1. What degree do I need?

A bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree that meets one of these:

• It is in addiction studies from a program accredited by the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission, the International Coalition for Addiction Studies and Education, or the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. A list of accredited programs, including online options, is at nasacaccreditation.org.
• It is in addiction studies or a closely related mental health field and includes at least 27 credits, with at least 3 in each of these areas: theories and techniques of counseling, group counseling, psychopharmacology, dynamics of addiction, professional ethics, family systems, lifespan development, multicultural diversity, and co-occurring disorders.

The LMAC requires a master’s or doctorate, and the second route requires 28 graduate-level credits, adding research methods or program evaluation (3 credits) and clinical supervision (1 credit). All coursework must come from a regionally accredited college or university. See Admin Code 4.5-02.1-01-03.

2. Will the board review my courses before I apply?

No. The board does not review course lists or class schedules ahead of time. Your transcripts are reviewed when you register for clinical training. For questions about which courses complete your degree, talk to your academic advisor.

3. How do I get registered as a clinical trainee?

Your consortium director, university program director, or agency program director submits your registration to the board. You must be accepted into a board-approved training program and be no more than six credits short of the academic requirements for licensure. See Clinical Training Sites.

4. Do hours I earned before registering, or in another state, count?

No. Clinical training hours only count if they are earned after you are registered with the board as a clinical trainee or intern. Internships and supervised experience from another state do not substitute for North Dakota’s clinical training requirement. Practicum or internship hours from your degree program can count if you are registered first and the hours are at a board-approved site under a board-registered clinical supervisor.

5. What examination do I need to take?

LAC: the National Certified Addiction Counselor Level II (NCAC-II) exam or the Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) exam.
LMAC: the MAC exam.

Note: Master’s level applicants can get an LAC with either exam, but the MAC exam is required for an LMAC. If you are headed for an LMAC, take the MAC.

Both exams are given by NAADAC. See Licensure Exam.

6. When am I eligible to take the examination?

A written examination may be taken after the completion of the required academic coursework. See Admin Code 4.5-02.1-01-05.

7. How do I register for the examination?

1. Complete the Licensure Examination Application (found on the Licensure Exam page) and submit the required fee. The exam fee is the national testing agency’s fee plus a $50 board administrative fee.
2. The board office will review and if approved send to you:
   • an approval to test
   • a link that will allow you to schedule your examination.

8. Will a criminal record keep me from getting licensed?

Not automatically. Under NDCC 12.1-33-02.1, the board cannot disqualify you just because of a prior conviction. It may deny a license only if an offense has a direct bearing on your ability to serve the public as an addiction counselor, or if you have not been sufficiently rehabilitated. Five years after final discharge or release from probation, parole, or imprisonment, with no later conviction, is considered evidence of sufficient rehabilitation. Convictions from other states are treated the same as North Dakota convictions. The board reviews each applicant individually and does not issue eligibility decisions before you apply. If it needs court records, it will ask for them.

9. What if I fail the examination?

Retake limits and waiting periods are set by NCC AP, NAADAC’s credentialing body, not by the board. Check NCC AP’s current candidate policies before you reschedule. If NCC AP requires you to register again, you will pay the exam fee again.

1. Can I still get an LCAC license through grandfathering?

No. The grandfathering window for LCAC and LMAC licenses closed January 1, 2024. Licensees who were already granted an LCAC keep it. LCACs and LMACs have the same scope of practice.

2. How do I move from an LAC to an LMAC?

• Meet the academic requirements for an LMAC, including a master’s or doctorate degree.
• Complete 2,000 supervised postclinical training hours after earning that degree (see question 7 under For Consortiums).
• Pass the MAC exam.
• Apply and pay a $75 administrative fee.

See Licensure Requirements.

3. What license do I have to have to qualify for a private practice registration?

An LCAC license, an LMAC license, or an LAC license along with NDBACE clinical supervisor registration. Once you qualify, submit the Private Practice Registration Application on the Licensure Requirements page and the $200 registration fee. Substance use counseling private practice in North Dakota also requires a program license from the Division of Behavioral Health. See Admin Code 4.5-02.1-04-02.

