Substance Abuse Counselor Requirements in Virginia
Virginia offers three substance abuse counselor credentials: Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner (LSATP) requires a master’s degree and 3,400 supervised hours, Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) requires a bachelor’s degree and 240 clock hours of training plus 2,000 supervised hours, and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Assistant (CSAC-A) requires a high school diploma and 120 clock hours of training plus 180 supervised hours.
Virginia’s substance abuse counselors work on the frontlines in cities like Richmond, Virginia Beach, and Norfolk, helping individuals break free from addiction and rebuild their lives. Whether you’re drawn to this work through personal experience with addiction or a passion for clinical mental health treatment, Virginia offers three clear pathways to certification—each designed for different education levels and career goals.
Unlike many states where certification requirements create confusion, Virginia’s Board of Counseling maintains straightforward licensure levels. You’ll find the Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner (LSATP) for master’s-level clinicians who can diagnose and treat complex cases, the Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) for bachelor’s-level professionals providing comprehensive treatment support, and the Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Assistant (CSAC-A) for entry-level roles helping clients navigate recovery.
Here’s what you need to know about becoming a substance abuse counselor in Virginia.
Virginia Substance Abuse Counselor Credential Comparison
Virginia’s three-tiered system lets you enter the field at different points depending on your education level and career goals. Here’s how the credentials compare:
| Credential | Education Required | Supervised Hours | Exam | Can Diagnose? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSATP | Master’s degree (60 semester hours) | 3,400 hours (21 months – 4 years) | MAC Examination | Yes |
| CSAC | Bachelor’s degree + 240 clock hours of training | 2,000 hours (1-5 years) | NCAC-1 | No |
| CSAC-A | High school diploma + 120 clock hours of training | 180 hours | Virginia State Test (open book) | No |
Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner (LSATP) Requirements
The LSATP represents the highest level of substance abuse counselor in Virginia. With this credential, you’ll have the authority to diagnose clients and provide clinical levels of care to people with complex co-occurring disorders.
Education Requirements
You’ll need a master’s degree in substance use disorder treatment or a related field from a program accredited by a regional agency or the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Your degree should include at least 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of coursework. Virginia requires at least three semester hours or four quarter hours on each of these counseling-related topics:
- Counseling and psychotherapy theories
- Counseling and psychotherapy techniques
- Group counseling and psychotherapy
- Appraisal, evaluation, and diagnosis
- Psychopathology/abnormal psychology
- Multicultural counseling
- Marriage and family systems
- Professional identity and ethics
- Research
You’ll also complete 12 semester credit hours or 18 quarter hours on five topics related directly to addiction counseling:
- The appraisal, assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis of substance use disorders
- Documentation, case management, interventions, relapse prevention, and treatment planning
- The social, cultural, psychological, and biochemical aspects of substance use disorders
- Serving specific populations such as children, seniors, and different cultural groups
- Educating communities and individual clients
Your program must include a 600-hour internship with at least 240 hours of direct, face-to-face client contact. At least 200 of those direct contact hours should focus on substance abuse treatment.
Post-Graduate Residency Hours
After graduation, you’ll complete 3,400 hours of supervised residency. At least 2,000 of those hours must be spent in direct client contact, and 200 hours must be under direct supervision. You can complete up to 100 supervision hours in group settings.
During your residency, the Board requires you to demonstrate competency in these areas:
- Evaluation
- Planning, implementing, and documenting treatment
- Making referrals and coordinating client services
- Performing counseling and case management with groups and individuals
- Educating communities and clients’ families
- Navigating ethical and professional responsibilities
If you completed more than 600 internship hours during your studies, you can count up to 300 of those additional hours toward your residency requirement. Only internship hours completed after finishing 30 semester hours of classes count.
The Virginia Board of Counseling says residencies should last no less than 21 months and no more than 4 years.
The Final Exam
You’ll complete the Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) Examination created by the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC). This exam is used in states across the country.
The MAC Examination includes 150 multiple-choice questions with a three-hour time limit. You’ll register with the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP), NAADAC’s testing and certification division. You can take it at a testing site or at home under online proctoring.
The testing fee is currently $150. You’ll find prep materials on the NAADAC website.
Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) Requirements
The CSAC credential allows you to work directly with clients in everything from intake and counseling to long-term recovery support. While you won’t be able to diagnose, you’ll play a vital role in the treatment process.
Education Requirements
You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree. Your degree doesn’t have to be in a related field, but you’ll need 240 clock hours of training and education in substance use disorder treatment.
The Virginia Board of Counseling requires 16 clock hours of training in each of these areas:
- Human behavior dynamics
- Substance abuse signs and symptoms
- Counseling techniques and theories
- Case management and offering a full continuum of care
- Relapse prevention and recovery process
- Professional identity and ethics
- The pharmacology of substances of abuse
- Crisis intervention and trauma-informed practice
- Co-occurring disorders
- Multicultural competence
- Treatment planning
- Group counseling
- Assessment, screening, and prevention techniques as they apply to substance abuse counseling
You can complete your training hours through organizations like NAADAC, the National Board for Certified Counselors, and other Board-approved agencies. Enrolling in a bachelor’s program is a great way to complete all or most of your training in one go.
Supervised Experience Hours
After earning at least 120 clock hours of training, you can register for and begin your supervised experience. You’ll need at least 2,000 hours, which you can complete over a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 5 years.
