How to Verify a Substance Abuse Counselor Certification (CADC, LADC, NAADAC)

Quick answer

Verify NAADAC credentials (NCC AP, MAC, NCAC I/II) at naadac.org → Verify a Credential. Verify IC&RC credentials (CADC, LADC, CPRS) through the issuing state's IC&RC member board or at internationalcredentialing.org. For state-licensed counselors (LADC, LCADC), verify at the state substance abuse or behavioral health licensing board.

NAADAC credentials

NAADAC (naadac.org) is the Association for Addiction Professionals and administers national addiction counselor credentials recognized across the U.S.:

Credential	Full Name	Requirements
NCC AP	National Certified Addiction Professional	Entry-level national certification; 270 hours addiction education; 6,000 hours supervised experience; NAADAC exam
MAC	Master Addiction Counselor	Graduate degree (master's); 500 hours supervised addiction counseling; NAADAC MAC exam; advanced practice standard
NCAC I	National Certified Adolescent Counselor Level I	Adolescent-focused specialty; experience with adolescent populations; NAADAC exam
NCAC II	National Certified Adolescent Counselor Level II	Advanced adolescent specialty; additional supervised hours; state license requirement in some states

Verify NAADAC credentials at: naadac.org → Verify a Credential. Requires the candidate's name or credential number.

IC&RC credentials: CADC, LADC, CPRS

IC&RC (International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium — internationalcredentialing.org) is the largest addiction credentialing organization globally, operating through member boards in most U.S. states.

Credential	Full Name	Notes
CADC	Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor	Most common entry-level addiction counselor credential; issued by IC&RC member boards; requirements vary by state
LADC	Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor	State-issued license in states that integrate IC&RC with state licensure; verify at state board
LCADC	Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor	Clinical practice license; requires graduate degree and supervised clinical hours; state-specific
CPRS	Certified Peer Recovery Specialist	For individuals in recovery providing peer support; lived-experience requirement; state-regulated in many states
CCDP	Certified Co-occurring Disorders Professional	Dual diagnosis (substance use + mental health); advanced specialty credential

IC&RC credentials are issued by the state member board, not directly by IC&RC. Verify through the issuing state's member board portal. IC&RC's website lists all member boards at internationalcredentialing.org.

State substance abuse licensing boards

Many states have their own substance abuse counselor licensing requirements independent of or layered on top of NAADAC/IC&RC:

Selected state verification portals

California: CA DHCS (Dept of Health Care Services) — CADTP and CCAPP certify SUD counselors; LAADC credential; dhcs.ca.gov
New York: NY Office of Addiction Services (OASAS) — CASAC (Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor); oasas.ny.gov → CASAC Verification
Texas: TX Department of State Health Services — LCDC (Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor); dshs.texas.gov → License Verification
Florida: FL Board of Clinical Social Work, MFT, and Mental Health Counseling covers CAP (Certified Addictions Professional); flhealthsource.gov
New Jersey: NJ Division of Consumer Affairs — LCADC; njconsumeraffairs.gov → License Verification
Illinois: IL Department of Human Services — CRADC (Certified Reciprocal Alcohol and Drug Counselor); dhs.illinois.gov

Clinical licensure requirements for SUD counselors

For roles involving independent clinical practice, diagnosis, or psychotherapy in substance abuse settings, CADC/LADC credentials alone are typically insufficient. Additional clinical licensure is required:

LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker): Most common clinical license for SUD settings; verify at state social work board
LPC / LMHC (Licensed Professional Counselor / Mental Health Counselor): Required for independent clinical counseling; state-specific designations
LMFT: Marriage and family therapy license; applicable in dual-diagnosis family settings
MAC (Master Addiction Counselor) from NAADAC: Highest-level NAADAC credential; master's degree required

Common red flags

Claiming CADC without state board record: CADC is issued through state member boards; verify in the state where the credential was earned.
Peer support specialist listed as counselor credential: CPRS is a peer support role, not a clinical counseling credential; the two serve different functions.
Providing clinical diagnosis without LCSW/LPC licensure: Diagnosing substance use disorders requires a clinical license. CADC alone does not authorize diagnosis in most states.
Expired credential still in use: CADC and NAADAC credentials require renewal with continuing education. Confirm active status, not just initial certification date.

Verification checklist

1. Identify which credential is required: NAADAC (NCC AP, MAC), IC&RC (CADC, LADC), or state-specific (CASAC, LCDC, LCADC)
2. Verify NAADAC credentials at naadac.org → Verify a Credential
3. Verify IC&RC CADC/LADC through the issuing state's IC&RC member board portal
4. For state-licensed counselors (CASAC, LCDC, LCADC): verify at the state behavioral health or substance abuse licensing board
5. For clinical roles: verify LCSW, LPC, or LMHC license separately through the state clinical licensure board
6. Use VerifyED to confirm the awarding institution of any degree credential was regionally accredited

Verify counseling and behavioral health education

MAC certification and state clinical licenses require graduate degrees from accredited programs. Use VerifyED to confirm that the awarding institution was regionally accredited and is not listed as a diploma mill before accepting educational credentials in a behavioral health hiring process.

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