CDCA vs. LCDC: Which Ohio Credential Is Right for You?
- by Everett Wolf
Ohio’s addiction counseling credential system has a ladder structure, and where you enter depends on your education level, how quickly you want to work, and where you want to end up. The CDCA and LCDC are both issued by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board (OCDP), but they serve different purposes and have different requirements. This guide compares them directly so you can choose the right path.
Table of Contents
- Ohio’s Credential Structure
- Side-by-Side Comparison
- The CDCA: Entry Point for New Counselors
- The LCDC II: The Licensed Counselor Credential
- Can You Go Straight to LCDC II Without the CDCA?
- How the CDCA Leads to LCDC II
- CEUs for Both Credentials
- Making the Decision
- How Salary Compares Between CDCA and LCDC Holders in Ohio
- Frequently Asked Questions: CDCA vs. LCDC
Ohio’s Credential Structure
Ohio has its own SUD counselor credential system, separate from the CADC framework used in many other states. The OCDP issues three primary credentials:
- CDCA (Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant): entry-level, no exam required
- LCDC II (Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor II): licensed counselor, exam required
- LCDC III: advanced license for independent or supervisory practice
Most counselors start with the CDCA and advance to LCDC II as they complete education and experience requirements. The question for most newcomers is whether to start at the CDCA level or target the LCDC II directly.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | CDCA | LCDC II |
|---|---|---|
| Credential type | Certificate | License |
| Education requirement | High school diploma or GED | Associate degree minimum |
| Training hours | 40 hours (Preliminary) + 30 hours (Renewable) | Additional education + supervised training |
| Exam | None | IC&RC ADC exam (150 questions) |
| Supervised hours | Supervised work during CDCA period | 2,000 supervised hours |
| Scope of practice | Works under supervision | Licensed to practice with more independence |
| Processing time | Weeks | Months to years |
| Path forward | Stepping stone to LCDC II | Path to LCDC III / independent practice |
The CDCA: Entry Point for New Counselors
The CDCA is designed for people who are entering the addiction counseling field and need to start working while they build toward a full license. It requires no exam and no college degree: just 70 hours of approved SUD training (40 hours for the Preliminary phase, then 30 more for the Renewable) and the OCDP’s mandatory free ethics course.
The CDCA Preliminary is temporary, valid for 13 months. Within that period, you complete the remaining 30 training hours and apply for the CDCA Renewable, which is the ongoing certification that renews every two years.
The CDCA is the right starting point if:
- You are new to the field and do not yet have a college degree
- You want to start working in a licensed SUD setting as soon as possible
- You are building toward the LCDC and want a recognized credential while you accumulate supervised hours
- You hold a high school diploma or GED but not yet an associate degree
The CDCA in Ohio has a two-phase structure: the Preliminary is a 13-month temporary certification, and the Renewable is the ongoing credential that renews every two years.
The LCDC II: The Licensed Counselor Credential
The LCDC II is a state-issued license, not just a certificate. It requires more education, more supervised hours, and passing the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam. LCDC II holders work in clinical addiction counseling roles with more independence and authority than CDCA holders.
Requirements for LCDC II include:
- Associate degree or higher (from an accredited institution)
- Substantial supervised experience hours in SUD settings
- Passing the IC&RC ADC exam (150 multiple-choice questions)
- Application through HHSC and OCDP processes
The LCDC II is the right target if:
- You already have or are completing an associate degree or higher
- You want to work in a more independent clinical counseling role
- You are focused on a long-term career in addiction counseling and want the credential that opens the most doors
- You are considering advancement toward LCDC III or toward licensure in other states
Can You Go Straight to LCDC II Without the CDCA?
Yes, technically, if you already hold the required education level (associate degree or higher) and can access supervised experience in a qualified setting. You do not have to go through the CDCA as a prerequisite for LCDC II.
However, for counselors who are still working on their degree or who are just starting out, the CDCA is the practical path: it gets you into the field and working with clients immediately, which both builds supervised hours and provides valuable clinical experience.
How the CDCA Leads to LCDC II
The most common path in Ohio looks like this:
- Obtain CDCA Preliminary and begin working under supervision
- Complete CDCA Renewable while accumulating supervised hours
- Complete remaining education requirements (complete or pursue associate/bachelor’s degree)
- Prepare for and pass the IC&RC ADC exam
- Apply for LCDC II through the OCDP process
The CDCA does not expire your LCDC II timeline; it runs alongside it. Most Ohio counselors hold their CDCA while they are actively working toward the experience and education required for LCDC II.
CEUs for Both Credentials
Both the CDCA Renewable and the LCDC II require continuing education for renewal. Ohio accepts CE hours from NAADAC-approved and OCDP-approved providers.
For Ohio counselors, CEU Matrix is an OCDP-approved provider (Provider #50-19236) and NAADAC-approved provider (#6310), offering Ohio-accepted courses covering ethics, co-occurring disorders, pharmacology, and more. The self-paced online format works for counselors maintaining CEU compliance while working full-time clinical hours.
The CDCA renewal hours grid in Ohio breaks down each required category and the minimum hours per cycle. Staying on top of it from the start is easier than catching up near the deadline.
