BY STATE · VERMONT · 49 CFR §40.281

How to Become a DOT SAP in Vermont

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 Vermont 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 Vermont that credential is:

Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC); Apprentice Addiction Professional (AAP); Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC)

IC&RC-affiliated: Yes

Issuing board: Vermont Secretary of State — Office of Professional Regulation (OPR); Vermont IC&RC member board
Education requirement: ADC: bachelor's degree from an accredited program + 270 hours of substance-use-disorder education (verified). LADC: master's degree in a human-services field (verified).
Supervised hours: ADC: 4,000 hours of clinically supervised work experience (verified). LADC: 2,000 hours (secondary — confirm with OPR).
Required exam: ADC: IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor exam (verified). LADC: IC&RC Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (AADC) exam, or another exam acceptable to the OPR Director (verified).
Also accepted: IC&RC path — Vermont OPR administers the ADC using the IC&RC ADC exam (and IC&RC AADC for the LADC tier); Vermont participates in IC&RC reciprocity.

TRACK B

State clinical license

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

Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) — the master-level state license tier (vs. the ADC certificate)

Issuing board: Vermont Secretary of State — Office of Professional Regulation (OPR)

OTHER PATHS

Other SAP-eligible boards in Vermont

You do not have to be an addiction counselor. Any one of these Vermont 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 Vermont OPR — Social Workers (LICSW)

Psychologist Vermont OPR — Board of Psychological Examiners

Marriage & family therapist Vermont OPR — Board of Allied Mental Health (LCMHC and LMFT)

Physician Vermont Board of Medical Practice

THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

The federal steps are the same in every state

Once you hold a qualifying Vermont 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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