RBHWC

Maine Rural Behavioral Health Workforce Center

Home Maine Alcohol and Drug Counselor

  •  

    Prerequisites

    • 18 years or older
    • High school or higher education level

  • Step 1

    Complete qualifying hours

    • Hours worked at an agency or facility that is licensed as an alcohol and drug treatment where you could practice under someone licensed and eligible to sign off on the supervision requirement

  • Alcohol and Drug Counseling Aid (ADCA) Track

  • Step 1

    Apply for Alcohol and Drug Counseling Aid Licensure

  • Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) Track

  •  

    Prerequisite

    • Have at least an associate degree from accredited school in approved field

    OR

    • 30 credit hours from an accredited school in approved subjects.

    OR

    • Get a Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician/ Community (MHRT/C) or Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Technician (SART certification).

    OR

    • Get required 4000 qualifying hours.

  • Step 2

    Apply for and pass the Maine IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) Exam

  • Step 3

    Apply for Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor Licensure

  • Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) Track

  •  

    Prerequisite

    • Have an associate's or a bachelor's degree

    OR

    • Have a bachelor's degree
    • Have at least 18 credit hours of course work in Addiction Counseling or Have a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) License

    or

    • Have a master's degree

    OR

    • Have a master's degree
    • Have at least 12 credit hours of course work in Addiction Counseling

  • Step 1

    Complete supervisory work

    • Complete 4000 qualifying hours

    OR

    • Complete 2000 qualifying hours

    OR

    • Complete 1500 qualifying hours

  • Step 2

    Apply for and pass the Maine IC&RC Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) Exam

  • Step 3

    Apply for Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC)

  • Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) Track

  •  

    Prerequisite

    • Have any of the following licensure:
      - Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC)
      - Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
      - Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
      - Licensed Marriage and Family Counselor (LMFT)
      - Physician
      - Psychiatrist
      - Registered Nurse
      - Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
      - Licensed Marriage and Family Counselor (LMDT)
      - Certified Mental Health Professional (CMHP)

  • Step 1

    Earn training hours

    • 24 hours of Clinical Supervision
    • 6 hours in: skills assessment and evaluation, counselor development, management and administration, professional responsibility.

  • Step 2

    Earn clinically supervised hours

    • Earn 4000 hours
    • Earn 2000 hours
    • Earn 1000 hours

  • Step 3

    Gain experience in alcohol and drug counseling

    • Gain 1000 practice hours in alcohol and drug counseling under your qualifying license

    OR

    • Gain experience in treating individuals with co-occuring mental health and substance use disorders
    • Gain at least 3 years' of experience supervising clinicians within a program licensed to provide treatment to individuals with co-occuring disorders

  • Step 4

    Apply for Certified Clinical Supervisor License

Become an Alcohol and Drug Counselor

We're going to ask you a few questions to provide you with all the resources you need to start you on your path to certification.

Back Start



Individuals who engage in apprenticeship for the purpose of acquiring knowledge and experience in the performance of alcohol and drug counseling services. They may facilitate individual and direct group counseling or assume other facilitation duties under supervision and may supervise nonclinical activities. An alcohol and drug counseling aide may write treatment chart notations when the notations are cosigned by a certified clinical supervisor. All work performed must be under the supervision of a certified clinical supervisor. They may not engage in independent or private practice. All work must be conducted within an agency.


Alcohol and Drug Counseling Aides can work in any agency that provides treatment and clinical services to individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder. This can include inpatient and outpatient treatment settings.



Individuals who provide individual or group alcohol and drug counseling services. All work must be under the supervision of a certified clinical supervisor within an agency. Certified Addiction Counselors may not engage in independent or private practice. Certified Addiction Counselors can work in any agency that provides treatment and clinical services to individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder. This can include inpatient and outpatient treatment settings.



Individuals who provide individual or group alcohol and drug counseling services independently within an agency or in private practice. A Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor may also assume clinical supervision duties.


Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors can work within any agency that provides treatment and clinical services to individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder. This can include inpatient and outpatient treatment settings. Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors can also practice independently outside of an agency.



Individuals who provide individual or group alcohol and drug counseling services. All work must be under the supervision of a certified clinical supervisor within an agency. Certified Addiction Counselors may not engage in independent or private practice. Certified Addiction Counselors can work in any agency that provides treatment and clinical services to individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder. This can include inpatient and outpatient treatment settings.