At a Glance
Oregon certifies substance abuse counselors through the Mental Health and Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO), which offers three Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) levels. You don’t need a college degree to start at CADC I. Each level has different education, supervised experience, and exam requirements, and credentials can be upgraded as your career advances.
Oregon has one of the most pressing substance use disorder challenges in the country. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 17 percent nationally between 2024 and 2034, well above the average for all occupations. Oregon reflects that urgency in its pay: the statewide median salary for substance abuse counselors is $69,660, compared to the national median of $59,190.
On January 30, 2024, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, and Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson jointly declared a 90-day state of emergency to address the fentanyl crisis in Portland’s city center. That first-of-its-kind tri-government coordination directed state, county, and city resources toward treatment, outreach, and recovery services. Demand for credentialed addiction counseling careers across the state reflects that same urgency.
Certification is issued by the Mental Health and Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO), a member of NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals. All applications and documentation are now managed through MHACBO’s online platform, Certemy. Here’s what you need to know about each certification level, the steps to get there, and what the credential is worth in Oregon’s job market.
Three Levels of Oregon CADC Certification
MHACBO structures its addiction counselor credentials in three tiers. CADC I represents associate-level proficiency, CADC II approximates baccalaureate-level, and CADC III corresponds to graduate-level expertise. The tables below compare the core requirements and exams for each level.
| Credential |
Education Requirement |
Supervised Hours |
| CADC I |
High school diploma + 150 A&D education hours |
1,000 hours |
| CADC II |
~90 college credits + 300 A&D education hours |
4,000 hours |
| CADC III |
Master’s degree + 300 A&D education hours |
6,000 hours |
| Credential |
National Exam |
Jurisprudence Exam |
| CADC I |
IC&RC ADC Exam |
Not required |
| CADC II |
NAADAC NCAC II Exam |
Required |
| CADC III |
NAADAC MAC Exam |
Required |
A few things to keep in mind: the CADC II doesn’t formally require a bachelor’s degree. MHACBO approximates it as baccalaureate-level, with roughly 90 college credits serving as the benchmark. Supervised experience hours are cumulative, meaning hours logged at CADC I count toward CADC II. All supervisors must hold CADC II credentials or higher and meet Oregon Administrative Rule 415 standards for clinical supervisor qualifications in addiction treatment.
How to Earn Your Oregon CADC Certification
The certification process follows a specific sequence managed through MHACBO’s Certemy platform. Here’s how it works from start to finish.
Step 1: Complete Your Education Hours
Complete the required alcohol and drug-specific education hours before applying: 150 hours for CADC I, or 300 hours for CADC II and III. All coursework must be accredited or approved by a recognized body, including regional accreditors, MHACBO, NAADAC, and the Oregon Health Authority’s Addictions and Mental Health (OHA-AMH) division. Core required courses include Basic Counseling Skills, Group Counseling Skills, Alcohol and Drugs of Abuse Pharmacology, Counseling Ethics, and Clinical Evaluation using ASAM criteria and DSM substance use disorder classifications. CADC I requires Infectious Disease Risk Assessment and Risk Reduction. CADC II and III use HIV/AIDS Risk Assessment and Risk Reduction in its place. CADC II and III candidates also need Coexisting Disorders and Counseling Diverse Populations. CADC III adds Theories of Addiction Treatment.
Step 2: Register as a CADC Candidate (CADC-R)
Before you begin accumulating supervised hours in an addiction treatment setting, you must register with MHACBO as a CADC Candidate (CADC-R) through Certemy. Registration is required within 30 days of starting employment in a position that involves addiction treatment services. CADC-R status binds you to the MHACBO Code of Ethics and places you on the MHACBO Registry. You’ll have two years to complete the full certification from registration. Extension requests must be approved by the Oregon Health Authority.
Step 3: Log Your Supervised Experience Hours
Accumulate the required supervised hours working directly in addiction counseling: 1,000 for CADC I, 4,000 for CADC II, or 6,000 for CADC III. Your supervisor must hold an advanced addiction counselor certification (credentials accepted include CADC II, CADC III, MAC, NCAC II, and equivalent certifications) and must meet OAR 415/ISSR standards for Clinical Supervisor Qualifications in Addiction Treatment. Hours are tracked through MHACBO’s Supervised Experience form, which your supervisor verifies. All hours are cumulative and never expire, so hours logged toward CADC I count when you upgrade to CADC II.
Step 4: Submit Your Testing Application
Once you’ve completed your education and experience requirements, a testing application will be assigned to your Certemy account. Submit it to MHACBO with your documentation. After review and approval, MHACBO authorizes you to register for your national exam: IC&RC for CADC I, or NAADAC for CADC II and III. Current fee amounts are listed in your Certemy account. Check mhacbo.org for the most up-to-date schedule before applying.
Step 5: Pass Your National Certification Exam
CADC I candidates take the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam. CADC II candidates take the NAADAC National Certified Addiction Counselor Level II (NCAC II) exam. CADC III candidates take the NAADAC Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) exam. All are computer-based and available at designated testing centers or via live remote proctoring. Pass your national exam to proceed to the final step.
