Substance Abuse Counselor Requirements in North Dakota
Methamphetamine, synthetic opioid, and alcohol addiction continue to plague North Dakota. From the cities of Grand Forks and Fargo to the smallest towns in the state’s sweeping rural areas, drug addiction is taking lives and destroying communities. But major efforts, led by the tireless work of the state’s compassionate substance abuse counselors, are underway to combat substance use disorder and its devastating effects.
North Dakota regulates and credentials substance abuse counselors through the North Dakota Board of Addiction Counseling Examiners as Licensed Addiction Counselors (LAC) and Licensed Master Addiction Counselors (LMAC).
Select a North Dakota Licensed Addiction Counselor Topic Below…
- Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) Requirements
- Licensed Master Addiction Counselors (LMAC) Requirements
- Clinical Supervisor Registration
- The Application Process
- Out-of-State Addiction Counselors
- Private Practice Registration
- Additional Information
Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) Educational Requirements
To become an LAC in North Dakota, you must earn a bachelor’s degree or higher in addiction studies or a closely related mental health care field. You’ll need to show proof that you’ve completed at least three credits in each of the following:
- Theories and techniques of counseling
- Group counseling
- Psychopharmacology (must include drug abuse)
- Addiction/addiction studies
- Ethics
- Family systems
- Lifespan development
- Multicultural diversity
- Co-occurring disorder (must be related to substance abuse disorders)
You must also complete a Board-approved clinical training program of at least 960 hours that’s completed under the supervision of an approved clinical supervisor. Your training hours must include at least 40 hours of face-to-face supervision in each of the clinical training areas (screening, ASAM assessment, treatment planning, counseling, and family/client/community education) and at least 30 hours of training in documentation.
Finally, you must take and pass the National Certified Addiction Counselor II (NCAC II) or Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) exam through the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP).
Licensed Master Addiction Counselors (LMAC) Requirements
To become an LMAC in North Dakota, you must earn a bachelor’s degree or higher in addiction studies or a closely related mental health care field. You’ll need to show proof that you’ve completed at least three credits in each of the following:
- Theories and techniques of counseling
- Group counseling
- Psychopharmacology (must include drug abuse)
- Addiction/addiction studies
- Ethics
- Family systems
- Lifespan development
- Multicultural diversity
- Co-occurring disorder (must be related to substance abuse disorders)
You must also have one credit in clinical supervision.
You must also:
- Complete a clinical training program of at least 700 hours that includes at least 30 hours of face-to-face supervision in each of the clinical training areas (screening, ASAM assessment, treatment planning, counseling, and client/family/community education) and 20 hours of training in documentation.
- Complete at least 2,000 hours of post-licensure supervised addiction counseling experience
- Take and pass the Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) exam through the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP)
Clinical Supervisor Registration
A Licensed Master Addiction Counselor can be registered as a clinical supervisor after practicing at that level for three years (6,000 hours). It is necessary to do 20 hours of training and secure references.
The Application Process
You must complete all education requirements before applying to take the NCAC II or MAC exam. The application process includes completing and submitting the Exam Application and Clinical Trainee Completion forms. Once your application has been accepted and approved, you’ll receive instructions detailing how to register and take the exam.
Once you’ve passed the exam, you’ll apply for either LAC or LMAC licensure by completing the appropriate application and submitting it to the Board, along with verification of the completion of clinical training, a copy of your passing exam score, your official transcripts, and two letters of recommendation.
Out-of-State Addiction Counselors
Addiction counselors will need to provide verification of all licenses, past and present when applying as an out-of-state applicant.
You may apply by reciprocity if: (1) your license is currently in good standing, and (2) your jurisdiction’s requirements are at least equal to those of North Dakota. The Board notes that reciprocity applications must be approved by the full Board and that the process can take as long as several months.
Private Practice Registration
You can apply for private practice registration as either an LAC or LMAC in North Dakota. To do so, you must also obtain a program license from the Division of Behavioral Health.
Additional Information
You can contact the North Dakota State Board of Addiction Counseling Examiners (701) 255-1439 or [email protected].
The North Dakota Addiction Counselors Association serves as an additional professional resource.