BY STATE · CONNECTICUT · 49 CFR §40.281

How to Become a DOT SAP in Connecticut

Becoming a DOT Substance Abuse Professional is one uniform federal pathway, set in 49 CFR §40.281 and applied the same way in every state. What is specific to Connecticut is the underlying clinical credential — the license or certification you earn through the boards below to satisfy the §40.281(a) requirement before you complete SAP qualification training and pass the national exam.

TRACK A

Addiction-counselor certification (the DOT counselor path)

This is the path that satisfies the §40.281(a) “drug and alcohol counselor” category, which DOT accepts only through a NAADAC-, IC&RC-, or NBCC-affiliated board. In Connecticut that credential is:

LADC (Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor); CADC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor)

IC&RC-affiliated: Yes

Issuing board: Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Practitioner Licensing & Investigations
Education requirement: 360 hours of substance-abuse-specific education (with 240 substance-specific hours across CCB-defined domains) — per CT DPH; confirm current figures at the DPH link.
Supervised hours: LADC (master's path): ~4,000 hours (two years) of supervised experience. CADC has a separate experience requirement — confirm at CT DPH.
Required exam: IC&RC ADC examination
Also accepted: DPH issues the LADC (master's) and CADC (non-master's), both using the IC&RC ADC exam. The Connecticut Certification Board (CCB) is the state's IC&RC member board (reciprocity/renewals).

TRACK B

State clinical license

Connecticut also issues a clinical license that qualifies on its own under §40.281(a).

LADC (Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor); CADC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor)

Issuing board: Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH)

OTHER PATHS

Other SAP-eligible boards in Connecticut

You do not have to be an addiction counselor. Any one of these Connecticut boards licenses a profession that satisfies one of the other five §40.281(a) SAP credential categories — physician, social worker, psychologist, employee assistance professional, or marriage and family therapist.

Social worker Connecticut DPH — Social Work Licensure (LCSW)

Psychologist Connecticut DPH — Psychologist Licensure

Marriage & family therapist Connecticut DPH — Professional Counselor (LPC) and Marital & Family Therapist (LMFT) Licensure

Physician Connecticut Medical Examining Board (DPH)

THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

The federal steps are the same in every state

Once you hold a qualifying Connecticut credential above, the rest of the SAP pathway is set by federal rule and does not change by state. See the full federal requirements →

1 What credential do you need to become a DOT SAP?
2 What knowledge does a SAP need?
3 What qualification training and exam are required?
4 What continuing education must a SAP maintain?
5 What documentation must a SAP keep?
6 What does a DOT SAP actually do?

Sources

Last reviewed: 2026-07-07

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