BY STATE · NEW HAMPSHIRE · 49 CFR §40.281

How to Become a DOT SAP in New Hampshire

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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire that credential is:

Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC); Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (MLADC)

IC&RC-affiliated: Yes

Issuing board: New Hampshire Board of Licensing for Alcohol and Other Drug Use Professionals (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, OPLC)
Education requirement: See the NH Board of Licensing for Alcohol and Other Drug Use Professionals (OPLC) for current LADC/MLADC education requirements — not board-confirmed this session (MLADC requires a master's degree).
Supervised hours: See the NH board (OPLC) for current supervised-experience requirements — not board-confirmed this session.
Required exam: IC&RC ADC exam (LADC); IC&RC AADC + CCDP exams (MLADC).
Also accepted: IC&RC path — the NH board is an IC&RC member board. LADC requires the IC&RC ADC exam; MLADC requires the IC&RC Advanced (AADC) exam and the Co-Occurring Disorders Professional (CCDP) exam.

TRACK B

State clinical license

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

Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) / Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (MLADC)

Issuing board: NH Board of Licensing for Alcohol and Other Drug Use Professionals (OPLC)

OTHER PATHS

Other SAP-eligible boards in New Hampshire

You do not have to be an addiction counselor. Any one of these New Hampshire 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 NH Board of Mental Health Practice (OPLC) — Clinical Social Workers (LICSW)

Psychologist NH Board of Psychologists / Board of Mental Health Practice (OPLC)

Marriage & family therapist NH Board of Mental Health Practice (OPLC) — MFTs and Clinical Mental Health Counselors

Physician NH Board of Medicine (OPLC)

THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

The federal steps are the same in every state

Once you hold a qualifying New Hampshire 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

Are you a qualified SAP in New Hampshire?

Get listed on sapfinder.com so the employers and drivers in New Hampshire who need a SAP can find you.

Get listed →