BY STATE · RHODE ISLAND · 49 CFR §40.281

How to Become a DOT SAP in Rhode Island

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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island that credential is:

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC); Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC)

IC&RC-affiliated: Yes

Issuing board: Rhode Island Certification Board (RICB)
Education requirement: CADC requires 300 hours of formal education, of which 120 hours must be substance-abuse-counseling specific, plus required 6-hour courses in ethics, confidentiality, communicable diseases, and MAT (board-verified).
Supervised hours: Supervised experience required — see the Rhode Island Certification Board for the current hour requirement.
Required exam: IC&RC ADC examination (board-verified).
Also accepted: IC&RC pathway: RICB is an IC&RC member; the CADC uses the IC&RC ADC examination.

TRACK B

State clinical license

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

Licensed Chemical Dependency Professional (LCDP) — RI Dept. of Health license; requires RICB certification first

Issuing board: Rhode Island Department of Health / BHDDH (requires RICB certification)

OTHER PATHS

Other SAP-eligible boards in Rhode Island

You do not have to be an addiction counselor. Any one of these Rhode Island 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 RI Dept. of Health — Board of Social Work Examiners (LICSW)

Psychologist RI Dept. of Health — Board of Psychology

Marriage & family therapist RI Dept. of Health — Board of Mental Health Counselors and MFTs (LMHC / LMFT)

Physician RI Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline (RI Dept. of Health)

THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

The federal steps are the same in every state

Once you hold a qualifying Rhode Island 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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