Washington Substance Abuse Counselor Requirements

Q: How long does it take to become a substance abuse counselor in Washington?

It depends on your starting point. If you begin without a degree, expect 2–4 years for your associate or bachelor's degree, followed by 1–3 years to complete supervised clinical hours. Most complete the process in 3–5 years total. Recent rule changes removed a five-year cap on training completion.

Q: Can I complete my SUDP training online?

Yes, academic coursework can be completed online through accredited programs. However, supervised clinical experience requires in-person, hands-on work in treatment settings within Washington or an approved location.

Q: How much does it cost to become certified in Washington?

Direct certification costs total around $350 ($100 application + $100 certification + $150 exam fee). Educational costs vary widely—associate degrees may range from $5,000–$15,000, while bachelor's degrees typically range from $20,000–$60,000.

Q: Can I work while completing my supervised experience hours?

Yes. After registering as a SUDP trainee, you can work in treatment settings under supervision while accumulating your clinical hours. Most trainees are paid employees during this period.

Q: What’s the difference between NAADAC and IC&RC exams?

NAADAC exams are administered directly by the WA DOH and may be more convenient for local candidates. IC&RC exams must be taken elsewhere and scores sent to Washington. Both are accepted for SUDP certification.

Q: Will my out-of-state license transfer to Washington?

It depends. Washington maintains a list of states with substantially equivalent requirements. If yours is on the list and you've been licensed for 2+ years, transfer is easier. Otherwise, you may need additional training or exams.

Q: Do I need to live in Washington to complete the SUDP certification?

You don't need to reside in Washington during your academic coursework, but your supervised clinical hours must be completed in Washington or another approved location, under a licensed supervisor.

Q: What happens if I fail the certification exam?

You can retake the exam. There’s usually a 90-day waiting period, and retakes require an additional fee. Your education and supervised hours remain valid.

Written by Marcus Delgado, Last Updated: December 22, 2025

To become a Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP) in Washington, you’ll need at least an associate degree, 30 semester credits in addiction-specific coursework, 1,500-2,500 supervised clinical hours (depending on your degree level), and a passing score on a NAADAC or IC&RC certification exam.

Washington’s addiction crisis doesn’t stop at Seattle’s city limits. From Spokane to Tacoma to the small communities tucked into the state’s woodlands, people are struggling with substance use disorder—and they need counselors who understand their challenges.

By becoming a Substance Use Disorder Professional through the Washington State Department of Health, you’ll join a network of professionals making a real difference across the entire state. SUDP certification is available to professionals with all levels of education and from a wide range of backgrounds. Understanding the nuances of the certification process is key to plotting your own journey.

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Educational Requirements

To become a Substance Use Disorder Professional in Washington, you’ll need an associate degree at a minimum. You can also qualify by completing 60 semester credits at a college or university that’s been accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency.

Whether you have an associate degree or not, you’ll need to complete 30 semester credits of addiction-specific coursework covering these core topics:

Pharmacological actions of drugs and alcohol
Understanding addiction
Treatment methods and modalities
Addiction placement, discharge criteria, and continuing care
Treatment planning
Developmental psychology
Psychopathology
Cultural diversity and treatment implications
Clinical evaluation, including referral for comorbid disorders
HIV/AIDS brief risk intervention
Service coordination
Community resources and referral
Case management
Individual counseling
Group counseling
Chemical dependency family and couple counseling
Relapse prevention
Client, family, and community education
Professional and ethical responsibility
Confidentiality
Adolescent chemical dependency
Documentation
Rules and regulations

Here’s what you need to know: if you earn an associate degree or higher, specifically in addiction studies or substance use disorder counseling, you’re good to go. The Washington State Department of Health considers these programs to cover all required topics.

But if you have a degree in another subject—psychology, social work, counseling, or any related field—you’ll need to submit a course-by-course breakdown to the DOH. They’ll review your transcript to ensure you’ve sufficiently studied all required topics. This doesn’t mean your degree won’t work; it just means you’ll need to demonstrate you’ve covered the essentials.

Supervised Experience Requirement

Once you’ve completed your degree and coursework, you can register as a SUDP trainee with the Department of Health and start earning supervised clinical experience. This is where theory meets practice.