Making the Decision
If you are new to the field and do not yet have a college degree: start with the CDCA. It gets you working, gets you credentialed, and starts your supervised hours clock. If you already have the degree and can access supervised work immediately: consider whether LCDC II is achievable within your current situation, or whether CDCA is still the fastest practical path to being in the field.
Either way, the trajectory is the same: CDCA establishes your presence in the Ohio SUD credential system, and LCDC II is where the career path leads. The question is only about the pace.
How Salary Compares Between CDCA and LCDC Holders in Ohio
The financial difference between holding a CDCA and holding an LCDC II is not marginal. It is substantial enough that understanding the numbers is part of making a smart credential decision. The credential-tier ranges below are drawn from Ohio job postings and employer surveys; BLS occupational data for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors in Ohio shows roughly $36,000 to $80,000 between the 10th and 90th percentiles (mean around $55,000 to $60,000) but does not disaggregate by credential level.
Entry-level CDCA positions in Ohio typically pay between $38,000 and $50,000 annually. The lower end of that range reflects positions in smaller outpatient practices or community organizations where compensation scales are tighter. The upper end reflects larger behavioral health systems or residential programs where credentialed staff are in demand even at the assistant level.
LCDC II holders earn considerably more. Average salaries for LCDC II-credentialed counselors in Ohio fall between $52,000 and $70,000 per year. Hospital settings and government-funded treatment programs tend to sit at the higher end of that range, where structured pay scales and collective bargaining agreements push licensed staff compensation up. The income jump between a CDCA and LCDC II often exceeds $15,000 per year. Over a five-year period, that difference compounds significantly, which makes the time spent meeting LCDC II requirements a clear financial return, not just a career milestone.
At the LCDC III level, supervisory and administrative roles can reach $80,000 or more in Ohio. Counselors who pursue LCDC III and take on clinical supervision or program management responsibilities see compensation reflect that expanded scope.
How Employer Type Affects Total Compensation
The credential level also affects access to specific employer types, and that has downstream consequences for total compensation packages. LCDC II status opens doors to positions at state-operated facilities and federally funded community health centers where benefits packages tend to be stronger: employer contributions to health insurance, defined-contribution retirement plans, and paid supervision time. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility depends on your employer, not your credential: both CDCAs and LCDCs qualify if employed by a government agency or a qualifying 501(c)(3) non-profit, and both are ineligible at most private employers. Because LCDC II holders have access to a wider range of clinical roles at government and non-profit treatment organizations, they more often end up in PSLF-qualifying positions in practice, but the credential itself does not determine PSLF status.
Private residential treatment centers tend to pay competitive wages but may not offer the same benefits or loan forgiveness alignment that government-funded outpatient programs provide. For counselors weighing two job offers at similar base salaries, the presence or absence of PSLF qualification can represent tens of thousands of dollars in realized value over a loan repayment period.
Continuing education is required at both levels, and the cost of staying in compliance is worth factoring in. CEU Matrix is an OCDP-approved provider (Provider #50-19236) offering Ohio-accepted renewal courses for both CDCA and LCDC II holders. Online, self-paced formats make it practical to complete renewal hours without time off work, which keeps the out-of-pocket and opportunity cost of compliance low.
Frequently Asked Questions: CDCA vs. LCDC
Does the CDCA count toward LCDC II hours?
The supervised experience hours you accumulate while holding a CDCA do count toward your LCDC II requirements, provided they were completed in a qualifying setting under approved supervision. This is one of the most important reasons to document your supervised hours from the very first day you begin working as a CDCA. If you wait until you are applying for LCDC II to reconstruct your work history, you may find it difficult to verify hours that were never formally logged. Start a supervision log early and maintain it throughout your CDCA period.
Can I hold both CDCA and LCDC II at the same time?
Once you earn the LCDC II, the CDCA is effectively superseded by the higher credential. In practice, most counselors simply maintain the LCDC II going forward rather than renewing both. Whether you are formally required to surrender the CDCA once LCDC II is issued depends on OCDP’s current policy. Contact the OCDP directly or consult your LCDC II approval letter to confirm whether the CDCA needs to be formally relinquished or whether it simply becomes inactive.
What happens if I let my CDCA lapse before getting LCDC II?
A lapsed CDCA puts you out of good standing with the OCDP, which means you cannot legally continue working in a supervised clinical SUD role while the credential is inactive. If your CDCA has lapsed or is close to lapsing, apply for reinstatement before the gap widens. Reinstatement processes vary depending on how long the credential has been expired.
The cleanest way to avoid this situation entirely is to stay current on CE compliance throughout your CDCA period so you are never at risk of lapsing. CEU Matrix offers Ohio renewal courses online and allows you to complete hours on your own schedule, which makes it easier to stay ahead of renewal deadlines even when your clinical caseload is heavy.
Is the LCDC required to bill Medicaid or insurance?
In Ohio, billing Medicaid for substance use disorder counseling services typically requires at minimum an LCDC II credential. CDCA holders do not have the independent billing authority required by Medicaid’s provider enrollment rules. This is a practical consideration that motivates many counselors to prioritize LCDC II advancement beyond the career and salary benefits. If the treatment setting you are working in or aiming to work in relies on Medicaid reimbursement, holding only a CDCA creates a ceiling on the roles you can fill and limits your value as a billable provider to the organization.