Education Requirements
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor LADC candidates must have at least an associate’s degree in either substance abuse counseling, addiction studies or a similar field. If the candidate has earned a bachelor’s degree, it must be in the counseling/addiction field or human services, certified recovery support worker CRSW, psychology, social work or clinical mental health.
A Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor LADC candidate must have 270 hours of alcohol and drug education, along with 300 hours of practical training. The 270 hours include six hours of substance abuse-related HIV/AIDS training, six hours of ethics training and six hours of confidentiality training. Not more than 25 percent of the 270 hours may take place via approved distance learning.
The Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor LADC candidate pass 18 categories of competence. These consist of:
Data collection – Collection of important information relating to a client’s history and lifestyle.
Diagnosis of drug/alcohol dependence – knowing indicators for diagnostic purposes of substance abuse.
Initiating treatment – Setting goals and objectives for treatment, along with aiding the client in following the treatment plan.
Crisis response – Identifying a crisis as well as determining its severity.
Human growth and development – Understanding physical, emotional, social and intellectual development
Substance abuse counselor– Knowledge of various counseling techniques and approaches.
Therapeutic relationship – Developing a rapport and relationship with the client, and assisting the client with gaining insights into their issues.
Evaluation – Learning to evaluate both a program and its effectiveness on a client.
Termination and follow-up – Determining when termination is appropriate and forming a discharge plan.
Recordkeeping – Accurately take and maintain all aspects of client records.
Verbal communication – The ability to verbally communicate effectively with clients, staff and colleagues.
Regulatory issues – Knowledge of New Hampshire and federal regulatory issues relating to client confidentiality, substance abuse and other topics.
Community utilization – Identifying and coordinating existing community resources to benefit the client.
Alcohol and drugs – Knowledge of the effect of alcohol and commonly abused drugs on the human body.
Sociological factors – Cultural influences affecting substance abuse and factors relating to the client’s race, gender, age and ethnicity.
Physiological medical factors – Knowledge of the short and long-term effects of substance abuse on the client’s body and overall health.
Psychological psychiatric factors – Knowledge of the short and long-term effects of substance abuse on the client’s emotional and mental health.
Treatment – Knowledge of progression of addiction and recovery and components of the treatment continuum.
The MLADC candidate must have not only a master’s degree, but 60 complete semester hours of graduate coursework. The MLADC candidate must also have 270 hours of alcohol and drug counseling education, along with 300 hours of practical training, with supervision.
CACREP Accredited Online Certification
Two types of accreditation are recognized in the United States; institutional and specialized. Institutional accreditation takes the entire institution into account while the specialized focus on professional preparation programs. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is a specialized accreditation that focuses on master’s and doctoral degree programs in counseling at colleges and universities worldwide. Only already-accredited institutions are eligible for CACREP review. The review for accreditation will center on programs offering graduate degrees in counseling.
Choosing a CACREP-accredited program ensures that the program meets the highest of quality standards. Many counseling specialties are accredited bythe CACREP, including addiction counseling. Accredited addiction counseling programs prepare individuals to work with those affected by addictive behavior and their families. Addictive behaviors include alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, sex, and anything else that negatively affects your personal or work life by creating addiction behaviors.
CACREP-accredited programs will focus on treatment models and the phases of addiction including prevention, recovery, and relapse prevention. These 60-semester hour programs will include the application of interventions. When students choose a CACREP-accredited program they can be confident that:
- the program meets or exceeds national standards
- the program will focus on professional counseling rather than psychology oreducation
- the program has an excellent reputation
- CACREP graduates statistically receive higher scores on the National alcohol and drug Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE).
- the requirements for licensure will be met.
Substance abuse counselor Testing & Examination Process
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor LADC candidates must take the IC&RC’s Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination. MLADC candidates must take both the Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) examination and the Co-Occurring Disorders Professional (CCDP) exam. If the candidate has a New Hampshire license in mental health, only the AADC exam is necessary. Scheduling for the exams is arranged through the company providing the computer-based tests. Currently, the test is $110 for LADC candidates and $300 for MLADC candidates.
Applications for the test are available from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor LADC and MLADC applicants must fill out and submit the initial application form, along with the confidential page for the applicant’s Social Security information. They must fill out or have the correct entity fill out and submit the appropriate supervised practical training report form; applicant work experience form; supervisor work experience form; employment verification form; educational training and summary form; substance abuse counselor evaluation form; professional reference form; supervision agreement and the exam form and cover letter. Applicants must also have official transcripts sent to the department. In cases of non-academic education, verify these either by sending a letter from the supervisors or enclosing a certificates of attendance. If training is not approved, a course description is required.
The ICRC exam’s questions are in a multiple choice format, and the candidate chooses between four possible responses. Of these four choices, only one answer is considered the best, and candidates receive credit only for choosing the best response. Upon successful completion of the exam, candidates must send in the ICRC verification form to the state Department of Health and Human Services. Once the test is passed and all clinical supervision requirements are complete and verified, the candidate may apply for licensure from the Department.
Along with the tests, candidates must submit a written case study. The form is available through the state Department of Health and Human Services. The case study is based on a closed case file concerning an actual client. Once the exam is passed, the case study approved and all clinical supervision requirements are complete and verified, the candidate may apply for licensure.
Renewal and Continuing Education
Licenses are renewable every two years, with a renewal date of June 30. Currently, LADC licenses are $110 and MLADC licenses are $300. Renewals and fee payment are available online.
Renewals must include the licensee’s continuing education credits, which for a two year period equals 48 hours, or two hours per month, for both LADCs and MLADCs. Only 10 of these 48 hours may take place via approved distance learning. Continuing education is acceptable in various forms, including conferences, workshops, lectures, academic studies, seminars, extension studies, in-service education, institutes, independent/home study programs, and online courses. Continuing education event preapproval forms are available from the state Department of Heath and Human Services.