Behavioral Health Credential
How to Verify an Addiction Counselor Certification
Addiction counseling credentials span a two-tiered system: state-issued licenses (which vary widely) and national certifications from NAADAC or IC&RC. Understanding which credentials are required in a given state and role is essential before attempting verification. Here is a complete guide.
Quick answer
Verify through the state substance abuse counseling board (for state-licensed counselors) and/or with NAADAC or the IC&RC credential registry (for national certifications). The required credential type varies by state and treatment setting — CADC and LADC are common state license designations, while NCC AP, MAC, and NCAC are NAADAC national credentials. Always verify in the issuing system, not just from a certificate copy.
The two-tier credentialing system
Addiction counseling operates under a two-tier credential system that can be confusing to HR and credentialing teams:
| Tier | Credential Type | Issuing Authority | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| State license | License or certification required to practice in that state | State licensing board | CADC, LADC, LCADC, CADAC, CSAC |
| National certification | Voluntary national credential; accepted in multiple states | NAADAC or IC&RC | NCC AP, MAC, NCAC I/II, ADC, CADC (IC&RC) |
Both tiers may be required simultaneously. A counselor may need a state license to practice in their state AND hold a national certification required by their employer or payer. Verify both separately.
Verifying state addiction counselor licenses
State licensing requirements and terminology vary significantly. Most states have a substance abuse counselor licensing board (sometimes housed within the state health department or behavioral health authority).
State addiction counselor licensing portals (selected)
- California: California Association for Alcohol and Drug Educators (CAADE) and CCAPP — caade.net, ccapp.us; credential registries for CADC
- Texas: Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors — bhec.texas.gov; LPC-Associate and LCDC (Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor) lookup
- Florida: Florida DBPR — myfloridalicense.com; search Qualified Addictions Professional (QAP) or CAP
- New York: NYS Office of the Professions — op.nysed.gov/verification; search CASAC (Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor)
- New Jersey: NJ Division of Consumer Affairs — njconsumeraffairs.gov; LCADC License Lookup
- Illinois: Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association (IAODAPCA) — iaodapca.org; credential verification
- Pennsylvania: PA Certification Board — pacertboard.org; CAC and CAADC verification
For states not listed, search “[State] substance abuse counselor license verification” or “[State] CADC license lookup” to find the relevant agency.
NAADAC national credentials
NAADAC (the Association for Addiction Professionals) offers national credentials through the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP). NAADAC credentials include:
- NCAC I (National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I): Entry-level national certification
- NCAC II (National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II): Advanced certification; requires supervised clinical hours and additional education
- MAC (Master Addiction Counselor): The highest NAADAC credential; requires a master's degree, 500+ supervised hours, and passing a written exam
- NCSE (National Certified Substance Use Disorder Educator): For prevention and education roles
Verify NAADAC credentials at: naadac.org → Verify a Credential (search by name or credential number).
IC&RC credential registry
The International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) is the world's largest credentialing organization for addiction counselors. IC&RC credentials are issued through state member boards (not IC&RC directly) and are portable across IC&RC member jurisdictions.
Common IC&RC credentials include:
- ADC (Alcohol and Drug Counselor): Entry-level IC&RC credential
- CADC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor): Used in many states as the primary IC&RC addiction credential
- CCDP (Co-Occurring Disorders Professional): Credential for treating co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders
- CCJP (Certified Criminal Justice Addictions Professional): For counselors in criminal justice settings
Verify IC&RC credentials at: internationalcredentialing.org → Verify a Credential (search by name or credential number). Note: IC&RC credentials may also appear in the issuing state member board's own registry.
Pre-licensure and intern status
Many addiction counselors work under supervision while completing the hours required for full licensure. Pre-licensure statuses include CADC-Intern, Registered Intern, and similar designations. These allow supervised clinical work but restrict independent practice.
When verifying a pre-licensed counselor's credentials, confirm: the intern or registration status is active, the supervising licensed professional is identified, and the supervision arrangement meets state requirements.
Verification checklist
- 1. Determine what credentials the role requires — state license, national certification, or both
- 2. For state-licensed counselors: search the state addiction counseling board portal by name or license number
- 3. For NAADAC credentials: verify at naadac.org by name or credential number
- 4. For IC&RC credentials: verify at internationalcredentialing.org or the issuing state member board
- 5. Confirm Active status and note expiration date — most credentials require continuing education for renewal
- 6. For pre-licensed counselors, confirm supervision arrangement is documented and current
- 7. Review any disciplinary history on the state board record
Verify counseling and behavioral health program accreditation
Addiction counselors with degrees in counseling, social work, or psychology should have graduated from CACREP-accredited or CSWE-accredited programs. Use VerifyED to confirm school and program accreditation before accepting educational credentials.
Search Schools and Accreditation →