How many hours you’ll need depends on your degree level:

Associate degree: 2,500 hours
Bachelor’s degree: 2,000 hours
Master’s degree or doctorate: 1,500 hours

No matter which degree level you’re coming from, you’ll need to dedicate at least 850 hours to three specific areas. You’ll spend at least 200 hours on clinical evaluation (100 of which must be direct patient contact), 600 hours on face-to-face individual, group, and family counseling, and 50 hours learning about professional and ethical obligations. The remaining hours of your training can be spent developing skills as your supervisor sees fit.

Here’s some good news: until 2024, trainees could renew their one-year training licenses only 4 times and had to complete everything within 5 years. That year, though, the Department of Health instituted emergency rules that removed those restrictions. These changes are designed to bolster Washington’s behavioral health workforce and to give trainees more flexibility in completing their training. The emergency rules remain in place until the state legislature enacts similar provisions into permanent law.

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Examination Requirement

The final step in becoming a certified SUDP is passing a national certification exam. Fortunately, you have options—and choosing the right exam can also open doors to national certification if you want to practice in other states.

NAADAC Exams

Your first option is taking an exam created by the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC), one of the nation’s leading addiction counselor organizations. You can choose from:

National Certified Addiction Counselor Level 1 (NCAC I): Requires a GED or high school diploma
National Certified Addiction Counselor Level 2 (NCAC II): Requires a bachelor’s degree
Master Addiction Counselor (MAC): Requires a master’s degree

By taking higher-level exams, you’ll automatically qualify for higher-level national certification from NAADAC. The Washington State Department of Health administers NAADAC exams directly, making this the most straightforward path for Washington-based candidates.

IC&RC Exams

Your second option is passing an exam administered by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC), another national leader in addiction counseling certification. You can take either:

Alcohol Drug Counselor (ADC) Exam: Requires a high school diploma
Advanced Alcohol Drug Counselor (AADC) Exam: Requires a master’s degree

Here’s what’s important to understand: the Washington DOH doesn’t administer IC&RC exams directly. However, you can take an IC&RC exam in another state and have your scores sent to the DOH. This reciprocity allows counselors who are licensed in other states to transfer their credentials to Washington more easily.

The Application Process

At every stage of the process, you can submit application materials to the DOH online or through the mail. Resources for both methods are available on the DOH licensing information webpage.

Whichever method you choose, you’ll need to submit several items: official college transcripts, questionnaires about your legal, professional, and health history, verification of your supervised experience hours from your clinical supervisor, and fingerprints for a background check.

The DOH charges a $100 application fee and a $100 initial certification fee, bringing your total up-front cost to $200. NAADAC charges a $150 exam fee, while IC&RC exam fees may differ depending on where you take the test. In both cases, retakes cost an additional fee. If you want national certification from either organization (which can be valuable if you ever want to practice in another state), that requires a separate application and its own fee.

Out-of-State Addiction Counselors

If you’ve been a licensed substance abuse counselor in another state for two years or more, you may be able to transfer your license to Washington—but it depends on whether your home state has similar requirements.

The DOH maintains a list of states with substantially equivalent requirements. If your state is on that list, you can transfer your license by simply providing proof of licensure. You may need to work under a probationary license for up to one year, depending on your qualifications, but the process is relatively straightforward.

States Without Equivalent Requirements

If you’re coming from one of these states, you’ll likely need to meet additional requirements before getting certified in Washington:

Alabama
Alaska
California
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Illinois
Iowa
Maine
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Texas
West Virginia

If you’re coming from one of these states, you may need to verify every detail of your education and training before getting certified in Washington. On top of that, you might need to take additional courses, complete more supervised experience hours, or pass an IC&RC or NAADAC exam.

That said, if you’re nationally certified at the appropriate level through IC&RC or NAADAC, you can often qualify for an expedited certification process in Washington—even if your home state isn’t on the equivalent list.

Credential-Specific Transfers

It’s also worth noting that some certifications in other states are considered equivalent, while others aren’t. For example, if you’re a Level II or III Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor from Oregon, you can transfer your license fairly easily. If you’re a Level I counselor from Oregon, though, you’ll likely need to meet additional requirements before becoming an SUDP in Washington.

Additional Information

To stay up to date on all regulations, visit the Washington State Department of Health’s SUDP webpage for news, forms, and contact information.

For information about training opportunities, advocacy events, continuing education, and professional support, contact the Washington Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (WAADAC). As a state affiliate of NAADAC, they’re an excellent resource for future and current substance use disorder professionals alike.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to become a substance abuse counselor in Washington?

