At a Glance
To become a substance abuse counselor in North Dakota, you’ll work toward licensure through the North Dakota Board of Addiction Counseling Examiners (NDBACE), which credentials counselors at three levels: Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor (LCAC), and Licensed Master Addiction Counselor (LMAC). The LAC requires a bachelor’s degree and 960 hours of supervised clinical training. The LMAC requires a master’s degree and 2,000 post-licensure hours. Getting licensed typically takes four to six years from the start of a bachelor’s degree, or two to three if you already hold a relevant bachelor’s.
North Dakota recorded 575 overdose deaths between 2019 and 2023, with fentanyl present in 77 percent of cases by 2023, according to data from the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. That public health pressure has increased demand for qualified addiction counselors across the state. The North Dakota Board of Addiction Counseling Examiners (NDBACE) oversees three levels of licensure, each built around a different combination of education and supervised clinical experience. Understanding how those levels stack and what each one authorizes you to do under North Dakota law is where the path to licensure begins.
License Levels in North Dakota
NDBACE currently credentials addiction counselors at three distinct levels. They don’t have to be earned sequentially, but each one builds on a different combination of education and supervised experience.
Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)
The entry-level credential. Requires at least a bachelor’s degree in addiction studies or a closely related behavioral health field, completion of a board-approved 960-hour clinical training program, and a passing score on the National Certified Addiction Counselor Level II (NCAC II) examination administered by the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP).
Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor (LCAC)
A bachelor’s-level credential available to LACs who have accumulated substantial post-licensure clinical experience. The LCAC qualifies for private practice registration through NDBACE, a privilege the LAC credential does not carry. Contact NDBACE directly for current LCAC eligibility requirements, as this credential was added to North Dakota’s framework more recently than the LAC and LMAC.
Licensed Master Addiction Counselor (LMAC)
The advanced credential. Requires a master’s degree in addiction studies or a closely related field, a board-approved 700-hour clinical training program, and 2,000 post-licensure hours of supervised substance abuse counseling. LMAC holders can apply for private practice registration and are eligible to become registered clinical supervisors, which allows them to oversee clinical training hours for LAC candidates.
Education Requirements
The degree requirements differ by credential level, though all three share a focus on addiction studies coursework.
LAC and LCAC applicants must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in addiction studies from an accredited program or one whose curriculum meets NDBACE’s specific coursework requirements. LMAC applicants must hold a master’s degree in addiction studies or a closely related field. North Dakota offers in-state options for both levels. Minot State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies, and the University of Mary offers a Bachelor of Science in Addiction Counseling. Many accredited programs that satisfy NDBACE’s requirements are also available online.
Clinical Training and Supervision
Clinical training requirements vary by credential and include specific hour breakdowns for supervised practice and documentation training.
For the LAC, the board requires a minimum of 960 clinical training hours, including at least 40 hours of direct, face-to-face supervision distributed across four clinical training areas: screening and ASAM assessment, treatment planning, counseling, and client/family/community education. An additional 30 hours of documentation training are required, including the supervisor reviewing and discussing clinical notes with the supervisee. LMAC candidates complete a 700-hour program with at least 30 hours of direct supervision across those same four areas and 20 hours of documentation training. A separate, reduced pathway of 350 clinical hours applies to individuals already licensed in North Dakota as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), LP, MD, LMFT, LICSW, or advanced clinical practice nurse. All clinical training must occur through an NDBACE-approved consortium or an individualized training plan approved by the board before the trainee begins.
As of January 1, 2024, clinical training supervisors must hold an LCAC or LMAC credential and be registered as clinical supervisors with the board. Upon completion of training, all applicants must submit a Clinical Trainee Completion Form, signed by the supervisor, before they can register for the examination.
Application Process
Applications can be submitted by mail or email. The current mailing address is North Dakota Board of Addiction Counseling Examiners, PO Box 1053, Bismarck, ND 58502. Email submissions go to [email protected]. Separate application forms are available on the NDBACE website for the LAC and LMAC credentials. Official transcripts must be sent directly from the degree-granting institution, along with a completed transcript review form. Two reference letters on board-approved forms are required.
Initial licensure fees are prorated based on when in the renewal cycle the application is received. The biennial license fee schedule is as follows:
| Application Window |
Fee |
| January 1 – June 30 of an even-numbered year |
$300 |
| July 1 of an even-numbered year – December 31 of that year |
$250 |
| January 1 – June 30 of an odd-numbered year |
$150 |
| July 1 of an odd-numbered year – December 31 of that year |
$100 |
Biennial renewal is $300. Private practice registration carries a $200 initial fee. Late renewal fees are also $200. All fees are nonrefundable.
Examination
Exams are administered by the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP), the credentialing arm of the National Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC). The LAC credential requires a passing score on the NCAC II (National Certified Addiction Counselor Level II) exam. The LMAC credential requires the MAC (Master Addiction Counselor) exam. To register, applicants submit an exam application to NDBACE together with a completed Clinical Trainee Completion Form. After the application is approved, NDBACE provides information on testing locations and online exam options.
