qualify for the CADC credential with the ICB, you must:
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Complete at least two years (4,000 hours) of paid alcohol/other drugs (AOD)-qualified work experience in the past four years (51% of the time must be spent providing direct, primary alcohol and other drug counseling; volunteer work and unpaid internships are not accepted) *
- Complete at least 150 hours of supervised practical experience
- Complete at least 225 clock hours of AOD-specific training, which must include:
- 15 hours in AOD Treatment Services for Women and/or their Families
- 15 hours in AOD Treatment Services for Adolescents and/or their Families
- 6 hours in Professional Ethics and Responsibility
- 10 hours in Race and Equity
- 109 hours in Performance Domains (Clinical Evaluation, Treatment Planning, Counseling, Case Management and Referral, Documentation, Client, Family and Community Education, and Professional and Ethical Responsibilities)
- Take and pass the CADC Illinois exam
*Some of the required work experience may be waived if you earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a related field:
- A bachelor’s degree or higher in behavioral sciences or a relevant field (community counseling, mental health, social work, rehabilitation counseling, criminal justice, psychology, sociology) that includes at least 12 semester credit hours of AOD-specific topics can be substituted for one year (2,000 hours) of experience.
- An associate’s degree in behavioral sciences or a relevant field (community counseling, mental health, social work, rehabilitation counseling, criminal justice, psychology, sociology) that includes at least 12 semester credit hours of AOD-specific topics can be substituted for six months (1,000 hours) of experience.
Application Requirements
All applications must be completed through Certemy.
Examination Requirements
The CADC Illinois exam is computer-based and scheduled by appointment only. Once your application has been processed, you’ll receive an email that includes an examination letter and pre-registration test code sheet. You must complete the pre-registration test code sheet and send it, along with the examination fee payment, to the ICB.
The ICB will send the information to their testing administrators, who will then send you another email with instructions for registering for the exam.
You can prepare for the exam by ordering the CADC exam guide here.
Certified Reciprocal Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CRADC) Requirements
The CRADC credential is reciprocal with participating IC&RC boards. To qualify, you must:
- Earn at least 300 hours (or 20 semester hours) of relevant education, with at least 160 of them AODA-specific
- Complete at least four years (6,000 hours) of paid alcohol/other drugs (AOD)-qualified work experience in the past four years (51% of the time must be spent providing direct, primary alcohol and other drug counseling; volunteer work and unpaid internships are not accepted – fewer experience hours are required for those with associate’s or bachelor’s degrees in a relevant field)
- Complete at least 300 hours of supervised training
- Take and pass the CADC exam and the IC&RC ADC exam
Certified Supervisor Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CSADC) Requirements
An addiction counselor can be certified as a supervisor without a college degree but must first hold the CRADC credential. To qualify for the CSADC credential, you must have 350 hours of qualifying education; five years of recent experience, with at least two spent performing supervisory duties; and a passing score on the following examinations: the state-specific examination, the IC&RC ADC Examination, and the IC&RC Supervisor (CS) Examination.
Certified Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CAADC) Requirements
To qualify for the CAADC certification, you must earn a master’s degree or higher in human behavioral sciences that includes a clinical component. You must also earn at least 180 hours of AODA-specific education, including 45 hours each in services for women and families and services for adolescents and families; complete one year (2,000 hours) of experience; and pass the IC&RC Advanced AADC Examination.
Related Certifications
The ICB also offers a Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) and Mental Illness/Substance Abuse I or II (MISA I or II) credential, along with endorsements in:
- Adolescent Treatment Endorsement (ATE)
- Gender Competency Endorsement (GCE)
- CRSS-Employment Endorsement (CRSS-E)
- CRSS Young Adult Endorsement (CRSS-YA)
Out-of-State Addiction Counselors
The Illinois Certification Board offers reciprocity for professionals who are certified by an IC&RC member board.
ICB professionals with CRADC, CSADC, CAADC, CPS, CSPS, CCJP or CPRS can transfer their credential to a new jurisdiction using the reciprocity process if the new jurisdiction is also an IC&RC member board.
Additional Information
Contact the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association – ICB at 217-698-8110 or at [email protected].