NORTH CAROLINA LCAS INITIAL CERTIFICATION – 180 HOURS

North Carolina substance use credentials are issued by the North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board (NCSAPPB). The most common entry credential is the CADC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor) — 270 training hours, 6,000 hours of supervised SUD counseling work, a 300-hour supervised practicum, and a passing IC&RC ADC exam. Counselors with a master’s degree pursue the LCAS (Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist), and those working in criminal justice settings can pursue the CCJP (Certified Criminal Justice Addictions Professional).

The CADC is North Carolina’s general SUD counseling credential — open to high school graduates with the IC&RC ADC exam. The CCJP is a specialty credential for counselors working in correctional treatment, drug courts, parole, and reentry — it requires the IC&RC CCJP exam and 270 training hours. The LCAS is North Carolina’s clinical-license-equivalent credential — it requires a master’s degree, 4,000 post-graduate SUD counseling hours, 180 training hours, and a passing IC&RC AADC examination.

The CADC requires a passing score on the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam. The CCJP requires the IC&RC Criminal Justice Professional (CCJP) exam. The LCAS requires the IC&RC Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) exam — a master’s-level exam distinct from the ADC.

North Carolina’s CADC requires: a high school diploma or higher, 270 clock hours of approved education (with at least 190 hours SUD-specific and minimum 6 hours each in clinical ethics, HIV/AIDS/STDs/Bloodborne Pathogens, and other contemporary addiction topics), 6,000 hours of supervised SUD counseling work verified by a Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) or Clinical Supervisor Intern (CSI), a 300-hour supervised practicum at a 1:10 supervision ratio, and a passing IC&RC ADC exam. CEU Matrix’s NCSAPPB-approved 270-hour CADC package covers the full education requirement.

The CCJP (Certified Criminal Justice Addictions Professional) is an NCSAPPB credential for counselors working at the intersection of substance use and the criminal justice system — including correctional treatment, drug courts, parole/probation, and reentry programs. It requires a high school diploma minimum, 270 clock hours of approved education across the eight IC&RC CCJP performance domains, and a passing IC&RC CCJP exam. CEU Matrix’s NCSAPPB-approved 270-hour CCJP package covers all eight performance domains.

Training is self-paced — 270 clock hours total. The longest factor is the supervised work experience requirement: 6,000 hours of SUD counseling (about three years full-time) verified by a CCS or CSI. Combined with the 300-hour supervised practicum and the IC&RC ADC exam.

The CADC and CCJP both renew every two years and require 60 hours of continuing education per cycle, with at least 30 hours SUD-specific and required minimums of 3 hours ethics, 3 hours HIV/AIDS/STD/Bloodborne Pathogens, and 3 hours of a special topic (such as Nicotine Dependence, SUD and Veterans, or SUD and the Elderly). The LCAS renews every two years with 40 hours of CE, including 30 hours SUD-specific, 3 hours ethics, 3 hours HIV/AIDS, and 3 hours elective.

Yes for both. The CADC is built on the IC&RC ADC examination and the LCAS on the IC&RC AADC examination — both are portable across IC&RC member boards in other states. The CCJP is similarly reciprocal through the IC&RC CCJP exam.

Counselors holding an IC&RC ADC, AADC, or CCJP credential in good standing from another IC&RC member state can transfer to the equivalent North Carolina credential through reciprocity. NCSAPPB processes reciprocity applications and may require documentation of state-specific renewal-cycle topics before the transfer is finalized.

Yes. CEU Matrix is an NCSAPPB-approved continuing education provider. Our North Carolina packages cover the full education requirement for each NCSAPPB credential we offer — CADC (270 hours), CCJP (270 hours), and LCAS (180 hours).

All courses become available in your CEU Matrix Student Center the moment payment clears, with no enrollment delay. Coursework is fully self-paced — there is no fixed completion deadline. Your progress, exam scores, and earned certificates are tracked automatically and stored under “My Courses,” giving you a single consolidated view of your North Carolina credential progress and total hours earned.