One exemption applies: individuals already licensed in North Dakota as psychologists, psychiatrists, or physicians holding a doctorate in their field are not required to complete the examination to obtain LAC or LMAC licensure.
Private Practice
LCAC and LMAC holders may apply to the board for private practice registration. This requires a separate $200 application fee and, for private practice facilities, a program license from the North Dakota Division of Behavioral Health. LAC holders are not eligible for private practice registration without first earning the LCAC or LMAC credential.
License Renewal and Continuing Education
All North Dakota addiction counseling licenses expire on December 31 of odd-numbered years, on a two-year cycle. Within each renewal period, LAC, LCAC, and LMAC holders must complete 40 hours of continuing education, including at least 6 hours in professional ethics. Counselors who are registered clinical supervisors must also include at least 3 of those 40 hours on clinical supervision techniques.
Prorated continuing education requirements apply for newly licensed counselors: 20 hours are required if initially licensed between January 1 and June 30 of an odd-numbered year, and no hours are required if licensed on or after July 1 of an odd-numbered year. The $300 renewal fee may be paid by check or through the board’s online payment system. Renewal applications may be mailed or emailed to the board.
Reciprocity
North Dakota’s administrative code includes a formal reciprocity provision. The board may grant licensure to applicants who hold a current, valid addiction counseling license from another state, provided that state’s requirements are substantially equivalent to North Dakota’s. Equivalency benchmarks are specific: a requirement of at least 960 supervised hours is considered equivalent to the LAC clinical training standard, and at least 700 hours is equivalent to the LMAC standard. A current NCAC II or MAC certification from NAADAC also satisfies North Dakota’s examination requirement for the corresponding credential level. If you hold a license as a substance abuse counselor in Montana or another neighboring state, contact NDBACE at (701) 255-1439 or [email protected] to confirm equivalency before applying.
Salary and Job Outlook
Addiction counseling is one of the faster-growing occupations in the behavioral health workforce. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 17 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. The BLS reports a national median annual wage of $59,190 for this occupational group as of May 2024. State-level wage data for North Dakota is available through the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program at bls.gov/oes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the LAC, LCAC, and LMAC in North Dakota?
All three credentials are issued by NDBACE but reflect different levels of education and experience. The LAC requires a bachelor’s degree and 960 clinical training hours. The LCAC is a bachelor’s-level credential available to experienced LACs who have accumulated significant post-licensure clinical hours. Contact NDBACE directly for current LCAC eligibility details. The LMAC requires a master’s degree, 700 clinical training hours, and 2,000 post-licensure supervised hours. Only LCAC and LMAC holders can apply for private practice registration.
Can I practice addiction counseling in North Dakota without a license?
No. North Dakota law prohibits practicing addiction counseling without holding a valid NDBACE license. This applies to both individual counseling practice and clinical supervision roles. Applicants may work under supervision while completing clinical training requirements, but independent practice requires licensure.
How long does it take to become a licensed addiction counselor in North Dakota?
If you’re starting from the beginning of a bachelor’s degree, expect four to six years from enrollment to LAC licensure. That’s four years of undergraduate study plus time to complete the 960-hour clinical training program and pass the exam. If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in a related field, the timeline shortens to roughly two to three years, depending on how quickly you complete the clinical training.
What exam do I need to take for the LAC?
LAC applicants must pass the NCAC II (National Certified Addiction Counselor Level II) examination administered by NCCAP, the credentialing arm of NAADAC. LMAC applicants must pass the MAC (Master Addiction Counselor) exam. The exams are different and are not interchangeable across credential levels.
Does North Dakota have reciprocity for out-of-state addiction counselors?
Yes. NDBACE may grant reciprocity to applicants licensed in another state if that state’s requirements are substantially equivalent to North Dakota’s. The equivalency standard requires at least 960 supervised hours for LAC reciprocity and 700 hours for LMAC reciprocity. Contact the board directly at (701) 255-1439 or [email protected] to confirm whether your out-of-state credential qualifies before submitting an application.
Key Takeaways
- North Dakota licenses addiction counselors at three levels through NDBACE: LAC, LCAC, and LMAC. Each requires different education and clinical experience.
- The LAC requires a bachelor’s degree and 960 supervised clinical training hours across four defined areas. The LMAC requires a master’s degree, 700 training hours, and 2,000 post-licensure supervised hours.
- As of January 1, 2024, clinical training supervisors must hold an LCAC or LMAC credential and be registered with the board.
- LCAC and LMAC holders are eligible to apply for private practice registration through NDBACE. The LAC credential alone does not qualify.
- North Dakota’s administrative code includes a formal reciprocity provision for counselors licensed in states with substantially equivalent requirements.
- The BLS projects 17 percent employment growth for substance abuse and mental health counselors nationally from 2024 to 2034, with a national median wage of $59,190 as of May 2024.
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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 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.
