At a Glance
Colorado certifies addiction counselors at three levels: Certified Addiction Technician (CAT), Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS), and Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC). Each requires a combination of education, supervised clinical hours, and a national exam. The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) administers all three credentials.
Colorado updated its addiction counselor credential system in 2021 following the signing of House Bill 20-1206. The old CAC I, CAC II, and CAC III designations no longer accept new applications. If you’re starting your path today, the framework you need to know is the current three-tier system: CAT, CAS, and LAC. This guide explains what each credential requires, how to apply through DORA, what you can expect to earn, and how to keep your credential current.
Colorado’s Three-Tier Credential System
The Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) sets training standards for addiction counselors, while DORA handles certification and licensure. Together, they maintain a structured pathway that builds clinical responsibility at each level. Here’s how the three credentials compare:
| Credential |
Education Required |
Supervised Hours |
Exam |
| Certified Addiction Technician (CAT) |
High school diploma or GED |
1,000 hours (min. 6 months) |
NCAC I + Jurisprudence Exam |
| Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) |
Bachelor’s degree in the behavioral health field |
2,000 additional hours (min. 12 months) |
NCAC II + Jurisprudence Exam |
| Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) |
Master’s or doctorate in clinical behavioral health |
3,000 total hours (incl. 2,000 direct clinical) |
MAC + Jurisprudence Exam |
Every level also requires the Colorado Jurisprudence Examination, an open-book online exam covering state laws and regulations governing addiction counseling practice. You must pass it as part of each initial credential application.
Certified Addiction Technician (CAT)
The CAT is the entry-level credential. CAT holders work under the direct supervision of a CAS or LAC and can co-facilitate individual and group counseling sessions, assist with intake paperwork, document progress notes, and support crisis intervention. They don’t conduct independent counseling services.
To qualify for the CAT, you need:
- A high school diploma or GED
- Completion of the BHA-required CAT training classes (154 hours across nine required courses)
- 1,000 hours of clinically supervised work experience, completed over a minimum of six months, under the supervision of a CAS or LAC
- A passing score on the National Certified Addiction Counselor Level I (NCAC I) exam
- A passing score on the Colorado Jurisprudence Examination
Work experience hours must cover specific clinical competency areas, including intake, assessment, treatment planning, case management, counseling co-facilitation, documentation, and client education. General work experience alone doesn’t satisfy the requirement. Your supervisor must complete a Work Verification Form (WVF), and documentation must meet DORA submission requirements.
Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS)
The CAS is the credential that allows you to provide addiction counseling services with expanded clinical responsibility. With a CAS, you can conduct assessments, develop treatment plans, provide individual and group counseling, and perform clinical functions, including treatment planning, referral, and discharge planning, within the addiction treatment specialty. CAS holders work within supervised or structured settings and cannot independently diagnose substance use disorders.
CAS requirements build on the CAT. You’ll need:
- An active CAT credential (or completion of all CAT requirements)
- A bachelor’s degree in a behavioral health field
- Completion of the BHA-required CAS training classes (161 additional hours across eleven required courses)
- 2,000 additional supervised hours beyond the 1,000 hours required for the CAT, completed over a minimum of 12 months
- A passing score on the National Certified Addiction Counselor Level II (NCAC II) exam
- A passing score on the Colorado Jurisprudence Examination
The combined supervised experience requirement from CAT through CAS totals 3,000 hours. Hours must be supervised by a CAS, LAC, or another licensed behavioral health professional who meets LAC-level education requirements, per Board rule.
Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)
The LAC is the highest-level addiction counseling credential in Colorado and functions as a full behavioral health clinician license. LAC holders have full clinical privileges, including independent diagnosis, unsupervised practice, and the ability to open a private practice. LAC holders can also supervise CAT and CAS candidates. Because the LAC requires a master’s or doctorate in a behavioral health science, it opens doors to roles that go beyond addiction treatment into broader clinical behavioral health practice.
LAC requirements include:
- Age 21 or older
- An active CAS credential (or completion of all CAS requirements)
- A master’s or doctorate degree in the behavioral health sciences from an accredited program
- 3,000 total hours of supervised addiction counseling experience, including at least 2,000 direct clinical hours, accumulated while registered as an Addiction Counselor Candidate (ADDC) with DORA
- Completion of BHA-required LAC training clock hours, including content in evidence-based treatment, clinical supervision, ethics, and co-occurring disorders
- A passing score on the Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) exam, administered through NAADAC
- A passing score on the Colorado Jurisprudence Examination
It’s worth noting that you can pursue a CAS or LAC credential concurrently while working toward a separate behavioral health license, such as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), LMFT, or LCSW. Clinically supervised hours earned in a master’s program can count toward your addiction credential if your supervisor holds a CAS or LAC.
How to Apply Through DORA
All applications for CAT, CAS, and LAC credentials are processed through the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. Here’s how the process works:
Step 1: Create a DORA Online Services Account
All applications are submitted through the DORA online licensing portal. Create an account if you don’t already have one. From your account, you can apply for an initial credential, track application progress, renew, or reinstate an expired credential.
