BY STATE · KANSAS · 49 CFR §40.281

How to Become a DOT SAP in Kansas

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 Kansas 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 Kansas that credential is:

Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC); LMAC (master) / LCAC (clinical) are higher tiers

IC&RC-affiliated: Yes

Issuing board: Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB)
Education requirement: LAC: a bachelor's degree in addiction counseling or a related field with required addiction-specific coursework (secondary guides cite ~9 required courses / ~33 credit hours) plus a supervised practicum (~400 hours). Confirm current coursework with BSRB.
Supervised hours: LAC practices under an approved clinical supervisor; a supervised practicum (~400 hours) is part of the degree path. LCAC (clinical) adds ~4,000 supervised postgraduate hours. See BSRB for exact figures.
Required exam: NAADAC NCAC-II OR IC&RC ADC (LAC). LCAC requires the NAADAC MAC / advanced exam.
Also accepted: BSRB accepts EITHER the NAADAC NCAC-II exam OR the IC&RC ADC exam for the LAC (confirmed on ksbsrb.ks.gov). Both the NAADAC and IC&RC paths are open.

TRACK B

State clinical license

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

Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) / Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor (LCAC)

Issuing board: Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB)

OTHER PATHS

Other SAP-eligible boards in Kansas

You do not have to be an addiction counselor. Any one of these Kansas 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 Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB) — Social Work

Psychologist Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB) — Psychology

Marriage & family therapist Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB) — MFT / Professional Counselor

Physician Kansas State Board of Healing Arts

THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

The federal steps are the same in every state

Once you hold a qualifying Kansas 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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