Alcohol and Drug Counseling
License Requirements

The requirements for a Licensed Alcohol/Drug Counselor (LADC) are found in the regulations 172 NAC 15 of the Nebraska Administrative Code. This page summarizes the requirements for Licensing of Alcohol & Drug Counselors.

LADC education requirements
A minimum of a high school diploma or G.E.D.
270 hours of education, to include the following core courses:

1. Counseling Theories and Techniques
2. Group Counseling
3. Human Growth and Development
4. Professional Ethics and Issues
5. Alcohol/Drug Assessment, Case Planning and Management
6. Multicultural Counseling 
7. Medical and Psychological Aspects of Alcohol/Drug Use, Abuse and Addiction
8. Clinical Treatment Issues in Chemical Dependency

Provisional Licensed Mental Health Practitioner and Licensed Mental Health Practitioner is deemed to have met the education areas of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 listed above.

Supervised practical training
300 hours of supervised practical training (300 performance hours) in the 12 counselor core functions with a minimum of 10 hours in each core function.

1. Screening
2. Intake
3. Orientation
4. Assessment
5. Treatment Planning
6. Counseling: (individual, group, and significant other(s))
7. Case Management
8. Crisis Intervention
9. Client Education
10. Referral
11. Reports and Record-Keeping
12. Consultation With Other Professionals

Experience
6,000 hours of paid, supervised clinical work experience providing alcohol and drug counseling services to alcohol and drug clients.

1. Bachelor's degree in counseling, addictions, social work, sociology, or psychology may be substituted for 2,000 of the 6,000 work experience hours
2. Master's degree or higher in counseling, addictions, social work, sociology, or psychology may be substituted for 4,000 of the 6,000 work experience hours. (Only one degree substitution is allowed.)
3. A supervised alcohol/drug counseling internship from a post-secondary educational program may be substituted for up to 1,000 of the 6,000 hours.

Code of ethics
Sign a code of ethics.

Testing
Applicants must pass a written examination and case presentation method oral examination.

Supervisor Credentials
The clinical supervisor must hold one of the following credentials and can not be a family member:

(1) Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor as defined in 172 NAC 15-002; or

(2) A reciprocity level alcohol and drug counselor credential issued by a member jurisdiction of the IC&RC/AODA, Inc. or its successor (for clinical work experience obtained outside the State of Nebraska); or

(3) The highest level alcohol and drug counselor credential issued by a jurisdiction that is not a member of the IC&RC/AODA, Inc. or its successor if the credential is based on education, experience, and examination that is substantially similar to the license issued in this state as determined by the Board (for clinical work experience obtained outside the State of Nebraska); or

(4) Physician or psychologist licensed under the Uniform Licensing Law, or; an equivalent credential from another jurisdiction (if the clinical work; experience hours were earned in another state), and sufficient training as determined by the Board of Medicine and Surgery for physicians or the Board of Psychologists for psychologists, in consultation with the Board of Alcohol and Drug Counseling.

The practical training supervisor must hold one of the following credentials and can not be a family member:

(a) Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor as defined in 172 NAC 15-002 who has been licensed and who has not had his/her license disciplined, limited, suspended, or placed on probation during the 1 year immediately preceding supervision as a practical training supervisor. If any of these actions are taken by the Department during the practical training supervision period, the LADC must terminate the supervision immediately; or

(b) If hours are earned out-of-state, a reciprocity level alcohol and drug counselor credential from a member jurisdiction of the IC&RC/AODA, Inc. or its successor; or

(c) A physician or psychologist licensed under the Uniform Licensing Law, or an equivalent credential from another jurisdiction (if the hours were earned in another state), and sufficient training as determined by the Board of Medicine and Surgery for physicians or the Board of Psychologists for psychologists, in consultation with the Board of Alcohol and Drug Counseling.