How Addiction Counseling Licensing Works

Typically each state has two or three requirement categories for licensure. Our Bachelor’s in Addiction Counseling Clinical Concentration and Master’s in Addiction Counseling Clinical Concentration are the only programs intended to lead to licensure. See the list of states below for our research on where these programs meet and do not meet requirements.

  • Training hours. Most states have required training hours. Our program may or may not meet the training hours requirements for your state, so be sure to check with your state.
  • Supervised experience hours. Most states have required supervised experience. Our program will not meet this requirement unless you take our practicum course. If you take our practicum course, you should check with your state on whether it will meet the requirements of your state.
  • Exams. Some states require exams. Our courses are designed to help you pass the exams in your state, but taking our courses does not guarantee you will pass your state’s exam.

States with CVU Educational Path to Licensure

Based on our research, we believe that our Bachelor’s in Addiction Counseling Clinical Concentration and Master’s in Addiction Counseling Clinical Concentration  will meet the educational requirements for the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Students from these states may enroll in City Vision’s Clinical Counseling Concentration that is intended to meet the educational requirements in those states.

Students should look up the certification requirements in their state. City Vision has done the best research we can to identify requirements. There may be some states on this list that may require minimal training that must happen locally in the state on specific topics such as ethics or Peer Support specialist, typically for only a few hours.

States without CVU Educational Path to Licensure

Based on our research, we believe that this program will not meet the educational requirements for the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Kansas, Louisiana, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina and West Virginia.

Students from these states may not enroll in City Vision’s Clinical Counseling Concentration. As you review this list keep in mind the following:

  1. City Vision has done the best research we can to identify whether we meet requirements and our best assessment is that we will not meet the educational requirements in these states. If you talk to your state’s board and find otherwise, please let us know. 
  2. There are many states that may have very minimal educational hours requirements (often less than 200). If you would like to still pursue certification, you can often meet these education requirements with either one or two local courses or through unaccredited local training programs. If you choose this option and are still interested in City Vision’s degree, you can still enroll in our Recovery Ministry or Diversified Concentration.

How to Research Addiction Counseling/Drug & Alcohol Counseling Licensing Requirements

Different states have different licensing requirements for Addiction Counseling. Some states require licensure, others board certifications and others just require registration. Each state has a board or organization that oversees the state’s standards in addiction counseling.

It is very important to research and understand the requirements for your state. The following is a list of links for each state that may help in your research. In the list below, in some states, our faculty and alumni who live in those states have volunteered to provide advice to help you understand how to get licensed in your state.

Addiction Counseling Licensure Resources by State

Alabama

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.aadaa.us/

Alaska

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.akcertification.org/

Arizona

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.azbbhe.us/

Arkansas

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.sbeadac.org/about_us.html

California

Our graduate Carey Kachurka has reported that California accepted her City Vision courses to meet the training requirement for a Licensed Advanced Alcohol Drug Counselor (LAADC).

Colorado

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dora/Addiction_Counselor

Connecticut

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.ctcertboard.org/

Delaware

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.delawarecertificationboard.org/

Florida

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.flcertificationboard.org/
Our graduate Stella Bourassa has reported that Florida accepted her City Vision courses to meet their training requirement, so she was able to get licensed as a BSAS, CAP and CRSS. She is willing to provide free advice to City Vision students in Florida seeking addiction counseling licensure if you email her at: stellalogic1@gmail.com.

Georgia

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://gaca.org/

Hawaii

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: https://health.hawaii.gov/substance-abuse/

Idaho

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://ibadcc.org/
Our faculty member Ian Howarth (LPC) has volunteered to help any students in Idaho with licensing. He is at: ihowarth@cityvision.edu

Illinois

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.iaodapca.org/

Indiana

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.in.gov/pla/social.htm

Iowa

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.iowabc.org/

Kansas

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: https://ksbsrb.ks.gov/professions

Kentucky

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://adc.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Louisiana

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.la-adra.org/

Maine

Maryland

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: https://health.maryland.gov/bopc/Pages/LCADC.aspx

Massachusetts

Michigan

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.mcbap.com/

Mississippi

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.msaap.net/

Missouri

Addictions Credentialing Board: https://missouricb.com/
Our alumnus Brian Moomey has reported that Missouri accepted his City Vision courses to meet their training requirement, so he was able to get licensed as a CDAC. He is willing to provide free advice to City Vision students in Missouri seeking addiction counseling licensure if you email him at: brianmoomey@yahoo.com. Our faculty member Michael Liimatta has also offered to help at: mkliimatta@cityvision.edu 

Montana

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/bbh

Nebraska

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Alcohol-and-Drug-Counselor.aspx

Nevada

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://alcohol.nv.gov/

New Hampshire

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcbcs/bdas/licensing.htm

New Jersey

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: https://certbd.org/

New Mexico

North Carolina

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.ncsappb.org/

Our graduate Vickie Walker has reported that North Carolina accepted her City Vision courses to meet their training requirement, so she was able to get licensed as a CSAC-A and CPSS. She is willing to provide free advice to City Vision students in North Carolina seeking addiction counseling licensure if you email her at: vickiewalker73@gmail.com.

North Dakota

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.ndbace.org/

Ohio

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://ocdp.ohio.gov/

Oklahoma

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.okdrugcounselors.org/index.php

Oregon

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: https://www.mhacbo.org/en/
Our faculty members Bob Rapp (MAC, brapp@cityvision.edu) and Ian Howarth (LPC, ihowarth@cityvision.edu) have volunteered to help any students in Oregon with licensing.

Pennsylvania

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: https://www.pacertboard.org/

Rhode Island

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.ribccdp.com/index.html

South Carolina

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.scaadac.org/

South Dakota

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: https://dss.sd.gov/licensingboards/bapp/bapp.aspx    

Texas

Addictions Certification Board: https://www.tcbap.org/page/certification 

Utah

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: https://dopl.utah.gov/sudc/index.html

Vermont

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: https://sos.vermont.gov/alcohol-drug-abuse-counselors/

Virginia

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/counseling/

District of Columbia

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://doh.dc.gov/node/118472

West Virginia

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: https://www.wvcbapp.org/

Wisconsin

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: http://dsps.wi.gov/Home

Wyoming

Addictions Counseling Licensing Board: https://mentalhealth.wyo.gov/home