The Board wants you to spend at least eight hours (160 hours total) on each of these tasks:
- Screening and determining client eligibility for a specific program
- Intake and initial assessment
- Client orientation to a new program
- Client needs and strengths assessment
- Treatment planning and goal setting with clients
- Group and individual counseling
- Case management
- Crisis intervention
- Client education
- Referral
- Documentation, reporting, and charting
- Consultation with other professionals
You’ll work or meet directly with your supervisor for one to four hours for every 40 hours of work you do. By the end of your supervised experience, you should have 100 hours of these supervisor-supervisee meetings. No more than half can be completed in a group setting.
The Final Exam
After finishing your supervised experience hours, you’re eligible to take NAADAC’s National Certification Addiction Counselor Level 1 (NCAC-1) Exam. Like the MAC exam for LSATPs, the NCAC-1 is administered through NCC AP, can be taken at home or at a testing site, and comes with a $150 testing fee.
You can prepare for this 150-question multiple-choice exam by reviewing materials on the NAADAC NCAC-1 test prep web page.
Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Assistant (CSAC-A) Requirements
The CSAC-A credential offers an entry point into substance abuse counseling. You’ll work as a vital support professional, helping other counselors carry out treatment plans and supporting clients on their recovery journeys.
Education and Training
You’ll need your high school diploma or GED and 120 clock hours of didactic education on substance abuse counseling. You can complete these hours by taking classes through a college, university, or an organization approved by the Board.
You’ll spend a minimum of eight hours learning about each of the 13 areas CSACs study (screening, co-occurring disorders, counseling techniques, etc.).
Supervised Experience
You’ll complete 180 supervised experience hours covering 11 skill areas, spending at least eight hours on each. These are similar to the regions CSACs cover but focus more on support:
- Screening
- Intake
- Orienting new clients to a recovery program
- Helping clients identify needs, goals, and strengths
- Carrying out treatment as outlined by a supervisor
- Case management
- Helping colleagues plan crisis interventions
- Educating clients
- Helping clients access support resources
- Charting and reporting client information
- Consulting with other professionals
The Final Exam
You’ll pass the Virginia State Constructed CSAC-A test, which covers the laws governing Certified Substance Abuse Counselors and Assistants in Virginia. This is an open-book test, so you can reference regulations as needed.
Virginia Substance Abuse Counselor Salary Information
Salary varies by credential level, location, and experience. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Virginia earn competitive wages across the state.
| Location | Median Annual Salary | Entry Level (10th percentile) | Experienced (90th percentile) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia (Statewide) | $53,850 | $36,730 | $77,200 |
| Richmond, VA | $54,290 | $37,150 | $78,110 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | $52,180 | $35,420 | $74,680 |
LSATPs with clinical privileges and the ability to diagnose typically earn higher salaries within these ranges. At the same time, CSAC-A positions offer entry-level compensation with room for advancement as you complete additional education and supervision requirements.
The Application Process
The application process in Virginia follows a clear path regardless of which credential level you pursue. You’ll complete your degree or training, register for a temporary license to complete your supervised experience hours, then register for and take the final exam.
Once you pass your exam, you’re ready to submit your final application and all supporting documents to the Virginia Board of Counseling. You can preview and submit those forms on the Board’s online licensure portal.
Your residency or work experience supervisor must be approved by the Board. This person needs to be a licensed substance use disorder treatment professional or a psychologist, clinical social worker, or similar professional who is certified or trained in substance use disorder treatment.
Endorsement
If you’re already licensed as a substance abuse counselor in another state, Virginia’s endorsement policies make it relatively straightforward to get licensed in Virginia. If you’re coming from a state with similar requirements or are certified through NCC AP, you’ll submit proof of those credentials along with supporting documents.
The Virginia Board of Counseling determines eligibility for endorsement on a case-by-case basis. If you’re licensed in another state but didn’t take enough classes or complete enough supervised experience hours to meet Virginia’s minimum requirements, you may need to make up the difference before getting licensed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a substance abuse counselor in Virginia?
Can I work while completing supervised experience hours?
What’s the salary range for substance abuse counselors in Virginia?
Does Virginia accept out-of-state licenses?
Do I need continuing education to maintain my Virginia license?
Can I start working before I complete all my requirements?
Key Takeaways
- Virginia offers three straightforward credential levels with clear education and supervision requirements, avoiding the confusion found in many other states.
- LSATP is the only Virginia credential that allows diagnosis and clinical treatment of complex co-occurring disorders, requiring a master’s degree and 3,400 supervised hours.
- You can begin supervised experience hours for CSAC after completing just 120 of the required 240 training hours, allowing you to work while learning.
- All Virginia substance abuse counselor credentials require passing nationally recognized exams (MAC or NCAC-1) except CSAC-A, which uses a state-constructed open-book test.
- Out-of-state counselors can often obtain Virginia licensure through endorsement, though the Board evaluates each application individually based on previous state requirements.
- Median salaries for substance abuse counselors in Virginia range from $52,180 to $54,290 annually, with experienced professionals earning up to $78,000 or more.
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Additional Resources
If you need help along the way or have questions before getting started, you can reach out to the Virginia Board of Counseling by telephone at 804-367-4610.
Another great resource is the Virginia Association of Addiction Professionals (VAAP), the state’s local chapter of NAADAC. They can help you find everything from training events and continuing education to career opportunities throughout the state.
Salary data sourced from the 2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed December 2025.