Ohio CDCA Preliminary Phase I – 40-Hour Initial Certification Package

Ohio’s chemical dependency counseling credentials are issued by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board (OCDPB) under OAC 4758-5. Most counselors begin with the Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant (CDCA), which is granted in two stages: the CDCA Preliminary (40 training hours, no exam, 13-month non-renewable temporary credential) and the Renewable CDCA (an additional 30 hours, renewable every two years). The CDCA authorizes work under supervision in approved treatment settings. Counselors with the necessary degree and supervised clinical experience can advance to LCDC II, LCDC III, or LICDC — Ohio’s licensed clinical credentials.

The CDCA (Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant) is an OCDPB credential that authorizes individuals to provide chemical dependency services under supervision within approved treatment settings. It is granted in two stages: the CDCA Preliminary (40 hours, 13-month non-renewable) and the Renewable CDCA (an additional 30 hours, renewable every two years). Counselors must hold the Preliminary for a minimum of 10 months before applying for the Renewable. The LCDC, by contrast, is Ohio’s licensed clinical credential — requiring a degree, 2,000 supervised work hours, 220 supervised clinical hours, and a passing IC&RC ADC exam. LCDCs hold full clinical authority; CDCAs work under supervision.

The CDCA authorizes individuals to provide chemical dependency services under supervision within approved treatment settings, as defined in OAC 4758-5. CDCAs typically work in approved treatment settings — including residential, outpatient, and community-based programs — under the supervision of an LCDC, LICDC, or other qualified clinical supervisor. CDCAs do not diagnose substance use disorders or practice independently; ultimate clinical decision-making remains the responsibility of the supervising LCDC or LICDC.

The CDCA is granted in two stages. The CDCA Preliminary requires a high school diploma or GED, completion of 40 hours of OCDPB-approved education, and a completed application — there is no exam, no work experience, and no supervised hours required. The credential is non-renewable and expires after 13 months. The Renewable CDCA requires an additional 30 hours of education with all hours completed after the Preliminary award date. Counselors must hold the CDCA Preliminary for a minimum of 10 months before applying for the Renewable CDCA via a new application in eLicense. CEU Matrix’s OCDPB-approved 40-hour CDCA Preliminary and 30-hour Renewable CDCA packages each cover their respective content areas in full.

Ohio’s LCDC tier consists of three clinical credentials issued by OCDPB under OAC 4758-5: LCDC II, LCDC III, and LICDC. All three require 270 total hours of approved education across nine content areas, 2,000 hours of supervised SUD services work experience, 220 hours of supervised clinical work covering core counseling functions (40 hours screening/assessment/engagement, 70 hours treatment planning, 90 hours counseling, 20 hours professional ethics), and a passing IC&RC ADC examination. The credentials differ by required degree: LCDC II requires an associate’s degree or any bachelor’s, LCDC III requires a bachelor’s in a behavioral science or nursing field, and LICDC requires a master’s degree or higher. LICDC applicants may substitute documentation of a qualifying existing clinical license in place of the IC&RC exam. CEU Matrix offers two OCDPB-approved LCDC packages: a 180-hour package covering the full education requirement for new LCDC candidates and a 110-hour package covering the additional hours needed for current CDCA holders advancing to the LCDC tier.

The CDCA Preliminary and Renewable CDCA require no exam — credentials are granted on completed education and application review. The LCDC II, LCDC III, and LICDC require a passing score on the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination. LICDC applicants may substitute documentation of a qualifying existing clinical license in place of the IC&RC ADC exam.

Training is self-paced — 40 hours of OCDPB-approved education for the CDCA Preliminary, plus an additional 30 hours of approved education for the Renewable CDCA (completed after the Preliminary award date). Counselors must hold the CDCA Preliminary for a minimum of 10 months before applying for the Renewable. CEU Matrix’s 40-hour CDCA Preliminary and 30-hour Renewable CDCA packages let counselors complete each stage at their own pace.

Ohio no longer requires education grids for the CDCA and CDCA Renewable starting July 1st, 2026. If you purchased and took the courses before this date, CEU Matrix provides education grids for the CDCA Preliminary and Renewable CDCA, available on the respective certification package pages. Our team can also help you understand which courses fulfill specific education categories.

The Renewable CDCA, LCDC II, LCDC III, and LICDC all renew every two years and require 30 continuing education hours per cycle, with a minimum of 6 hours SUD-specific and 3 hours of professional ethics. The CDCA Preliminary is non-renewable — it is valid for 13 months only, and holders must apply for the Renewable CDCA after holding the Preliminary for at least 10 months. CEU Matrix offers OCDPB-approved CE courses that count toward Renewable CDCA and LCDC tier renewal.

Yes for the LCDC tier. The LCDC II, LCDC III, and LICDC all require a passing score on the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination, which is portable across IC&RC member boards in other states. The CDCA Preliminary and Renewable CDCA are Ohio-specific credentials and are not part of the IC&RC reciprocity system.

Counselors holding an IC&RC ADC credential in good standing from another IC&RC member state can transfer to the Ohio LCDC II, LCDC III, or LICDC tier through reciprocity, provided the transferring board is in good standing with IC&RC. The Ohio CDCA is a state-specific credential not part of the IC&RC reciprocity system — counselors moving to Ohio who want a CDCA-level credential must apply directly to OCDPB and meet Ohio’s education requirements.

Yes. CEU Matrix is an OCDPB-approved continuing education provider. Our Ohio packages cover the full content-area distribution required under OAC 4758-5 for each credential we offer — CDCA Preliminary (40 hours), Renewable CDCA (30 hours), and LCDC II/III/LICDC (180 hours for new LCDC candidates plus a 110-hour package for current CDCA holders advancing to the LCDC tier).

After purchase, courses appear immediately in your CEU Matrix Student Center. Coursework is self-paced with no completion deadline, and unlimited exam retakes are available at no additional cost. Progress, completed exams, and certificates are tracked automatically and stored in “My Courses” — your full Ohio credential progress, including hour totals across packages, stays in one place.