4. How do I become a registered clinical supervisor?

LCAC: complete 20 contact hours of continuing education in clinical supervision within the three years before you apply.
LAC: show at least three years of experience as an LAC with at least 6,000 supervised hours, 20 contact hours of continuing education in clinical supervision within the four years before you apply, and reference letters from two registered clinical supervisors.

Each certificate counts once, and hours outside that window do not count. See Clinical Supervision and Admin Code 4.5-02.1-04-04.

5. When does my license expire, and what if I renew late?

All licenses expire December 31 of every odd-numbered year. If your completed renewal is not received by December 1 of that year, a $200 late fee applies. If it is not received by the expiration date, your license expires and you cannot practice. You can still renew within 30 days after expiration with the late fee. After 30 days, you have to reapply for licensure. See License Renewal and NDCC 43-45-07.

6. What are the continuing education requirements?

40 hours per two-year licensing period, including at least 6 hours of professional ethics. If you were first licensed partway through a cycle, the requirement is lower:

• Licensed January 1 to June 30 of an even-numbered year: 30 hours, including 6 ethics.
• Licensed on or after July 1 of an even-numbered year: 20 hours, including 4 ethics.
• Licensed January 1 to June 30 of an odd-numbered year: 10 hours, including 2 ethics.
• Licensed on or after July 1 of an odd-numbered year: none.

Registered clinical supervisors (LCAC, LMAC, or LAC) must also complete 3 hours of clinical supervision continuing education each cycle as part of the 40. Leadership training does not count toward those 3 hours.

Track and report your continuing education in your CE Broker account. Hours only count if earned after your license took effect and within the current cycle, and each hour applies to one cycle only. Keep your certificates for two years after you report. The board audits about 10 percent of licensees each cycle. See Continuing Education and Admin Code 4.5-02.1-02-02.

7. Do I need approval for continuing education I attended?

Not if the program was sponsored or approved by NAADAC, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Addiction Technology Transfer Centers, the North Dakota Addiction Counselor’s Association, the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services Division of Behavioral Health, or the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Anything else needs board approval. Submit it for approval through your CE Broker account. The training must relate to addiction counseling, behavioral mental health, or best practice techniques, and have the potential to increase your proficiency in addiction counseling.

8. How does an organization get approved to offer CEUs?

Apply through CE Broker. See Continuing Education.

9. How do I change my name or address on my license?

Name change: email board@ndbace.org a copy of your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or other legal document showing the change, or a valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, or passport) in your new name. A PDF or photo is fine. We will update your record and mail you a new license. Your license number stays the same.

Address or email change: send the request from the email address we have on file. If you no longer have access to that address, tell us and we will help you update it. You are responsible for keeping your contact information current.

10. What are the board’s fees?

• Initial license: $300, $250, $150, or $100, depending on when in the two-year cycle your application is received
• License renewal (every two years): $300
• Private practice registration: $200
• Late fee: $200
• Exam approval: the national testing agency fee plus a $50 board administrative fee
• LMAC administrative fee: $75
• Approved provider (annual): $250
• Approved program: $50
• Mailing list: $50

All fees are nonrefundable. Pay at Online Payment. See Admin Code 4.5-02.1-01-07.

11. How can an employer verify a license or check for disciplinary action?

Email board@ndbace.org with the licensee’s full name and license number. The verification shows the license level, issue and expiration dates, current status, and any disciplinary action the board is required to disclose. To report a concern about a licensee, see File a Complaint.

1. If I am a ND licensed related mental health professional, can I still qualify for an addiction license?

Yes, if you meet the board’s academic requirements, complete 350 supervised addiction-specific clinical training hours, and pass the licensing exam.

• Licensed associate marriage and family therapists, licensed associate professional counselors, licensed professional counselors, licensed master social workers, and advanced clinical practice nurses may apply for an LAC.
• Licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed clinical social workers, and advanced clinical practice nurses may apply for an LAC or an LMAC.

The 350 hours must be supervised by an LCAC, an LMAC, or an LAC registered as a clinical supervisor.

2. If I am a ND licensed physician, psychologist or psychiatrist, can I qualify for an addiction license?

Yes. If you hold a doctorate in your field of licensure, you qualify for an LMAC by completing 350 supervised addiction-specific clinical training hours. No examination is required. No additional academic requirements need to be met.

