BY STATE · OHIO · 49 CFR §40.281

How to Become a DOT SAP in Ohio

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 Ohio 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 Ohio that credential is:

Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC II / LCDC III); Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor (LICDC)

IC&RC-affiliated: Yes

Issuing board: Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board (OCDP)
Education requirement: LCDC III requires a bachelor's degree or higher (behavioral science or nursing) plus 270 hours of approved education across nine content areas (board-verified).
Supervised hours: 2,000 hours of supervised SUD work experience plus 220 hours of supervised clinical work covering core counseling functions (board-verified for LCDC III).
Required exam: IC&RC ADC examination (board-verified).
Also accepted: IC&RC pathway: LCDC exams are the IC&RC ADC (and advanced) examinations. Ohio is an IC&RC member state.

TRACK B

State clinical license

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

Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor III (LCDC III) — state LICENSE

Issuing board: Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board (OCDP)

OTHER PATHS

Other SAP-eligible boards in Ohio

You do not have to be an addiction counselor. Any one of these Ohio 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 Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board (LISW)

Psychologist State of Ohio Board of Psychology

Marriage & family therapist Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board (LPCC / LMFT)

Physician State Medical Board of Ohio

THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

The federal steps are the same in every state

Once you hold a qualifying Ohio 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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