Substance Abuse Counselor Requirements in Tennessee
When it comes to substance use disorder (SUD) counselor licensing, Tennessee has it figured out. The Board of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors, a division of the Department of Health, offers two levels of licensure that leaves plenty of room for entry-level support professionals and highly-trained clinical experts alike
In a state where the opioid crisis transitioned seamlessly into today’s fentanyl epidemic, you can make an impact by getting licensed at either end of the spectrum.
Select a Tennessee Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor Topic Below…
- Level I Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor
- Level II Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor
- The Application Process
- Reciprocity Candidates
- Additional Information
Level I Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor: Educational, Training, and Exam Requirements
The minimum requirements to become a Level I Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (A&D Counselor) in Tennessee are pretty accessible. You need to be 21 or over and have a high school diploma or GED. You also need 270 hours of alcohol and drug counselor education. Six of those hours need to be in professional ethics.
Your classes and training will need to center on eight domains of practice as outlined by the Board:
- The education of clients, their families, and the community
- Clinical evaluation
- Counseling practices
- Making referrals
- Coordinating services with other professionals
- Documentation
- Planning treatment
- Ethical and professional duties
You’ll need six hours in ethics. You can earn your education hours through workshops or accredited colleges and universities including community college.
Next, you’ll need to complete 6,000 (three years) supervised experience hours. Like education hours, these hours should focus on the eight domains. You’ll work closely with an A&D Counselor who holds a Board-issued Certificate of Qualified Supervision (CQS). 100 of your hours will involve working face-to-face with your supervisor. Up to one year’s worth of internship hours can count towards this requirement.
The last step to becoming a Level I A&D Counselor involves passing two exams. The first is a jurisprudence exam that tests your knowledge of state laws pertaining to counselors. The second is the National Certified Addiction Counselor (NCAC) Level I Exam. Made up of 150 multiple choice questions, this exam was created by the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) and is used in states all over the country.
Level II Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor: Educational, Training, and Exam Requirements
You can become a Level II Alcohol and Drug Counselor in Tennessee by either holding a bachelor’s degree in a field of behavioral health (or a higher-level degree in a non-behavioral health field) or holding a master’s in a behavioral health field. Which route you take will determine what the process will be like.
If you have a bachelor’s in a behavior-related area, you’ll need to complete 270 education hours on the eight domains and 4,000 (two years) supervised experience hours. Like Level I A&D Counselors, Level II applicants need six hours of ethics education.
If you have a master’s in a behavior-related field, you only need 2,000 (one year) supervised experience hours. You’ll still need 270 education hours including six in ethics.
Whichever path you take, you’ll take a jurisprudence exam and the NAADAC’s Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) Exam. This exam covers higher-level topics than the NCAC Level I exam but still has 150 multiple choice questions.
The Application Process
Whether you’re pursuing Level I or Level II licensure, you’ll have to pass a background check. When you submit your application, your background check has to be less than six months old. You’ll also be asked to submit transcripts, certificates of completion, and supervisor evaluations to prove you’ve completed all requirements.
Both levels of licensure also require you to submit a three-page paper on your philosophy of treatment. The application gives you 10 questions like “What is your definition of addiction?” and “What are your treatment goals in working with clients?” to guide you. You’ll need to use real-life case examples to back up your philosophy.
The application fee is $250 and you’ll also pay a $10 state regulatory fee. You can apply online or through the mail and find all materials on the Department of Health website.
Reciprocity Candidates
If you’re already licensed in another state, you can request an application and submit it to the Board for review. If you already met similar requirements to get your license in your home state, you’re generally good to go. You’ll also need to pass the jurisprudence exam and pay the same $260 in fees that in-state applicants do.
Additional Information
If you have any questions about the application process or requirements, you can reach out to the Tennessee Board of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors through email or by phone at either 615-741-5735 or 1-800-778-4123.
If you want to get involved with legislative and public advocacy, the Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug & other Addiction Services (TAADAS) is a great organization to join. Or if you’re looking for education, training, and other professional resources, check out the Tennessee Association for Addiction Professionals, Tennessee’s local NAADAC chapter.