BY STATE · WASHINGTON · 49 CFR §40.281

How to Become a DOT SAP in Washington

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 Washington 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 Washington that credential is:

Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP); trainee tier SUDPT

IC&RC-affiliated: No

Issuing board: Washington State Department of Health (state agency — NOT an IC&RC member board)
Education requirement: Associate degree in human services/related field OR 90 quarter (60 semester) college credits, of which ≥45 quarter (30 semester) credits are SUD-specific per WAC 246-811-030 (verified WA DOH).
Supervised hours: Supervised SUD counseling hours by degree level — 2,500 (associate/qualifying coursework), 2,000 (bachelor), 1,500 (master/doctoral), 1,000 (licensed alternative professionals); ~850 hours are specified clinical activities (verified WA DOH).
Required exam: NAADAC exam at NCAC I level or higher, OR IC&RC exam at level 2 or higher (ADC or AADC) (verified WA DOH).
Also accepted: State-agency credential. WA DOH accepts a NAADAC exam (NCAC I or higher) OR an IC&RC exam (level 2 / ADC or higher), so an SUDP satisfies DOT §40.281(a) via the NAADAC or IC&RC route.

TRACK B

State clinical license

Washington's addiction credential is the SUDP, issued directly by WA DOH — NOT IC&RC (icrc_affiliated=false) — but it requires a NAADAC (NCAC I+) or IC&RC (level 2+) exam, which satisfies DOT §40.281.

OTHER PATHS

Other SAP-eligible boards in Washington

You do not have to be an addiction counselor. Any one of these Washington 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 Washington DOH — Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)

Psychologist Washington DOH — Examining Board of Psychology

Marriage & family therapist Washington DOH — Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

Physician Washington Medical Commission

THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

The federal steps are the same in every state

Once you hold a qualifying Washington 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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