North Carolina Substance Abuse Counselor Continuing Education

The North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board (NCSAPPB) is the state agency that credentials addiction counselors and prevention specialists in North Carolina. The NCSAPPB sets education, experience, and examination requirements for all addiction-related credentials in the state and approves continuing education providers and courses.

The NCSAPPB oversees five professional credentials:

• CADC — Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (entry-level certification, formerly called CSAC)
• LCAS — Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (advanced clinical credential, requires a master’s degree)
• CCS — Certified Clinical Supervisor (qualifies professionals to supervise other addiction counselors)
• CPS — Certified Prevention Specialist (prevention-focused credential, formerly CSAPC)
• CCJP — Certified Criminal Justice Addictions Professional (for professionals in the criminal justice system)

CADC: 60 hours every 2 years. At least 30 hours must be SUD-specific. Must include 3 hours of ethics, 3 hours of HIV/AIDS/STD/BBP, and 3 hours of a board-designated special topic (Nicotine Dependence, SUD and Veterans, SUD and the Elderly, Psychopathology, or Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches).

LCAS: 40 hours every 2 years. At least 30 hours must be SUD-specific. Must include 3 hours of ethics, 3 hours of HIV/AIDS, and 3 hours of an elective topic.

Check the NCSAPPB website for CCS, CPS, and CCJP renewal requirements.

Yes. CEU Matrix is an NCSAPPB-approved training provider (Provider #94564). All 99 courses listed on this page have been individually reviewed and approved by the NCSAPPB for continuing education credit. Each course carries an NCSAPPB approval number (26-036-S through 26-135-S).

The Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS) is the highest clinical credential issued by the NCSAPPB. It requires a master’s degree with a clinical internship, 4,000 hours of post-graduate SUD counseling experience, a 300-hour supervised practicum, and a passing score on the IC&RC AADC exam. The LCAS allows independent clinical practice in addiction treatment settings in North Carolina.

You can find the LCAS initial certification package on CEU Matrix’s North Carolina LCAS page here.

The CADC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor) is the entry-level credential. It requires a minimum of a high school diploma, 270 hours of education, 6,000 hours of supervised experience, and the IC&RC ADC exam.

The LCAS (Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist) is the advanced credential. It requires a master’s degree, 180 hours of addiction-specific education, 4,000 hours of post-graduate experience, and the IC&RC AADC exam.

The LCAS authorizes independent clinical practice, while the CADC requires clinical supervision.

Yes. The NCSAPPB accepts online continuing education courses from approved providers. All 99 courses on this page are self-paced online courses that you can complete from anywhere on your own schedule. When you pass the course exam, you can download your certificate of completion immediately.

You can verify NCSAPPB credentials through the board’s online credential verification system at ncsappb.org. The NCSAPPB also uses Learning Builder for credential management — credential holders can log in to track their CE hours, check renewal deadlines, and manage their certification status.