Alcohol and Drug Counselor Certification Requirements

Before applying for licensure, please familiarize yourself with the general licensing policies.

 

An applicant for certification shall arrange for the following documents to be submitted directly to this office:

 

Official verification of all professional licenses, certificates or registrations, current or expired, held by the applicant as an alcohol and drug counselor, sent directly from the appropriate authority to this office.  Most jurisdictions charge a fee for completion of the verification form.  Please contact the jurisdiction for fee information; 

 

Verification form documenting completion of three hundred hours of supervised practical training in alcohol and drug counseling*;

 

Verification form documenting completion of three years of supervised paid work experience or unpaid internship, as defined in Sec. 20-74s-l of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies that entailed working directly with alcohol and drug clients;*

 

Verification form documenting completion of three hundred sixty hours of approved education, at least two hundred forty hours of which related to the knowledge and skill base associated with the practice of alcohol and drug abuse counseling;*

 

Verification of successful completion of the International Certification Examination for Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Counselors of the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse, Inc. (IC&RC/AODA);

 

Individuals who are not certified by the Connecticut Certification Board (CCB) as a substance abuse counselor on July 1, 2000, may seek admission to the IC&RC/AODA examination, administered by the CCB.  Please note that the results of such examination are for the purpose of state certification/licensure, and will not necessarily qualify the examinee for CCB certification.

 

Once an applicant has been determined eligible for examination, the Department will notify CCB of the candidate’s approval and CCB will schedule the applicant to sit for the next available examination.  The examinations are administered four times per year. 

 

Please do not contact the CCB directly to check on the status of your application; however, any questions regarding the examination process may be addressed to CCB;

 

A completed application with photograph attached.  Applications are only accepted online.  Please select this link to apply online.  The application fee is $190.

 

*Individuals who are certified by a board that is a member of the IC&RC /AODA shall be deemed to have met these requirements.

 

All supporting documentation should be sent to:

 

Connecticut Department of Public Health

Alcohol and Drug Counselor Certification

410 Capitol Ave., MS # 12 APP

P.O. Box 340308

Hartford, CT 06134

Phone: (860) 509-7603

Fax: (860) 707-1980

Email: dph.counselorsteam@ct.gov