All applicants seeking licensure as addiction counselors in Montana must include verification of 270 hours of course work or training specific to chemical dependency/addiction and counseling.
At the time of application, an official transcript and copies of certificates of completion for all hours must be submitted. Please note that each credit hour of approved course work is equivalent to 15 hours.
Graduates of a CACREP (or equivalent) master's-level counseling program will have met some of the specific training requirements. Areas of course work required to meet LAC standards, but not necessarily required in counseling programs, are being offered through the MSU LAC Certificate program. These courses are open to both post-master's and post-baccalaureate students. However, post-baccalaureate students will require additional course work. Please see Table 2.
Table 1. Specific Training Requirements for LAC Certification
| LAC Requirements |
Applicable Course Work through MSU Certificate Program |
CACREP or Equivalent Course Work for Meeting Requirement |
| Addiction Assessment (60 hours) |
LAC 503: Assessment, Treatment, Planning, and Ethics of Addiction Counseling |
Conceptualization and Diagnosis of Mental Disorders (CACREP or equivalent of DSM course); meets up to 45 hours |
| Addiction Counseling (90 hours) |
LAC 501: Chemical Dependency Counseling (45 hours) |
Counseling Practicum, Counseling Internship (master's level from CACREP or equivalent program); meets up to 45 hours |
| Pharmacology (30 hours) |
LAC 502: Psychopharmacology and Addictions (45 hours) |
|
| Ethics for Addiction Counselors |
LAC 503: Assessment, Treatment, Planning, and Ethics of Addiction (15 hours) |
|
| Alcohol and Drug Studies (30 hours) |
LAC 504: Alcohol and Drug Studies |
|
| Addiction Treatment, Planning and Documentation (30 hours) |
LAC 503: Assessment, Treatment, Planning, and Ethics of Addiction (15 hours) |
Appraisal/Testing (master's level from CACREP or equivalent program); meets up to 15 hours |
| Multicultural Competency (15 hours) |
|
Multicultural Counseling (master's level from CACREP or equivalent program) |
Table 2. General Education Requirements for LAC Certification
All applicants must have a baccalaureate degree in alcohol and drug studies, psychology, sociology, social work, counseling, or a related field from an accredited college or university. Course work must include the following areas and specified hours.
| Education Category |
Hours Required |
| Human Behavior, Sociology, Psychology or a similar emphasis |
6 semester credits (90 clock hours) |
| Psychopathology or course work exploring patterns and courses or abnormal or deviant behavior |
3 semester credits (45 clock hours) |
| Counseling |
Total of 9 semester credits
Group Counseling: 6 semester credits (90 clock hours)
Theory of Counseling: 3 credit hours (45 clock hours) |
Potential students must submit the following application to the Montana Licensed Addiction Counselor Program. This application is for a complete audit of potential students' transcripts and course work and to see what is needed for LAC certification.
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