BY STATE · MISSOURI · 49 CFR §40.281

How to Become a DOT SAP in Missouri

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 Missouri 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 Missouri that credential is:

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC); Certified Reciprocal Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CRAADC)

IC&RC-affiliated: Yes

Issuing board: Missouri Credentialing Board (MCB)
Education requirement: CADC: reported 180 contact hours across the four IC&RC ADC domains (≥6 ethics). See Missouri Credentialing Board for the full CADC checklist and other education tracks.
Supervised hours: See Missouri Credentialing Board CADC checklist for the current supervised work-experience / practicum requirement (track-dependent) — not board-confirmed this session.
Required exam: IC&RC International ADC (Alcohol and Drug Counselor) Examination
Also accepted: IC&RC path — MCB is an IC&RC member board; CADC requires passing the IC&RC International ADC exam (CRAADC uses the IC&RC AADC exam).

TRACK B

State clinical license

Addiction-counselor certification runs through the Missouri Credentialing Board (MCB), a confirmed IC&RC member board (CADC via IC&RC ADC exam; CRAADC via AADC). No separate state addiction-counselor license. Social worker, psychologist, LPC, LMFT, and physician are ordinary state licenses under the Missouri Division of Professional Registration.

OTHER PATHS

Other SAP-eligible boards in Missouri

You do not have to be an addiction counselor. Any one of these Missouri 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 Missouri Committee for Social Workers (Division of Professional Registration) — LCSW

Psychologist Missouri State Committee of Psychologists (Division of Professional Registration)

Marriage & family therapist Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors (LPC) / State Committee of Marital and Family Therapists (LMFT)

Physician Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts (Division of Professional Registration)

THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

The federal steps are the same in every state

Once you hold a qualifying Missouri 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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