Step 6: Complete Oregon’s Jurisprudence Ethics Exam (CADC II and III Only)
After passing your national exam, CADC II and III candidates must pass Oregon’s written Jurisprudence Ethics Exam. MHACBO provides scheduling instructions once your national exam results are confirmed. The exam covers Oregon administrative rules governing addiction counselor practice and state ethics standards. MHACBO provides a Jurisprudence Study Guide through Certemy after you pass your national exam. Passing this exam completes the full CADC II or CADC III certification.
Renewing Your Oregon CADC Certification
All three CADC levels require renewal every two years through your Certemy account. To qualify for renewal, you need to complete 40 hours of continuing education that includes at least 20 SUD-specific training hours, up to 20 general behavioral health hours, at least 6 ethics hours, and 2 hours of suicide prevention training. MHACBO recommends submitting your renewal packet at least two weeks before your certification expires. The renewal fee is $175.
Reciprocity
If you’re moving to Oregon from another state, you can apply for reciprocity through the MHACBO Certemy portal. The entire process is handled there, so you don’t need to contact your previous state’s board. The reciprocity fee is $175. If you’re leaving Oregon for another state, contact the destination state’s board directly about their reciprocity process. Note that MHACBO uses NAADAC exams for CADC II and III, which means it can’t initiate an IC&RC reciprocity process on your behalf for those credentials.
Salary and Job Outlook for Oregon Substance Abuse Counselors
Oregon pays substance abuse counselors well above the national benchmark. According to BLS state data, the median annual salary for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Oregon was $69,660 as of May 2024, more than $10,000 above the national median. Counselors in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metro area earn a median of $71,530, while those in the Eugene area earn a median of $63,720. The top 10 percent of earners statewide reach $103,380 or more.
| Location |
Median Annual Salary (May 2024) |
| Oregon (statewide) |
$69,660 |
| Portland metro area |
$71,530 |
| Eugene metro area |
$63,720 |
| National median |
$59,190 |
The national job outlook is strong. The BLS projects 17 percent employment growth for this occupational category between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 48,300 job openings per year across that decade. Oregon’s ongoing response to the opioid crisis, combined with expanded addiction treatment funding, means demand for credentialed CADC counselors is likely to stay well above historical averages through the remainder of the decade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a college degree to become a certified addiction counselor in Oregon?
Not to start. The CADC I requires a high school diploma, 150 hours of alcohol and drug education, and 1,000 supervised experience hours, with no college degree required. The CADC II approximates baccalaureate-level education, typically meaning around 90 college credits, and the CADC III requires a master’s degree in a human services field.
How long does it take to get a CADC certification in Oregon?
It depends on which level you’re pursuing. A CADC I is achievable in one to two years for someone working full-time in an addiction treatment setting while completing education requirements. A CADC II typically takes four to six years, and a CADC III can take five to seven years or more, depending on your starting education level and how quickly you accumulate supervised hours.
What is the CADC-R, and why does it matter?
The CADC-R is a required registration step with MHACBO that you must complete within 30 days of starting work in an addiction treatment setting. It registers you on the MHACBO Registry, binds you to the code of ethics, and starts the two-year clock for completing full certification. Skipping this step can delay or complicate your path to full CADC status.
What exams are required for Oregon CADC certification?
Each level uses a different national exam: the IC&RC ADC exam for CADC I, the NAADAC NCAC II exam for CADC II, and the NAADAC Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) exam for CADC III. CADC II and III candidates must also pass Oregon’s written Jurisprudence Ethics Exam after clearing their national exam. CADC I does not require the Jurisprudence Exam.
Can I transfer my out-of-state addiction counselor certification to Oregon?
Yes. MHACBO accepts reciprocity applications from counselors certified in other states. You apply directly through the Certemy portal, and the entire process is handled there. The reciprocity fee is $175. Check the MHACBO website for the most current eligibility requirements before applying. Counselors interested in a broader mental health counseling career may also consider Oregon LPC licensure or the Oregon social work license as complementary credentials.
Key Takeaways
- MHACBO offers three CADC certification levels in Oregon. You can start at CADC I without a college degree and build your credentials over time.
- All applicants must register as a CADC-R through MHACBO’s Certemy platform within 30 days of starting work in an addiction treatment setting.
- CADC II and III candidates must pass both a national exam and Oregon’s Jurisprudence Ethics Exam to receive full certification.
- Oregon substance abuse counselors earn a median salary of $69,660 statewide, more than $10,000 above the national median of $59,190.
- The BLS projects 17 percent employment growth for this occupational category between 2024 and 2034, well above the average for all occupations.
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Laura Bennett, MPH is a public health professional with over 12 years of experience in community health education and program coordination. She specializes in helping aspiring professionals explore flexible education pathways, including online and hybrid public health degree programs. Laura is passionate about making public health careers more accessible through practical, accredited training
2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market figures for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors represent state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2026.
