Arizona Substance Counseling Licensure and Certification

Licensure Exam

• Applicants are allowed only two attempts on an exam within a year.
• The following are board approved exams: The International Certification Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (IC & RC) exam ( https://internationalcredentialing.org/examprep) and the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) exam (https://www.naadac.org/certification).
• The applicant must make a passing score on a licensure exam from IC&RC (International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium), NAADAC (National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors), or NBCC (National Board for Certified Counselors).
• When applying for the license, the applicant must have a fingerprint clearance card which will consist of a $40 fee.
• A self-query from the National Practitioner Data Bank is required upon application. The self-query must not be dated more than 90 days prior to the application. There is an $8 fee. This can be done here: https://www.npdb.hrsa.gov/pract/selfQueryBasics.jsp
• There is a one time fee of $250 per application.

LASAC

When one has already become a LSAT, they then may work towards becoming a LASAC. A LASAC is a counselor and acts completely as a counselor, however they must be under direct supervision unlike the LISAC. The LASAC candidate does require a higher level of education than the LSAT.

Education & Hours

• The applicant must have a bachelor’s degree in a behavioral science with an emphasis on counseling that meets the requirements from a regionally accredited college or university. OR the applicant may have a master’s or higher degree in a behavioral science with an emphasis on counseling from a regionally accredited college or university.
• The applicant must be able to provide documentation that the applicant has received at least 3,200 hours of work experience in not less than 24 months in substance abuse counseling under supervision.
• The 3,200 hours must include a minimum of 1,600 hours of direct client contact and not more than 1,600 hours of indirect client service.
• For the direct client contact hours, not more than 400 hours may be in psychoeducation.

Exam

• The exam will be chosen and approved by the AZBBHE.
• Find out more about the exams available from the links listed in the LSAT exam section or directly from the Board.
• Find practice exams linked at the very bottom under “Exam Preparations” section.

LISAC

The highest level of certification attainable in the state of Arizona as a substance abuse counselor is Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor. At this level, one can practice independently without a supervisor.

Education & Hours.

• The applicant must have received a master’s or higher degree in a behavioral science with an emphasis on counseling.
• The applicant must present documentation to prove the applicant has received at least 3,200 hours of work experience in not less than two years time in substance abuse counseling under supervision.
• The 3,200 hours must include at least 1,600 hours of direct client contact and not more than 1,600 hours of indirect client service.
• For the direct client contact hours, not more than 400 hours may be in psychoeducation.

Exam.

• The exam will be one chosen and approved by the AZBBHE.
• Find out more about the exams available from the links listed in the LSAT exam section or directly from the Board.
• Find practice exams and free study resources linked in the “Exam Preparations” section.

Exam Preparations.

There are many different study materials available. The IC&RC offer five different practice exams that have a one time fee of $49 each. These practice exams may be taken online. The IC&RC also offer a page of free study resources:

Arizona Board for Certification of Addiction Counselors (ABCAC) offers another route to becoming a substance abuse counselor. Their requirements to become a certified substance abuse counselor are as follows:

1. The applicant must download and print the application manual and send it in with a check or money order made out to ABCAC. Fees and other details can be found in the manuals.
2. Upon the approval of the application, one then will be registered for the relevant IC&RC exam.
3. After passing this exam, the applicant will receive their new certificate in the mail.

The application to take the exam can be found here: ABCAC

The page of ABCAC here provides access to the different manuals:

Renewal Laws in Arizona

Per article published by Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, its laws regarding license renewal are:

• Substance abuse counselors are required to renew their licenses every two years.
• This renewal also requires 30 documented hours of continuing education for the counselor applying for renewal.
• License renewal costs $325

*Related Topics

• Arizona Counseling Overview, Education, Licensure and Resources
• Arizona Social Work Overview, Education, Licensure and Resources

Arizona Substance Abuse Organizations

Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (AZBBHE) 1740 W Adams St #3600, Phoenix, AZ 85007 (602) 542-1882

Arizona Board for Certification of Addiction Counselors (ABCAC) ABCAC, PO Box 3266, Chandler, AZ 85244 (480) 442-6678

Drug Free Arizona Kids The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, Arizona Affiliate 3030 N Central Ave #509, Phoenix, AZ 85012 (602) 264-5700

Arizona Counselors Association (AZCA) 28150 N Alma School Rd, #103-503, Scottsdale, Arizona 85262 (480) 485-9968

Arizona Association of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors (AzAADAC)

Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) 150 North 18th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85007 (602) 542-1025

Resources:

https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/03321.htm

https://www.pinnaclepeakrecovery.com/arizona-drug-use-statistics/

https://www.azbbhe.us/node/827