BY STATE · TENNESSEE · 49 CFR §40.281

How to Become a DOT SAP in Tennessee

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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee that credential is:

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

IC&RC-affiliated: Yes

Issuing board: Tennessee Certification Board (TCB) — TN IC&RC member board (voluntary certification, separate from the state license)
Education requirement: See TCB (tncertification.org) for current CADC/CAADC education requirements — not board-verified this pass.
Supervised hours: See TCB for current supervised-hour requirement — not board-verified this pass.
Required exam: IC&RC ADC exam (TCB is the IC&RC member board) — confirm current exam requirement with TCB.
Also accepted: IC&RC path — TCB is the TN IC&RC member board. Certification is voluntary and separate from the state LADAC license.

TRACK B

State clinical license

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

Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC) — Level I and Level II

Issuing board: Tennessee Department of Health — Board of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors

OTHER PATHS

Other SAP-eligible boards in Tennessee

You do not have to be an addiction counselor. Any one of these Tennessee 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 TN Dept. of Health — Board of Social Workers (LCSW)

Psychologist TN Dept. of Health — Board of Examiners in Psychology

Marriage & family therapist TN Dept. of Health — Board for LPC/LMFT and Clinical Pastoral Therapists

Physician TN Dept. of Health — Board of Medical Examiners

THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

The federal steps are the same in every state

Once you hold a qualifying Tennessee 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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