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Introduction

In Massachusetts, both Licensure (LADC) and Certification (CADC) are available to recognize specialty training in addiction.

Employers often prefer to hire people with specialty training; third-party reimbursement is increasingly available for people who hold licenses or certifications; and the preparation required will increase your ability to provide quality services to clients.

The following tables provide a general overview of the similarities and differences between the Licensure and Certification:

• Licensure of Alcohol and Drug Counselors is provided by the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS). There are three levels of licensure: LADC Assistant, LADC II, and LADC I.
• Certification of Alcohol and Drug Counselors is provided by the Massachusetts Board of Substance Abuse Counselor Certification (MBSACC), the MA chapter of IC&RC (International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium). There are three levels of certification: CAC, CADC, CADC II.

Contact Information

Licensure (LADC) – Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS)

• Ian Bain (BSAS), ian.bain@state.ma.us / 781-774-6627

Certification (CADC) – Massachusetts Board of Substance Abuse Counselor Certification (MBSACC)

• Jackie Cummins (MBSACC), mbsacc@aol.com / 508-842-8707

Details on Licensure and Certification

*When you want to upgrade an existing license or certification to a higher level, contact the relevant office to determine which qualifications from the existing level will count. In particular, there are multiple considerations when upgrading from CAC to CADC or CADC-II, or from LADC Assistant to LADC II or LADC I.

Definitions and references

In the past, IC&RC documents referred to 8 domains, based upon TAP 21: The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA)’s Technical Assistance Publication #21 - Addiction Counseling Competencies: The Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes of Professional Practice and 12 Core Functions: screening, intake, orientation, assessment, treatment planning, counseling, case management, crisis intervention, client education, referrals, reports and record keeping, and consultation with other professionals. The original content is incorporated into the current Four Essential Domains. Some additional changes were made on content for advanced cerification.

1. Alcohol & Drug: related to all forms of drugs, including alcohol and all forms of prescription and other drugs. Also related to addiction to alcohol, drugs, or activities such as gambling. Includes multiple physiological, legal, psychological, social and other perspectives as described in category requirements.

   For the LADC Assistant, the 50 hours must be 10 hours in each of the following areas, as defined in Section 168.006 – Eligibility Requirements found in the Licensure of Alcohol and Drug Counselors Regulations: Assessment; Counseling; Case Management; Client, Family and Community Education; and Professional Responsibility (which includes Ethics).

2. Behavioral Sciences, as defined in Massachusetts regulations, means

   anthropology	music therapy
   art/dance therapy	nursing / medicine
   child development / family relations	occupational therapy
   community mental health	pastoral counseling
   chemical dependence	physical therapy
   counseling / guidance	psychology
   criminal justice	recreational therapy
   divinity / religion / theology	rehabilitation counseling
   drama therapy	social work
   education	sociology
   gerontology	special education
   health administration	speech pathology
   health education	vocational counseling
   human services

   If the coursework for the Behavioral Science degree submitted by an applicant does not provide sufficient substance use and addiction education to meet the requirements, additional course work may be necessary.

3. Work, Internship or Practicum: practice in diagnostic assessment, intervention, and alcoholism and/or drug counseling to establish and maintain recovery and prevent relapse; regular on-site, documented clinical supervision required by the license or certification.

   • For LADC I or II, BSAS considers work experience from a variety of settings which are licensed or approved to provide substance use/addictions services. Settings can be treatment programs, mental health and primary care settings, or private practices. The applicant needs to document that the work experience included diagnostic assessment, intervention, and substance use/addictions counseling.

4. Supervision of Work, Internship, or Practicum: Supervision is a formal, systematic process of staff development that focuses on integrating knowledge and enhancing clinical skills and other competencies in counseling.

   • For LADC applicants, supervision must be documented on forms provided by BSAS in the application, and include the signature of an approved supervisor for the work or academic setting, as well as:

     Supervisors must be:

     • For each work position held: a description of the substance use and addictions work, the number of hours, the number of hours of individual and group supervision the person received.

     • For each practicum: the number of hours in each of the 12 Core functions, and where the practicum was done.

     • A Clinician who has:

       1. a master’s degree in one of the following disciplines or a closely related field: clinical psychology, education-counseling, medicine, psychology, psychiatric nursing, rehabilitative counseling, social work, and who has a minimum of one year of supervised substance abuse counseling experience; or

       2. a bachelor’s degree in any of the listed disciplines and a minimum of two years of supervised substance abuse counseling experience; or

       3. a recognized certification or licensure including 4,000 hours of clinically supervised counseling of individuals with substance use disorders including at least 220 documented hours of supervision.

   • For CADC applicants, supervision must be documented on forms provided by MBSACC in the application, and

     • MBSACC requires workplaces to provide clinical supervisors, preferring that they hold CADC or CADC-II Certification.

     • For practicum or internships, MBSACC accepts supervisors selected by the academic institutio

5. Four Domains and DSM5 Diagnostic Criteria: The Four Domains are:

   • Domain I: Screening, Assessment, and Engagement
   • Domain II: Treatment Planning, Collaboration, and Referral
   • Domain III: Counseling (Counseling & Education for CADC-II)
   • Domain IV: Professional and Ethical Responsibilities.

6. MA Licensing Requirements: Per 105 CMR 168.014: The Department will issue a license without requiring written or oral examination to any applicant who is deemed eligible for reciprocity based on the following:

   • the applicant holds a current, valid licensed as an alcohol and drug counselor or a comparable field in other state wherein the requirements for licensure are deemed by the Department to be equivalent to or in excess of those requirements of the Department; and,

   • the Department receives written verification from the other state licensing authority that the applicant is in good standing.

7. Recognized Certifying Bodies: International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium, Massachusetts Board of Substance Abuse Counselor Certification, National Association of Alcohol and Drug Counselors, Certified Employee Assistance Professionals.

Developed by the MA DPH Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) with input from the BSAS Addiction Education Provider Advisory Group and the Massachusetts Board of Substance Abuse Counselor Certification.