BY STATE · MINNESOTA · 49 CFR §40.281

How to Become a DOT SAP in Minnesota

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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota that credential is:

ADC-MN / ADCR-MN (IC&RC reciprocal) certification; the state practice credential is the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC)

IC&RC-affiliated: Yes

Issuing board: Minnesota Certification Board (MCB) issues the IC&RC ADC-MN/ADCR-MN certifications; the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT) issues the LADC state license
Education requirement: LADC: reported bachelor's degree, 18 credits addiction-specific coursework, and an 880-hour practicum; see BBHT for current requirements.
Supervised hours: LADC Method I: reported 2,000 supervised hours plus exam; ADCR-MN reciprocal adds 6,000 work-experience hours. See MCB/BBHT for current requirements.
Required exam: IC&RC ADC (or AADC) exam, or NAADAC NCAC II — accepted by BBHT for the LADC.
Also accepted: IC&RC path — the Minnesota Certification Board is the IC&RC member board (ADCR-MN is the IC&RC-reciprocal credential). For the LADC state license, BBHT accepts the IC&RC ADC or AADC exam AND the NAADAC NCAC II exam.

TRACK B

State clinical license

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

Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC)

Issuing board: Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT)

OTHER PATHS

Other SAP-eligible boards in Minnesota

You do not have to be an addiction counselor. Any one of these Minnesota 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 Minnesota Board of Social Work — LICSW/LGSW

Psychologist Minnesota Board of Psychology

Marriage & family therapist Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT); LPCC is under BBHT

Physician Minnesota Board of Medical Practice

THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

The federal steps are the same in every state

Once you hold a qualifying Minnesota 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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