Alcohol and Drug Counselor Requirements in Kentucky

You’ll find them working with everyday people and those living on the margins. They’re in rehab facilities in the downtown corridors of Louisville and Lexington and dotted throughout the surrounding suburbs. You’ll find them in the few community clinics and social services agencies across the sprawling and notoriously underserved areas of the Appalachian region.

Kentucky’s alcohol and drug counselors are the first line and the last hope for people with substance use disorder ready to make the difficult journey toward a life of recovery. With the right training and education, you can be part of the effort to save Kentucky communities one person at a time.

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Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor Education and Training Requirements
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC): Education and Training Requirements
Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC): Education and Training Requirements
The Application Process
Additional Information

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor: Education and Training Requirements

To become a certified alcohol and drug counselor (CADC), you must have the following:

A bachelor’s degree in any field
At least 4,000 hours of supervised work experience working with individuals with substance use disorder
At least 300 classroom hours of Board-approved coursework in the following domains:
- Screening assessment and engagement
- Treatment planning, collaboration, and referral
- Counseling
- Professional and ethical responsibilities

Coursework must also include at least:

- 6 hours in ethics training
- 3 hours in domestic violence training
- 2 hours in training in the transmission, control, treatment, and prevention of HIV

At least 200 hours of direct supervision documented by a Board-approved supervisor, including a minimum of 10 hours in each of the following domains:
- Screening assessment and engagement
- Treatment planning, collaboration, and referral
- Counseling
- Professional and ethical responsibilities
Passing score on the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ADC) exam

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Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC): Education and Training Requirements

To become a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC), you must have the following:

A 30-hour master’s degree in a human services field with clinical application
At least 4,000 hours of supervised work experience working with individuals with substance use disorder
At least 300 classroom hours of Board-approved coursework in the following domains:
- Screening assessment and engagement
- Treatment planning, collaboration, and referral
- Counseling
- Professional and ethical responsibilities

Coursework must also include at least:

- 6 hours in ethics training
- 3 hours in domestic violence training
- 2 hours in training in the transmission, control, treatment, and prevention of HIV

At least 200 hours of direct supervision documented by a Board-approved supervisor, including a minimum of 10 hours in each of the following domains:
- Screening assessment and engagement
- Treatment planning, collaboration, and referral
- Counseling
- Professional and ethical responsibilities
Passing score on the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ADC) exam

Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC): Education and Training Requirements

To become a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC), you must have the following:

A 60-hour master’s degree or 30-hour advanced placement master’s or doctoral degree in a behavioral science with clinical application.
At least 2,000 hours of experience working with individuals with substance use disorder
At least 180 classroom hours of Board-approved coursework in the following domains:
- Screening assessment and engagement
- Treatment planning, collaboration, and referral
- Counseling
- Professional and ethical responsibilities

Coursework must also include at least:

- 6 hours in ethics training
- 3 hours in domestic violence training
- 2 hours in training in the transmission, control, treatment, and prevention of HIV

At least 100 hours of direct supervision documented by a Board-approved LCADC supervisor, including a minimum of 10 hours in each of the following domains:
- Screening assessment and engagement
- Treatment planning, collaboration, and referral
- Counseling
- Professional and ethical responsibilities
Passing score on the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (AADC) exam

The Application Process

All application packets are available on the Board website.

The application must include:

Two letters of reference from a Board-approved professional
Verification of Clinical Supervision (Form 13)
Verification of Classroom Training (Form 10)
Supervision Evaluation (Form 7)

Applications are reviewed monthly during Board meetings.

Once your application has been approved, you’ll receive notice for registering to take the appropriate IC&RC exam. The IC&RC will send a copy of your passing exam score to the Board, and your certification/license will be issued 10 days following the date of your passing exam. If you don’t pass the exam, the Board will send you instructions for re-registering.

Additional Information

Questions? Contact the Kentucky Board of Certification of Alcohol and Drug Counselors at 502-782-8814 or [email protected].

The Kentucky Association of Addiction Professionals serves as an additional professional resource.

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