Substance Abuse Counselor Requirements in Iowa
Iowa offers three certification levels through the Iowa Board of Certification: Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), International Alcohol and Drug Counselor (IADC), and International Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (IAADC). Requirements range from 150-300 clock hours of education plus 1,000-6,000 supervised practice hours, depending on your degree level and chosen credential.
With unwavering compassion and a tireless drive, Iowa’s substance abuse counselors are there for people caught in the grip of addiction, offering real, actionable guidance and support that makes all the difference. Through counseling, education, and advocacy, substance abuse counselors in the Hawkeye State are helping people with substance use disorder find their way to recovery.
The Iowa Board of Certification (IBC), a state member of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC), provides certification for substance abuse counselors at multiple levels. Whether you’re starting with a high school diploma or hold a graduate degree, there’s a clear pathway to becoming a substance abuse counselor that matches your education and career goals.
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) Requirements
The CADC is Iowa’s foundational certification for substance abuse counselors. You can qualify through either an education track or an experience track, depending on your college coursework background.
Education Track
To qualify for CADC through the education track, you’ll need a high school diploma or GED, along with:
- 24 semester hours of college-level credit in substance abuse or a related field (counseling, psychology, sociology, social work, human services, or criminal justice)
- 150 clock hours of relevant education (college courses, trainings, workshops), broken down as:
- 45 clock hours in Counseling Theories & Techniques
- 45 clock hours in Alcohol and Drug Specific
- 6 clock hours in Special Populations
- 6 clock hours in Counseling Ethics
- 3 clock hours in Racial/Ethnic
- Remaining hours in any of the knowledge and skills competencies
- Six months (1,000 clock hours) of full-time, supervised experience in substance abuse counseling within the past three years. Of these hours, at least 500 must be spent performing alcohol and drug counseling, and 36 hours must be in direct supervision with a qualified supervisor.
Experience Track
If you don’t have at least 24 hours of college coursework, you can qualify through the experience track with a high school diploma or GED, along with:
- 150 clock hours of relevant education, with the exact breakdown as the education track
- 18 months (3,000 clock hours) of full-time, supervised experience in substance abuse counseling within the past three years. Of these hours, at least 500 must be spent performing alcohol and drug counseling, and 36 hours must be in direct supervision with a qualified supervisor.
All CADC applicants, regardless of track, must take and pass the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ADC) exam.
International Alcohol and Drug Counselor (IADC) Requirements
The IADC credential offers international reciprocity with other IC&RC member boards. This certification requires more education and experience than the CADC but opens doors to practice across state lines and internationally.
To qualify for the IADC, you must have a high school diploma or GED, along with:
- 300 clock hours of education (college courses, trainings, or workshops) related to alcohol and drug knowledge and skills competencies. At least 30 of these hours must have been completed within the past 24 months, broken down as:
- 90 clock hours in Counseling Theories & Techniques
- 90 clock hours in Alcohol and Drug Specific
- 6 clock hours in Counseling Ethics
- 3 clock hours in Racial/Ethnic
- Experience hours in the Four Domains (Screening, Assessment and Engagement; Treatment Planning, Collaboration and Referral; Counseling; and Professional and Ethical Responsibilities), with requirements based on your highest degree:
- 2,000 hours (master’s degree in a related field)
- 4,000 hours (bachelor’s degree in a related field)
- 5,000 hours (associate’s degree in a related field)
- 6,000 hours (no college degree in a related field)
- Supervision hours that vary by education level:
- 100 hours (master’s degree in a related field)
- 200 hours (bachelor’s degree in a related field)
- 250 hours (associate’s degree in a related field)
- 300 hours (no college degree in a related field)
- A passing score on the IC&RC Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ADC) exam
International Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (IAADC) Requirements
The IAADC is Iowa’s highest-level certification, reserved for counselors with graduate degrees who want advanced clinical credentials with international reciprocity.
To qualify for the IAADC, you must:
- Earn a master’s degree in a behavioral science-related field (counseling, psychology, sociology, social work, human services, or criminal justice)
- Complete at least 180 clock hours of alcohol and drug-specific education
- Complete at leastsix6 clock hours of counselor ethics, with at least 3 hours specific to racial/ethnic issues
- Complete at least 2,000 clock hours of supervised experience performing all Four Domains (Screening, Assessment and Engagement; Treatment Planning, Collaboration and Referral; Counseling and Education; and Professional and Ethical Responsibilities) within the past six years
- Complete at least 300 hours of on-the-job supervision in the Four Domains, with at least 25 hours in each domain
- Take and pass the IC&RC Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (AADC) exam
Application Process
All applications are available on the Iowa Board of Certification website. Your application packet must include original transcripts from the colleges you attended (sent directly to the IBC), copies of certificates of completion, a completed and signed Supervisor’s Evaluation (Form 9), an official written job description, and an application fee of $400. For more details about the certification and licensure process, review the general guidelines that apply across most states.
Applications are reviewed within 10 business days. Once your application has been reviewed and accepted, the Board will notify you that you’ve been pre-registered for the exam. You’ll have one year from the date of your pre-registration notice to take and pass the exam. If you don’t pass within that timeframe, you’ll need to submit a new application to the Board.
Once the Board receives your passing score from the IC&RC, they’ll mail your certificate to you.
Reciprocity
Alcohol and drug counselors certified by other IC&RC boards are granted reciprocity in Iowa without additional training or experience. There’s a $100 fee for candidates requesting reciprocity. This reciprocity makes it easier for counselors to relocate to Iowa or maintain credentials across multiple states. All Iowa-certified counselors must complete continuing education requirements to maintain their certification.
Specialty Certifications
The Iowa Board of Certification also offers several specialty certifications for counselors who want to develop expertise in specific areas:
IC&RC Reciprocal Certifications
The Certified Co-Occurring Disorders Professional (CCDP) and Certified Co-Occurring Disorders Professional – Diplomat (CCDP-D) both require academic degrees in behavioral sciences or co-occurring disorders. The CCDP requires a bachelor’s degree, while the CCDP-D requires a master’s degree. The experience requirement is lower for the CCDP-D certification.
Non-Reciprocal Certifications
The Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS), Certified Criminal Justice Professional (CCJP), and Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) certifications don’t require academic degrees. However, individuals with higher education can achieve CCJP or CCS with fewer years of experience. The CCS is an add-on credential for those who already hold another certification.
Learn more about these specialty credentials on the Iowa Board of Certification website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I become certified in Iowa without a college degree?
What’s the difference between CADC and IADC?
How long does it take to get certified in Iowa?
Does Iowa accept certifications from other states?
What exams do I need to pass for Iowa certification?
Can I work as a counselor in Iowa while completing my certification requirements?
Key Takeaways
- Iowa offers three primary certification levels: CADC (entry-level), IADC (intermediate with reciprocity), and IAADC (advanced, master’s degree required)
- You can become certified without a college degree through the CADC experience track, though you’ll need more supervised practice hours (3,000 vs 1,000)
- All certifications require passing IC&RC exams: ADC for CADC/IADC, AADC for IAADC.
- Education requirements range from 150 to 300 clock hours, depending on the certification level, with specific hour breakdowns for ethics, counseling techniques, and alcohol- and drug-specific content.
- IC&RC reciprocity allows counselors certified in other states to practice in Iowa with a $100 application fee
- The application process takes about 10 business days for review, and you have one year to pass your exam after pre-registration
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