Substance Abuse Counselor Requirements in North Carolina
The dual opioid and fentanyl crises rage on in North Carolina, running rampant through cities like Wilmington, Hickory, and, and Jacksonville. But an army of dedicated professionals and volunteers, led by credentialed substance abuse counselors, is making meaningful steps every day, uplifting communities and restoring hope.
North Carolina substance abuse counselors are credentialed through the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board as Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADC) and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialists (LCAS – Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselors).
The NCSAPPB also issues credentials to prevention specialists and to professionals who work in the criminal justice system. Addictions counseling professionals licensed at the LCAS level may purse supervisor certification.
Select a North Carolina Certified Substance Abuse Counselor or Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist Topic Below…
- Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Requirements
- Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist Requirements
- Other Credentials Awarded by NCSAPPB
- Reciprocity
- Additional Information
Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Requirements
To become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) in North Carolina, you must have a high school diploma or GED and complete the following:
- At least 270 hours of education, 190 of which must be in substance abuse
- At least 6 hours of education and training in each of the following:
- Ethics
- HIV/AIDS
- Bloodborne pathogens
- Other contemporary topics in addictions treatment
You can find Board-approved training courses here.
The CADC Application Process
The application process to become an CADC consists of three steps:
Registration
Registration is the first step in the application process. All applicants must complete the registration process before moving on. The registration and application process is completed through LearningBuilder, the NCASPPB’s Credentialing System.
Registration is limited to just 5 years; if you still don’t meet the requirements for certification/licensure by then, you’ll have to reapply.
To qualify for registration for the CADC credential, you must have a high school diploma or GED and supply the Board with the following:
- Supervision agreement
- Proof of the completion of 3 clock hours of ethical training
- Registration fee
- Completed background check
- Resume and job description
Intern Status
The second step in the application process requires earning an Intern Status. To qualify, you must:
- Complete at least 300 hours of supervised work under the supervision of a Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS). To qualify, these hours must include a supervision rate of one hour per 10 hours of work.
- Take and pass the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam
Full Certification
The last step to full certification requires completing at least 6,000 hours (about three years) of experience verified by a CCS.
Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist Requirements
To become a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS), you must earn a qualifying master’s degree that includes a clinical internship.
Along with your qualifying degree, you must meet the criteria to become an LCAS through one of four paths:
- Criteria A: The standard route for all individuals holding a qualifying degree
- Criteria B: For those who already hold a CADC
- Criteria C: For those who have earned a pre-approved master’s degree in addictions (only those who earned a degree on this list can qualify through Criteria C)
- Criteria D: For those who hold national certification through one of the Board’s Deemed Status entities
The LCAS Application Process
The application process to become an LCAS consists of three steps:
Registration
Registration is the first step in the application process. All applicants must complete the registration process before moving on. The registration and application process is completed through LearningBuilder, the NCASPPB’s Credentialing System.
Registration is limited to just 5 years; if you still don’t meet the requirements for certification/licensure by then, you’ll have to reapply.
To qualify for registration for the LCAS credential, you must have completed a qualifying master’s degree with clinical component and supplied the Board with the following:
- Supervision agreement
- Proof of the completion of 3 clock hours of ethical training
- Registration fee
- Completed background check
- Resume and job description
Associate Status
The second step in the application process includes earning an Associate Status. If you qualify through Criteria B or Criteria C, you’ll automatically earn Associate Status. However, if you qualify through Criteria A, you’ll need to first complete a 300-hour practicum under the supervision of a CCS.
Depending on your qualifying Criteria, you may also need to complete a period of experience and take and pass the IC&RC Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (AADC) exam:
- Criteria A
- 4,000 hours (two years) of post-master’s experience
- 180 clock hours of SUD-specific training (including 6 hours in addictions)
- IC&RC AADC exam
- Criteria B
- IC&RC AADC exam
- Criteria C
- 2,000 hours (one year) of post-master’s experience
- IC&RC AADC exam
- Criteria D
- National exam through a Deemed Status entity or the IC&RC AADC exam
Full Licensure
All applicants must submit three references from current LCASs or CADCs with master’s degrees.
Other Credentials Awarded by NCSAPPB
The Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) credential requires a high school diploma or GED, relevant education in the IC&RC-identified domains, practicum and supervised practice requirements, and a passing score on the IC&RC examination for prevention specialists. With a qualifying degree at the bachelor’s level or higher, the experience requirement can be reduced from three years to two.
The Certified Criminal Justice Addictions Professional (CCJP) requires an LCAS or CADC credential and a passing score on the CCJP exam.
Reciprocity
Substance abuse professionals can be granted reciprocal credentialing on the basis of qualifying certifications issued by other IC&RC member boards. The reciprocity process must be initiated by your current IC&RC board.
Additional Information
The North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board can be contacted at https://www.ncsappb.org/contact-us/.