Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) Requirements in New Hampshire
Armed with equal parts resilience, determination, and passion, New Hampshire’s alcohol and drug counselors provide individuals, families, and communities with lifesaving services and resources aimed at overcoming addiction and discovering a new life on the other side.
New Hampshire addiction counselors are credentialed by the New Hampshire Board of Licensing for Alcohol and Other Drug Use Professionals. There are two levels of licensing:
- Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) – associate or baccalaureate level credential
- Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (MLADC) – master’s level credential
The Board also issues Certified Recovery Support Worker (high school level credential) and Clinical Supervisor credentials.
Select a New Hampshire Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor Topic Below…
- Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) Requirements
- Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (MLADC) Requirements
- Application Process
- Clinical Supervisor Requirements
- Reciprocity
- Additional Information
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) Requirements
To become an LADC in New Hampshire, you must have a minimum of an associate’s degree in substance use counseling, addiction studies, or a related field, along with at least 300 practicum hours and 6,000 hours of supervised work experience.
However, if you earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or another human services or clinical mental health discipline, along with a practicum of at least 300 hours, you’ll need to complete just 4,000 supervised work experience hours.
You must also complete at least 270 hours of coursework/training in drug and alcohol counseling either as part of your degree or outside of it, with at least 6 hours in each of the following: 12 core functions, confidentiality, ethics, suicide prevention, and HIV/AIDS.
Some of the agencies where you can obtain the required hours include the New Hampshire Center for Excellence on Addiction, AdCare Educational Institute of New England, NHTI-Concord Community College, and the New Hampshire Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors Association.
Finally, you must take and pass the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ADC) exam. You must submit an exam registration form to the Board. Within 10 days of payment, you can expect to receive notice from the Board that you’ve been pre-registered for the exam. You’ll also receive an email outlining the steps you’ll need to take to register for and take the ADC exam.
Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (MLADC) Requirements
To become an MLADC, you must have a master’s degree in clinical psychology, clinical mental health, social work, or another similar area of human services. You must also complete at least 300 hours of coursework in drug and alcohol counseling, either within the program or outside of it, along with a practicum of at least 300 hours.
You must also complete at least 3,000 hours (post-graduate) of supervised work experience in substance use and co-occurring disorders. If you hold a current license issued by the Board of Mental Health Practice, you’ll only need to earn 1,500 hours of supervised work experience.
Finally, you must take and pass the IC&RC Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (AADC) exam. You must submit an exam registration form to the Board. Within 10 days of payment, you can expect to receive notice from the Board that you’ve been pre-registered for the exam. You’ll also receive an email outlining the steps you’ll need to take to register for and take the AADC exam.
The Application Process
You must complete the Application for Initial Licensure and submit it, along with the following completed and signed forms, to the Board:
- Supervised Practical Training Report form(s)
- Supervised Work Experience Report form(s)
- Verification of Employment form
- Supervision Agreement
- Applicant Evaluation
- Education and Training Summary form
All of the above forms are available on the Board website.
You must also undergo a criminal background check, which includes making an appointment to get your fingerprints taken.
Clinical Supervisor Requirements
In order to be certified as a clinical supervisor, an LADC or MLADC must have 10,000 hours of substance abuse counseling experience and 4,000 hours of experience in a supervisory role. The 4,000 hour supervisory experience requirement may be included within the 10,000 hours of total experience. Candidates must also have 200 hours of supervision and 30 hours of education relevant to the supervisor’s role. An additional examination is required.
Reciprocity
Because New Hampshire is a member board of the IC&RC, professionals who hold reciprocal level credentialing in other member jurisdictions may be granted licensure through reciprocity. Learn more about reciprocity requirements here.
Additional Information
Contact the New Hampshire Board of Licensing for Alcohol and Other Drug Use Professionals at (603) 271-2152 or at [email protected].
The New Hampshire Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors Association and the New Hampshire Center for Excellence on Addiction are valuable sources of information for drug and alcohol counselors in the state.