1. How can I become licensed in ND?

Apply for reciprocity using the forms on the Licensure Requirements page. The board may grant a license if your state’s requirements are substantially the same as North Dakota’s, or if your qualifications and experience are substantially similar. The board decides when it reviews a complete application.

North Dakota’s licenses are the LAC, LMAC, and LCAC. There is no LADC license in North Dakota. That title is used in some other states, such as Minnesota.

If you do not meet reciprocity but do hold an addiction license or certification in good standing from another state or jurisdiction, you may be eligible for intern status. While on intern status you can complete any outstanding requirements for licensure. Intern status lasts up to 12 months, with one possible 12-month extension. See Internships and Admin Code 4.5-02.1-01-02.

2. Is there a streamlined process for me if I possess NAADAC certifications?

Yes. A current certification in good standing meets the requirements for a North Dakota license:

• National Certified Addiction Counselor Level II (NCAC-II) from NAADAC is equivalent to a North Dakota Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC).
• Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) from NAADAC or the National Board for Certified Counselors is equivalent to a North Dakota Licensed Master Addiction Counselor (LMAC).

See Admin Code 4.5-02.1-01-06.1.

3. Is there a temporary license, or can I provide telehealth to a client in North Dakota?

North Dakota does not offer a temporary license or permit to practice addiction counseling. Licensure by reciprocity is the route for counselors credentialed elsewhere. Whether a provider outside North Dakota may provide virtual services to a client located here is a legal question the board cannot answer. Talk to an attorney familiar with North Dakota law, or contact the Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Health Division.

1. How many clinical training hours does a trainee need to complete?

A trainee pursuing an LAC must complete at least 960 clinical training hours. A trainee pursuing an LMAC must complete at least 700 clinical training hours. Hours must be earned in multiple levels of therapeutic care at one or more training sites. See Clinical Training and Admin Code 4.5-02.1-01-04.

2. What supervision has to be documented in the final performance review?

LAC (960 hours):

• At least 40 hours of direct, face-to-face supervision in each of these clinical training areas: screening and American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) assessment; treatment planning; counseling; client, family, and community education; and referral and service coordination.
• At least 30 hours in documentation, which must include the supervisor reviewing and discussing clinical notes with the trainee.

LMAC (700 hours):

• At least 30 hours of direct, face-to-face supervision in each of the same clinical training areas.
• At least 20 hours in documentation, which must include the supervisor reviewing and discussing clinical notes with the trainee.

The final performance review must show a score of 3 or higher in every clinical training area.

3. How long does a trainee have to finish, and how do we request an extension?

A trainee may stay in clinical trainee status for up to 12 months. Hours may be completed part-time or full-time, based on the needs of the training site and the trainee. The trainee’s clinical supervisor may request one extension of up to 12 more months. There is no form for this. A written request emailed to board@ndbace.org is fine.

4. Who can supervise a clinical trainee?

A board-registered clinical supervisor who is an LCAC, an LMAC, or an LAC registered as a clinical supervisor. See Clinical Supervision.

5. Once a trainee scores a 3 on a progress evaluation, can the trainee work independently?

No. A trainee may never work independently with clients. Until a trainee scores 3 or higher in a clinical training area, the supervisor must directly observe all of the trainee’s addiction-specific work in that area. After a 3 or higher, the supervisor provides indirect supervision in that area. The supervisor stays accountable for the trainee’s training and client care for all 700 or 960 hours. The supervisor and trainee must both sign every progress report.

6. Can trainees count time sitting in on integrated assessments done by an LPCC or LICSW?

Yes, toward total clinical training hours, but not toward the required direct, face-to-face supervision in screening and ASAM assessment. A trainee’s primary supervision must come from a board-registered clinical supervisor in addiction counseling.

7. Who can supervise the 2,000 postclinical training hours for an LMAC?

At least half of the hours must be supervised by an LCAC, an LMAC, or an LAC registered as a clinical supervisor. No more than half may be supervised by other professionals the supervising addiction counselor considers competent in that area of practice, and who are either registered as clinical supervisors by their own licensing board or approved by this board. Supervision must be at least one hour a week and may be provided by an offsite supervisor.

8. Can a trainee switch to a different training program?

Yes, with board approval. The new program submits a Clinical Trainee Registration form for the trainee, and a board member reviews it.