BY STATE · OREGON · 49 CFR §40.281
How to Become a DOT SAP in Oregon
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 Oregon 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 Oregon that credential is:
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC I / CADC II / CADC III)
IC&RC-affiliated: Yes- Education requirement
- CADC I requires 150 hours of alcohol & drug education aligned to the CADC domains (board-verified); CADC II/III require higher education levels — see MHACBO.
- Supervised hours
- CADC I requires 1,000 hours of supervised A&D counseling experience (board-verified); higher tiers require more — see MHACBO.
- Required exam
- IC&RC ADC exam (CADC I); NAADAC exam (CADC II and III).
- Also accepted
- MHACBO uses IC&RC for CADC I (IC&RC ADC exam) and the NAADAC exam for CADC II and CADC III. Oregon participates in IC&RC reciprocity.
TRACK B
State clinical license
Oregon's CADC is a private-board CERTIFICATION (MHACBO), not a state license. IC&RC-affiliated at the CADC I level; DOT-SAP eligible via IC&RC (CADC I) or NAADAC (CADC II/III).
OTHER PATHS
Other SAP-eligible boards in Oregon
You do not have to be an addiction counselor. Any one of these Oregon 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.
THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS
The federal steps are the same in every state
Once you hold a qualifying Oregon 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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