Substance Abuse / Addiction Counselor Requirements in Indiana
The ferocity of today’s addiction crisis hasn’t spared America’s Heartland. Street-grade fentanyl and prescription opioids are claiming lives and destroying families from the sprawling metro areas of Indianapolis and Fort Wayne to the suburbs and rural communities deep in the heart of the state.
But in the midst of it all, signs of hope are emerging, with Indiana’s addiction counselors at the forefront of every effort to bring people and communities back from the brink. And you can be one of them.
The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency licenses four levels of addiction counselors at various levels of education and experience:
- Addiction Counselor Associate (LACA)- Bachelor’s Level
- Addiction Counselor (LAC)- Bachelor’s Level with two years of experience
- Clinical Addiction Counselor Associate (LCACA)- Master’s Level
- Clinical Addiction Counselor (LCAC)- Master’s Level with two years of experience
Select an Indiana Substance Abuse Counselor Topic Below…
- Licensed Addiction Counselor Associate (LACA) Requirements
- Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) Requirements
- Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor Associate (LCACA) Requirements
- Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor (LCAC) Requirements
- Examination Process for All Certifications
- The Application Process
- Out-of-State Addiction Counselors
- Additional Information
Licensed Addiction Counselor Associate (LACA) Requirements
To become a LACA, you must:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in addiction studies or in a related field like psychology, counseling, social work, or family relations (must provide proof of the completion of specific addiction counselor coursework)
- Complete a supervised practicum, internship, or field experience in an addiction counseling setting where you provided at least 350 hours of addiction counseling services under the supervision of a qualified professional with at least three years of experience providing addiction services
- Take and pass the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ADC) exam or the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC-NCC AP) National Certified Addiction Counselor – Level II (NCAC- II) exam
Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) Requirements
To become an LAC, you must meet the requirements for LACA certification AND earn at least two years of supervised addiction counseling experience in no less than 21 months and no more than 48 months. The supervision must include at least 150 hours of supervision – 100 hours of individual supervision and 50 hours of group supervision.
Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor Associate (LCACA) Requirements
To become an LACAC, you must:
- Earn a graduate degree in addiction counseling, addiction therapy, or a related area
- Complete a practicum, internship, or field experience in a counseling setting of at least 700 hours; 280 of those hours must be in face-to-face client contact counseling services and at least 35 hours must be under the supervision of a qualified supervisor who has at least five years of experience in addiction counseling.
- Take and pass the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (AADC) exam or the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC-NCC AP) Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) exam
Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor (LCAC) Requirements
To become an LCAC, you must meet all requirements for the LCACA designation AND earn at least two years of clinical addiction counseling supervision in no less than 21 months and no more than 48 months. At least 200 hours must be performed under supervision, split evenly between individual and group counseling.
The Examination Process for All Certifications
Applicants cannot take the appropriate IC&RC or NAADAC exam until their application has been approved by the Board.
Once your application has been reviewed and approved, you’ll receive an exam approval from the Board, with instructions for registering for the exam of your choice. You must take the exam within one calendar year from the date of your approval. If you fail to take your exam during this time, you must submit a new application to the Board.
Upon completion of the exam, you must contact the appropriate exam agency to request the release of your score to the Board.
The Application Process for All Certifications
All applicants must apply through the Indiana Licensing Enterprise’s MyLicenseOne portal. All application fees are paid during the online process.
You must undergo a Criminal Background Check and submit the following forms through the portal:
Out-of-State Addiction Counselors
Under certain circumstances, an out-of-state counselor may be licensed without taking the examination. The counselor must be credentialed on the basis of examination; if the examination was not one that is approved for licensure in Indiana, it must be judged substantially equivalent. The licensed addiction counselor must have worked in the field for three of the prior five years.
It is still necessary to meet Indiana’s education and experience requirements. The endorsement candidate must also pass an examination on Indiana’s laws and rules.
An out-of-state addiction counselor may be granted a temporary permit if either of the following apply: 1) the addiction counselor is state licensed or state certified; or 2) the addiction counselor is nationally certified and has been practicing in a state that does not license addiction counselors.
There is an additional fee of $25 for the temporary permit. It is valid for up to 180 days. The temporary permit is invalidated if the candidate is found ineligible for licensing; failing the required examination would be a possible reason.
Additional Information
Questions about addiction counselor licensing? Contact the Professional Licensing Agency at (317) 232-2960 at [email protected].
The Indiana Association for Addiction Professionals is an excellence source of industry and professional information.