BY STATE · SOUTH CAROLINA · 49 CFR §40.281

How to Become a DOT SAP in South Carolina

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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina that credential is:

Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC); Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC)

IC&RC-affiliated: Yes

Issuing board: Addiction Professionals of South Carolina (APSC) — South Carolina IC&RC member board
Education requirement: ADC: bachelor's degree or higher in a human-services field from a regionally accredited institution (verified); 300 contact hours of A&D-specific training across four domains.
Supervised hours: ADC: 4,000 hours of A&D counseling experience within the prior 5 years plus 200 hours of clinical supervision (verified).
Required exam: IC&RC ADC written exam (verified); bachelor-level applicants also complete an oral interview.
Also accepted: IC&RC path — APSC is the SC IC&RC member board; ADC/AADC candidates sit the IC&RC exam.

TRACK B

State clinical license

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

Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) — state license, S.C. Code Title 40 Ch. 75

Issuing board: SC LLR — Board of Examiners for LPC, MFT, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists (combined board)

OTHER PATHS

Other SAP-eligible boards in South Carolina

You do not have to be an addiction counselor. Any one of these South Carolina 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 SC LLR — Board of Social Work Examiners (LISW-CP)

Psychologist SC LLR — Board of Examiners in Psychology

Marriage & family therapist SC LLR — Board of Examiners for LPC/LMFT, Addiction Counselors & Psycho-Educational Specialists

Physician SC LLR — Board of Medical Examiners

THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

The federal steps are the same in every state

Once you hold a qualifying South Carolina 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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