Apply for LADC / Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy

Apply for LADC

LADC License Requirements

All educational requirements for licensure (degree, coursework, and practicum) must be completed through an accredited school. Below, you will find a brief description of each license application with its requirements. The license requirements under Minnesota Statutes section 148F.025 are as follows:

Method D - Standard Method

Bachelors Degree
18-semester credits (270 clock hours) of specific alcohol and drug counseling coursework
880-hour alcohol and drug counseling practicum
Passing score on a written comprehensive exam OR passing score on a written and oral exam

Method I - Supervision Alternative

Bachelor's Degree
18 Semester Credits (270 clock hours) of specific alcohol and drug counseling coursework
880 hours of alcohol and drug counseling practicum
Passing score on a written exam (not a comprehensive exam)
2,000 hours of supervised professional practice acceptable to the board

Reciprocity #1 - Licensed or credentialed in another jurisdiction for less than 5 years

The Board shall issue a license if the board finds that the requirements which the applicant met to obtain the credential from the other jurisdiction were substantially similar to the current requirements for licensure in this chapter and that the applicant is not otherwise disqualified under section 148F.090.

Active license or certification as an alcohol and drug counselor from another jurisdiction
Applicant must submit:
- Copy of jurisdiction's credentialing laws and rules that were in effect at the time the applicant obtained the credential
- Verification that the license or certification is active and in good standing. (The verification must be sent directly to the Board office from the licensing board/credentialing agency)

Due to states having different requirements at different times, reciprocity applications are reviewed on a case by case basis by the Application and Licensure Committee of the Board. Before submitting an application under the reciprocity method, we encourage people to review the requirements they had to meet to obtain their licensure/certification and compare them to Minnesota's current licensure requirements.

Reciprocity #2 - Licensed or credentialed in another jurisdiction for more than 5 years

Active license or certification as an alcohol and drug counselor from another jurisdiction
Applicant must submit:
- Copy of jurisdiction's credentialing laws and rules that were in effect at the time the applicant obtained the credential
- Verification that the license or certification is active and in good standing. (The verification must be sent directly to the Board office from the licensing board/credentialing agency)

Specific Coursework Requirements for LADC

An overview of the transdisciplinary foundations of alcohol and drug counseling, including theories of chemical dependency, the continuum of care, and the process of change;
pharmacology of substance abuse disorders and the dynamics of addiction, including medication-assisted therapy;
professional and ethical responsibilities;
multicultural aspects of chemical dependency;
co-occurring disorders; and
the core functions defined in section 148F.01, subdivision 10: These core functions are listed below.

(1) "screening" means the process by which a client is determined appropriate and eligible for admission to a particular program;

(2) "intake" means the administrative and initial assessment procedures for admission to a program;

(3) "orientation" means describing to the client the general nature and goals of the program; rules governing client conduct and infractions that can lead to disciplinary action or discharge from the program; in a nonresidential program, the hours during which services are available; treatment costs to be borne by the client, if any; and client's rights;

(4) "assessment" means those procedures by which a counselor identifies and evaluates an individual's strengths, weaknesses, problems, and needs to develop a treatment plan or make recommendations for level of care placement;

(5) "treatment planning" means the process by which the counselor and the client identify and rank problems needing resolution; establish agreed upon immediate and long-term goals, and decide on a treatment process and the sources to be utilized;

(6) "counseling" means the utilization of special skills to assist individuals, families, or groups in achieving objectives through exploration of a problem and its ramifications; examination of attitudes and feelings; consideration of alternative solutions; and decision making;

(7) "case management" means activities that bring services, agencies, resources, or people together within a planned framework of action toward the achievement of established goals;

(8) "crisis intervention" means those services which respond to an alcohol or other drug user's needs during acute emotional or physical distress;

(9) "client education" means the provision of information to clients who are receiving or seeking counseling concerning alcohol and other drug abuse and the available services and resources;

(10) "referral" means identifying the needs of the client which cannot be met by the counselor or agency and assisting the client to utilize the support systems and available community resources;

(11) "reports and record-keeping" means charting the results of the assessment and treatment plan and writing reports, progress notes, discharge summaries, and other client-related data; and

(12) "consultation with other professionals regarding client treatment and services" means communicating with other professionals in regard to client treatment and services to assure comprehensive, quality care for the client.