The timeline depends on your starting point. If you’re beginning with no degree, expect 2-4 years for your associate or bachelor’s degree, then 1-3 years to complete your supervised clinical hours (2,500 hours for associate degree holders, 2,000 for bachelor’s, 1,500 for master’s). Most people complete the entire process in 3-5 years from start to certification. Thanks to 2024 emergency rules, there’s no longer a strict five-year limit on training completion.

Can I complete my SUDP training online?

Yes, you can complete your academic coursework online through accredited programs. Many colleges and universities offer online associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees in addiction counseling or related fields. However, your supervised clinical experience hours must involve direct patient contact and hands-on work in treatment settings, which can’t be done entirely remotely. You’ll need to be physically present in Washington (or an approved location) for your clinical training.

How much does it cost to become certified in Washington?

Direct certification costs include a $100 application fee, a $100 initial certification fee, and a $150 NAADAC exam fee (or variable IC&RC exam fees), totaling around $350. Your degree costs will vary significantly—community college associate degrees might cost $5,000-$15,000 total, while bachelor’s degrees typically range from $20,000-$60,000 depending on the institution. During your supervised training period, you’ll likely be working in the field and earning income, which helps offset educational costs.

Can I work while completing my supervised experience hours?

Yes—in fact, that’s precisely how the supervised experience requirement works. Once you register as a SUDP trainee, you’ll work in addiction treatment settings under the supervision of a certified SUDP. You’ll be employed (and paid) while accumulating your required hours. Most trainees work full-time in treatment facilities, outpatient clinics, or community health organizations, earning income while building toward certification.

What’s the difference between NAADAC and IC&RC exams?

Both are nationally recognized certification bodies for addiction counselors. NAADAC exams are administered directly by the Washington DOH, making them more convenient for Washington-based candidates. IC&RC exams must be taken in other states or locations, and then scores are transferred to Washington. Both are accepted equally for SUDP certification. Your choice might depend on whether you plan to practice in other states (IC&RC has broader reciprocity agreements) or prefer the convenience of testing locally (NAADAC).

Will my out-of-state license transfer to Washington?

It depends on your home state’s requirements. Washington maintains a list of states with substantially equivalent requirements—if your state is on that list and you’ve been licensed for two years or more, you can transfer relatively easily. If your state isn’t on the list, you may need to complete additional coursework, supervised hours, or exams. National certification through NAADAC or IC&RC can expedite the process even if your state isn’t considered equivalent.

Do I need to live in Washington to complete the SUDP certification?

You don’t need to be a Washington resident during your academic training, but you’ll need to complete your supervised clinical hours in Washington or another approved location. Your clinical supervisor must be licensed in Washington, and you’ll be working in Washington treatment facilities. Most people establish residency in Washington before or during their supervised training period since that’s where they’ll be working and building their career.

What happens if I fail the certification exam?

You can retake the exam. Both NAADAC and IC&RC allow retakes, though you’ll need to pay another exam fee (typically $150 for NAADAC). There are waiting periods between attempts—usually 90 days—to give you time to study and prepare. Many candidates use the first attempt as a learning experience and pass on the second try. Your supervised experience hours and education remain valid while you prepare for a retake.

Key Takeaways

Washington requires at least an associate degree plus 30 semester credits of addiction-specific coursework to qualify for SUDP certification.
Supervised clinical experience requirements vary by degree level: 2,500 hours for associate degrees, 2,000 for bachelor’s, and 1,500 for master’s degrees.
You must pass a national certification exam from either NAADAC or IC&RC—Washington DOH administers NAADAC exams directly for easier testing.
Recent 2024 emergency rules removed the five-year training completion limit, giving trainees more flexibility to finish their supervised hours.
Out-of-state counselors can transfer their licenses if their home state has equivalent requirements, or may qualify for expedited processing with national NAADAC or IC&RC certification.
Total up-front certification costs are around $350 in fees (application, certification, exam), not including degree expenses.
You can work and earn income during your supervised training period—most trainees are employed in treatment facilities while accumulating required hours.
Always verify current requirements with the Washington Department of Health before making educational or career decisions, as regulations can change.

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Marcus Delgado

Marcus J. Delgado is a nationally recognized addiction counseling expert with over 18 years of clinical and regulatory experience. A Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) and Licensed Clinical Alcohol & Drug Counselor (LCADC), he previously served on a state certification board and has helped thousands of counselors navigate licensing requirements across the U.S.

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