Licensing

Licensing Information

Prevention Certification

Examination Process

Licensure Verification

Applications and Forms

Continuing Education

Individuals interested in becoming certified or licensed with the Chemical Dependency Professionals Board must complete and submit an appropriate formal application. The formal application contains all documentation and reference forms necessary to be certified/licensed at a particular level.

The formal application is retained by the OCDP Board and is reviewed and approved before a candidate is scheduled for the examination. Candidates must submit applications 90 days prior to the date for which they intend to test. Written examinations are offered four times a year in the months of March, June, September and December.

Fees associated with the credentialing process include application fees and examination fees. Application fees must be submitted at the time of application. Examination fees must be submitted prior to the scheduling of any examination. All fees submitted to the Board are non-refundable. Fees are as follows:

Formal Application Fees		Examination Fees
CDCA	$50.00	AODA Written Exam	$100.00
LCDC II, III or LICDC	$50.00	CS Written Exam	$100.00
Conversion Application	$35.00

REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION OF
CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY COUNSELORS
CDCA: Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant

Currently employed or volunteering in a chemical dependency position where the twelve core functions are used under supervision.
Forty (40) hours of approved education in chemical dependency counseling/clinical methods.
CDCA Application & Checklist

LCDC II: Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor II

An Associate's degree in a behavioral science OR a Bachelor's degree in any field.
Three years (6,000 hours) of chemical dependency counseling related paid or volunteer work experience. An Associate's degree in a behavioral science may be substituted for 1,000 hours of work experience. A Bachelor's degree in a behavioral science may be substituted for 2,000 hours of work experience.
270 hours of chemical dependency education in nine specific content areas.
330 practical experience hours in the twelve core functions. This may be completed as part of your work experience requirements.
Successful completion of the AODA written examination. Examination Information
LCDC II Application & Checklist

LCDC III: Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor III

A minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a behavioral science.
Two years (4,000 hours) of chemical dependency counseling related paid work experience. A Master's degree in a behavioral science may be substituted for 2,000 hours of work experience.
270 hours of chemical dependency education in nine specific content areas.
330 practical experience hours in the twelve core functions. This may be completed as part of your work experience requirements.
Successful completion of the AODA written examination. Examination Information
LCDC III Application & Checklist

LICDC: Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor

A minimum of a Master's degree in a behavioral science with documentation of coursework in ten specific content areas.
Three years (6,000 hours) of chemical dependency counseling related paid work experience of which two years (4,000 hours) must be clinical supervisory experience.
270 hours of chemical dependency education in nine specific content areas.
30 hours of clinical supervisory education in four specific content areas.
330 practical experience hours in the twelve core functions. This may be completed as part of your work experience requirements.
Successful completion of the AODA written examination and the CS written examination. Examination Information
LICDC Application & Checklist
Conversion Application and Checklist

ICRC AND RECIPROCITY
The OCDP Board is a member of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium. Membership in the IC&RC requires a commitment to adhere to multi-faceted requirements designed to ensure counselor competence.
Counselors licensed in Ohio at the LCDC II level or above and Prevention Specialists certified at the OCSP I level or above are eligible for reciprocity in the more than fifty states and countries that are members of the IC&RC, provided that same type and level of credential is offered.
To obtain a reciprocity application please contact the Board at 614-387-1110 or credentialing@ocdp.state.oh.us.
RECIPROCITY INTO OHIO:
Addiction professionals certified/licensed by an IC&RC member board who relocate to Ohio may transfer their credential to the OCDP Board using the reciprocity process. No additional requirements will have to be met by the certified/licensed professional using this process to transfer their credential to Ohio.
Current Jurisdiction
Ohio Certification/License Awarded
AODA Reciprocal LCDC II (automatic), LCDC III (with
documentation of Bachelor's degree or higher in a behavioral science)
AAODA Reciprocal LCDC III
CCS Reciprocal LICDC
CPS Reciprocal OCPS I (automatic), OCPS II (with
documentation of Bachelor's degree or higher in a behavioral science)
To begin the reciprocity process, certified/licensed addiction professionals must contact their current credentialing board and request a reciprocity application. The certified/licensed addiction professional should complete the application and send it to their current credentialing board. That board will then forward the application to IC&RC who will approve the request and forward it to the OCDP Board. The OCDP Board will then issue the certified/licensed addiction professional the equivalent credential offered in Ohio.

RECIPROCITY OUT OF OHIO:
Addiction professionals certified/licensed by the OCDP Board who relocate to another state, country, or nation may transfer their credential to the new jurisdiction using the reciprocity process only if the new jurisdiction is an IC&RC member board. Additional requirements may be imposed upon the certified/licensed addiction professional depending on the laws and regulations governing the practice of addiction related services in the new jurisdiction. Therefore, certified/licensed addiction professionals are strongly encouraged to contact the IC&RC member board in the new jurisdiction to determine if any additional requirements must be met. To obtain contact information for new jurisdictions please visit www.icrcaoda.org and click on Member Boards.
Ohio Certification License
Reciprocity Level
CDCA Not reciprocal
LCDC II AODA Counselor Reciprocal
LCDC III AODA Counselor Reciprocal
LICDC AODA Counselor & CCS Clinical
Supervisor Reciprocal
RA Not reciprocal
OCPS I CPS Prevention Reciprocal
OCPS II CPS Prevention Reciprocal
To begin the reciprocity process, certified/licensed addiction professionals must contact the OCDP Board and request a reciprocity application. The certified/licensed addiction professional should complete the application and send it back to the OCDP Board. The board will then forward the application to IC&RC who will approve the request and forward it to the certification board in the new jurisdiction. That board will then issue the certified/licensed addiction professional the equivalent credential offered unless laws or regulations governing the practice of addiction related services in the new jurisdiction must first be met.