Addiction Counseling – Illinois

Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor (CADC)

Illinois requires that applicants for this licensure have 2 years (4,000 hours) of paid AOD qualified work experience in the past four years, 150 hours of supervised practical experience, and pass the CADC Illinois examination.

Training/Education (225 clock hours/CEU’s)

• 100 hours AOD Specific: 15 hours AOD Treatment Services for Women and/or their Families and 15 hours AOD Treatment Services for Adolescents and/or their Families
• 6 hours Professional Ethics and Responsibility
• 10 hours Race and Equity 
• 109 hours Performance Domains: Clinical Evaluation; Treatment Planning; Counseling; Case Management and Referral; Documentation; Client, Family and Community Education; Professional and Ethical Responsibilities

Waiving Work Experience

A Bachelor’s degree or higher that is clinically focused from an accredited school of higher education with a course of study in behavioral sciences or relevant field (i.e., community counseling, mental health, social work, rehabilitation counseling, criminal justice, psychology, sociology), with at least twelve (12) semester, fifteen (15) trimester or eighteen (18) quarter credit hours of AOD specific topics, will substitute for one year (2,000 hours) of employment.

Additional Requirements

For the CAADC, applicants need additional training specifically in addiction treatment for women and adolescents and/or their families.

For more information:

https://iaodapca.org/Credentialing

https://iaodapca.org/Portals/0/PDF/AOD%20Counselor%20Model%20-%20April%202023.pdf