Step 2: Complete Your Required Training
The BHA approves trainers and curriculum for CAT and CAS training classes. Courses are available through BHA-approved providers across Colorado, including institutions like Noeticus Counseling Center and Training Institute. The CAT requires 154 hours across nine courses, and the CAS requires an additional 161 hours across eleven courses. Check with the BHA or DORA for the current approved trainer list.
Step 3: Accumulate and Document Your Supervised Hours
Track your supervised work experience hours carefully. Your supervisor must complete a Work Verification Form (WVF) documenting the exact number of hours and confirming they meet DORA requirements. Supervisors are required to retain these records for five years. Hours must cover the required clinical competency areas, not just general work time.
Step 4: Pass Your National and State Exams
Schedule and pass the national exam required for your credential level (NCAC I for CAT, NCAC II for CAS, MAC for LAC). Exams are administered through NAADAC. Then pass the Colorado Jurisprudence Examination, an open-book online test covering Colorado-specific laws and regulations. Submit your exam results as part of your DORA application.
Step 5: Submit Your Application
Log in to the DORA portal and submit your initial application with all required documentation, including proof of education, training completion certificates, Work Verification Forms, and exam results. Review the current applications and forms page on the DORA website before submitting to confirm you have the most current versions. Processing typically takes six to twelve weeks.
License Renewal
CAT, CAS, and LAC credentials must be renewed periodically. Colorado counselor licenses expire on August 31 of every odd-numbered year. Renewal applications become available approximately six weeks before the expiration date. All active credential holders are required to complete 40 professional development hours (PDH) per two-year renewal cycle, per DORA’s Continuing Professional Competency requirements. CPC requirements begin immediately upon initial certification or licensure. Once you have a DORA account, you can sign in and apply for renewal through the DORA online portal.
There is a 60-day grace period after the expiration date during which counselors may continue practicing with an expired credential while the renewal is processed.
Salary and Job Outlook in Colorado
The demand for addiction counselors in Colorado is strong and growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors to grow 17 percent from 2024 to 2034 nationally, a rate classified as much faster than the average for all occupations.
Nationally, the median annual wage for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors was $59,190 in May 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $39,090, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $98,210. In general, higher credential levels tend to be associated with roles that carry greater clinical responsibility and higher compensation, though actual earnings vary by employer, setting, and experience.
| Percentile |
Annual Wage |
| 10th percentile |
$39,090 |
| Median (50th percentile) |
$59,190 |
| 90th percentile |
$98,210 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, May 2024 data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to hold a CAT before applying for the CAS?
Yes. Colorado’s credential system is sequential. You need to complete the CAT requirements before advancing to the CAS, and the CAS requirements before pursuing the LAC. Each level’s supervised hours build on the previous one, and DORA reviews the full documentation trail as part of each application.
What happened to the old CAC I, CAC II, and CAC III credentials?
Colorado replaced the CAC system with the CAT, CAS, and LAC framework through House Bill 20-1206, signed into law in 2020 and fully implemented in 2021. The old designations are no longer accepting new applications. Existing CAC holders were transitioned into the new system: CAC I and CAC II became the CAT, and CAC III became the CAS. If you started the process before 2021, contact DORA to confirm your current credential status.
Can I work as an addiction counselor while completing my supervised hours?
Yes. That’s the purpose of the CAT credential. As a CAT, you can work in an addiction treatment setting under the supervision of a CAS or LAC while accumulating the hours and training required for the CAS. Many candidates work in the field throughout the credentialing process, though individual circumstances vary.
Is Colorado part of the addiction counselor licensure compact?
Colorado is a member of the Counseling Compact, which covers Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). The Counseling Compact does not apply to the CAT, CAS, or LAC addiction counselor credentials. There is no separate interstate compact for addiction counselor credentials in Colorado at this time. Counselors with out-of-state credentials may apply for licensure by endorsement through DORA, which evaluates whether prior supervised experience and exam scores are substantially equivalent to Colorado’s requirements. If you’re also pursuing an LPC, see our guide to Colorado counseling licensure requirements for compact eligibility details.
How long does it take to get a CAS in Colorado?
The timeline varies. From the point of having a bachelor’s degree, most candidates need at least two to three years to accumulate the required 3,000 supervised hours (CAT plus CAS), complete the required training classes, pass both national exams, and receive DORA approval. The minimum supervised experience timeframe is 18 months total (six months for CAT, 12 months for CAS), but many candidates take longer depending on work schedule and availability of supervision.
Key Takeaways
- Colorado replaced the CAC I/II/III system in 2021 with a three-tier framework: CAT (entry-level), CAS (independent practice), and LAC (advanced clinical).
- All three credentials require a combination of education, BHA-approved training classes, supervised clinical hours, a national exam, and the Colorado Jurisprudence Examination.
- Applications are processed through DORA’s online portal. Processing typically takes six to twelve weeks.
- The national median annual wage for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors was $59,190 in May 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment is projected to grow 17% from 2024 to 2034.
- Credentials expire on August 31 of every odd-numbered year. A 60-day grace period applies after expiration.
Ready to start your path toward addiction counselor certification in Colorado? Explore degree programs that align with CAT, CAS, and LAC requirements.
Find Schools Near You
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 national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2026.