Application Action Steps:

1. Submit Application and Fees
- Apply by Mail: Download the application for Alcohol & Drug Counselor licensure and submit via mail with a check or money order.
2. Submit required supporting documentation

Your application cannot be processed without the required supporting documents. Supporting documents may be submitted separately from the application and application fee but should be submitted as soon as possible after an application is submitted. Carefully review the requirement below.
- Official Passing Exam Results
  - Include a copy of the exam results with your application.
- Official Transcript:
  - You must submit an official transcript to the board that verifies your degree, alcohol, and drug counseling coursework, and practicum/internship.
  - Contact the registrar's office at your school to request an official transcript sent directly from your school to the Board office.
    - By mail to - 335 Randolph Avenue, Suite 290, St. Paul, MN 55102.
    - By email (secure, certified PDF from your school) to bbht.board@state.mn.us.
3. Complete Criminal Background Check (CBC)
- After applying, the Minnesota Criminal Background Check Program will send the applicant an email with instructions about completing the background check.
  - The background check can take anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks to be processed.
Note: All applicants are required to complete a Criminal Background Check prior to licensure.
Apply with Method I

Note: This method is rarely used. Currently written exams meet both the written and oral exam requirements.

1. Submit Application and Fees
- Apply by Mail: Download the application for Alcohol and Drug Counselor Licensure and submit it via mail with a check or money order.
2. Submit required supporting documentation

Your application cannot be processed without the required supporting documents. Supporting documents may be submitted separately from the application and application fee but should be submitted as soon as possible after an application is submitted. Carefully review the requirement below.
- Official Passing Written Exam Results:
  - Include a copy of your passing exam results with your application.
- Official Transcript:
  - You must submit an official transcript to the board that verifies your degree, alcohol, and drug counseling course work, and practicum/internship.
  - Contact the registrar's office at your school to request an official transcript sent directly from your school to the Board office.
    - By mail to - 335 Randolph Avenue, Suite 290, St. Paul, MN 55102.
    - By email (secure, certified PDF from your school) to bbht.board@state.mn.us
- 2,000 hours of Supervised Professional Practice:
  - Supervision documents completed by Board-approved supervisor. The supervision documents must be sent directly to the BBHT office by the supervisor.
3. Complete Criminal Background Check (CBC)
- After applying, the Minnesota Criminal Background Check Program will send the applicant an email with instructions about completing the background check.
  - The background check can take anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks to be processed.
Note: All applicants are required to complete a Criminal Background Check prior to licensure.
Application Action Steps:

1. Submit Application and Fees
- Apply by Mail: Download the application for Alcohol and Drug Counselor Licensure and submit via mail with a check or money order.
2. Submit required supporting documentation

Your application cannot be processed without the required supporting documents. Supporting documents may be submitted separately from the application and application fee but should be submitted as soon as possible after an application is submitted. Carefully review the requirement below.

Reciprocity #1 - Active alcohol and drug counselor credential for less than 5 years
- Copy of Jurisdiction's credentialing laws and rules:
  - The Laws and Rules must be the laws and rules that were in effect at the time the applicant obtained the credential.
- Verification of alcohol and drug counseling credentials:
  - The credential must be active and in good standing.
  - Credentialing authority must send verification directly to the Board office;
    - By Mail - 335 Randolph Avenue, Suite 290, St. Paul, MN 55102.
Note: States have different requirements at different times, reciprocity applications are reviewed on a case by case basis by the Application and Licensure Committee of the Board. Before submitting an application under the reciprocity method, we encourage individuals to review the requirements they had to meet to obtain their licensure/certification and compare them to Minnesota's current licensure requirements.

Reciprocity #2 - Active alcohol and drug counseling credential for more than 5 years.

The board may issue a license if the board finds that the applicant has a current license or national certification as an alcohol and drug counselor from another jurisdiction and has been active in practice and in good standing for a minimum of five years after receiving licensure or other credentials.
- Active license or certification as an alcohol and drug counselor from another jurisdiction;
- Five years of active practice;
- Applicants must submit:
  - Verification that the license or certification is active and in good standing (the verification must be sent directly to the Board office from the licensing board/credentialing agency):
    - By mail - 335 Randolph Avenue, Suite 290, St. Paul, MN 55102;
    - By email - bbht.board@state.mn.us.
  - Resume documenting 5 years of active practice
    - A resume or list of alcohol and drug counseling experience is required to document 5 years of active practice.
3. Complete Criminal Background Check (CBC)
- After applying, the Minnesota Criminal Background Check Program will send the applicant an email with instructions about completing the background check.
  - The background check can take anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks to be processed.
Note: All applicants are required to complete a Criminal Background Check prior to licensure.
LADC Supervised Professional Practice

Note: Most applicants do not need to complete 2,000 hours of supervised practice.
2,000 Hours of Supervised Professional Practice for LADC (in lieu of the Oral Exam):

Applicants for licensure have the option of completing 2,000 hours of post-degree supervised professional practice in lieu of the oral exam. This supervision needs to be in compliance with Board Statutes.
- To ensure this, you must submit a Supervision Plan to the Board. Supervision must be completed with a Board Approved LADC Supervisor.
  - This plan can be considered your contract with the Board as it demonstrates that you are agreeing to complete the supervision according to the Board requirements.
- Once completed, the supervisor must send a Verification of Supervised Professional Practice confirming that the supervision was completed in accordance to the plan.
  - This must be sent directly to the Board office at - 335 Randolph Avenue, Suite 290, St. Paul, MN 55102.
The premature ending of supervision?
- The supervisor must still document to the Board that the supervision has ended.
- The supervisor must document and verify any supervision that was in accordance with the plan by submitting a Verification of Supervised Professional Practice.
Note: The applicant cannot practice until they have been notified in writing by the Board to do so.

Supervision that occurred BEFORE June 30, 2005:

If any or all of your supervision occurred before June 30, 2005, it needs to be reviewed by the Board's Application and Licensure Committee (ALC).
- To do this, you must complete the Verification of Supervised Professional Practice form with your Board Approved LADC supervisor.
  - Your supervisor also needs to complete a Supervisor Credential Verification form.
- Once both of these forms have been received, the ALC will review your supervision documentation.
  - The ALC will either approve all of the hours, some of the hours, or deny all of the hours. They may also request more information from the supervisor, if necessary.
Application Fees

All fees submitted to the Board are non-refundable and must be submitted with an Application for Licensure. Download the Application form and submit via mail with a check or money order.

Application Basis Fee

Licensed Addiction and Drug Counselor (LADC) Application $295.00

Criminal Background Check $33.25

Total Fee $328.25

Note: An applicant is exempt from submitting to a Criminal Background Check if they applicant has previously submitted a state or national criminal history records check for a licensed issued by BBHT. If this is true to you, Please make your check or money order out to BBHT for $295.00 instead of $328.25.
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Apply for LADC

LADC License Requirements

Method D - Standard Method

Method I - Supervision Alternative

Reciprocity #1 - Licensed or credentialed in another jurisdiction for less than 5 years

Reciprocity #2 - Licensed or credentialed in another jurisdiction for more than 5 years

Specific Coursework Requirements for LADC

Application Process

Application Action Steps:

1. Submit Application and Fees

2. Submit required supporting documentation

3. Complete Criminal Background Check (CBC)

Apply with Method I

1. Submit Application and Fees

2. Submit required supporting documentation

3. Complete Criminal Background Check (CBC)

Application Action Steps:

1. Submit Application and Fees

2. Submit required supporting documentation

Reciprocity #1 - Active alcohol and drug counselor credential for less than 5 years

Reciprocity #2 - Active alcohol and drug counseling credential for more than 5 years.

3. Complete Criminal Background Check (CBC)

LADC Supervised Professional Practice

2,000 Hours of Supervised Professional Practice for LADC (in lieu of the Oral Exam):

The premature ending of supervision?

Supervision that occurred BEFORE June 30, 2005:

Application Fees

LADC Training Programs

Application Basis	Fee
Licensed Addiction and Drug Counselor (LADC) Application	$295.00
Criminal Background Check	$33.25
Total Fee	$328.25