Indiana LAC Requirements & Hours Tracker

Indiana’s Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) credential is a bachelor‑level license regulated by the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA) and the Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board under Indiana Code 25‑23.6‑10.5. The board’s rules focus on three main components:

1. An approved bachelor’s degree
2. A 350‑hour supervised addiction counseling practicum
3. Two years of post‑degree addiction counseling experience that includes 150 hours of clinical supervision

Notably, Indiana does not require “1,500 hours of direct experience and 1,500 hours of supervised experience” for the LAC. Instead, the requirements are expressed in years plus specifically defined supervision and practicum hours.

Below is a step‑by‑step outline of the LAC path, emphasizing the types of hours and the board’s own wording.

---

1. Educational foundation: bachelor’s degree

To qualify for an LAC, you must hold a bachelor’s degree in addiction counseling or a related area approved by the board.

The BHHS Licensing Information page states that applicants for an addiction counselor license must have:

“a baccalaureate in addiction counseling or in a related area as determined by the board from an eligible postsecondary educational institution…” (in.gov)

Key points:

• Degree level: baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree
• Major: addiction counseling or a related area the board deems acceptable
• Source: An “eligible postsecondary educational institution” meeting board requirements
• Education must be completed via academic coursework; “certifications cannot be used to meet educational requirements.” (in.gov)

---

2. Required practicum / internship hours (pre‑ or during degree)

Indiana requires a supervised practicum, internship, or field experience in an addiction counseling setting. For both the LACA (associate) and LAC applications, the board uses the same practicum requirement (Form P).

The board’s instructions say applicants must:

“complete at least one (1) supervised practicum, internship, or field experience in an addiction counseling setting that requires the applicant to provide at least three hundred fifty (350) hours of addiction counseling services.” (in.gov)

What this means in practice:

• Total practicum hours:
  • 350 hours of addiction counseling services
• Nature of the hours:
  • Hours must be “primarily in the provision of direct addiction counseling services” and may include “knowledge, skill, or experience derived from direct observations of, and participation in, the practice of addiction counseling.” (in.gov)
• Supervised setting:
  • Experience must be “supervised practicum, internship, or field experience” under a supervisor practicing within their scope and holding an active license (addiction counselor, clinical addiction counselor, mental health counselor, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, physician with psychiatric training, psychologist, clinical psychiatric/mental health nurse specialist, or another state‑regulated addiction counseling/behavioral health professional of equivalent status). (in.gov)
• Supervisor’s experience:
  • For this practicum, the supervisor must have at least three (3) years of experience providing addiction services. (in.gov)

You document this requirement on Form P – Verification of Practicum.

---

3. Addiction Counselor Associate (LACA) license

Indiana expects you to obtain post‑degree experience under an associate license before applying for full LAC.

The LAC application section explicitly states it is:

“For Applicants who have graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Addictions focused education, and have obtained post-degree experience and supervision under an Associate license.” (in.gov)

Typical sequence:

1. Complete the bachelor’s degree and practicum.
2. Apply for the Addiction Counselor Associate (LACA) license.
3. Work and accrue post‑degree supervised experience as a LACA.
4. Then apply to upgrade to LAC once experience and supervision requirements are met.

The LACA itself requires the 350‑hour practicum and passing a national exam (ADC or Level II) if you are applying by exam rather than by endorsement. (in.gov)

---

4. Post‑degree “addiction counseling experience” for LAC

4.1. Required duration of experience

Indiana law (IC 25‑23.6‑10.5‑7) provides that an LAC applicant must have:

“at least two (2) years of addiction counseling experience that must include at least one hundred fifty (150) hours under supervision…” (law.justia.com)

The board’s rule for LACs (839 IAC 1‑5.5‑2) clarifies what “two years of addiction counseling experience” means:

“‘two (2) years of addiction counseling experience that must include at least one hundred fifty (150) hours under supervision’ means experience under approved supervision, acquired over not less than twenty-one (21) months and over not more than forty-eight (48) months, at any time subsequent to the date… all requirements for the baccalaureate degree have been completed.” (law.cornell.edu)

In other words:

• Experience period:
  • At least 2 years of addiction counseling experience
  • Must be accumulated over no less than 21 months and no more than 48 months
• Timing:
  • Experience must be gained after the bachelor’s degree has been completed.
• Setting restrictions:
  • Work cannot be done off the supervisor’s premises if:
    • It is independent private practice and
    • It is not performed where a qualified supervisor is present. (in.gov)

Important:
The board and rules do not specify a fixed numeric total of “experience hours” (e.g., 3,000 or 1,500 hours). Instead, they define the requirement in terms of years/months of work under supervision, plus a fixed number of supervision hours (150).

You document this experience on Form E2 – Verification of Experience, which states that applicants must have “at least two (2) years of addiction counseling supervised experience completed no less than 21 months and no more than 48 months.” (in.gov)

---

5. Required clinical supervision hours within that experience

Separate from general “experience” time, Indiana requires a specific quantity and type of supervision hours.

The LAC instructions (Form S2) require:

“at least two (2) years of addiction counseling supervision completed no less than 21 months and no more than 48 months. This supervision must include at least one hundred fifty (150) hours under supervision, one hundred (100) hours of which must be under individual supervision and fifty (50) hours of which must be under group supervision under a qualified supervisor.” (in.gov)

Statute IC 25‑23.6‑10.5‑7 matches this framework (150 total hours supervision). (law.justia.com)

Summarized supervision requirement:

• Total supervision:
  • 150 hours of clinical supervision
• Breakdown:
  • 100 hours of individual supervision
  • 50 hours of group supervision
• Timeframe:
  • Supervision completed over no less than 21 months and no more than 48 months, concurrent with your two years of experience.
• Who qualifies as a supervisor:
  • A “qualified supervisor” for LAC experience is defined by rule as someone supervising within their scope and holding an active license as:
    • Clinical addiction counselor (LCAC)
    • Clinical social worker
    • Marriage and family therapist
    • Physician with training in psychiatric medicine
    • Psychologist
    • Clinical nurse specialist in psychiatric or mental health nursing
    • Or another state‑regulated addiction counseling professional (or equivalent, if in a state without regulation)
      with **at least five (5) years of experience in addictions counseling. (in.gov)

These 150 hours are supervision sessions, not direct client contact. They occur during, and are part of, your two‑year experience period.

---

6. Background check and ethics/fitness disclosures

As part of the LAC application, the board requires:

• Criminal Background Check (in.gov)
• Positive Response Documentation if you answer “Yes” to any background or disciplinary questions; you must supply detailed written explanations and court documents where applicable. (in.gov)

These are standard licensure fitness requirements and apply both at the LACA stage and the LAC upgrade.

---

7. National examination requirement

To be licensed as an addiction counselor (LAC), you must pass one of the board‑approved national exams.

The BHHS Licensing FAQ explains:

“To obtain an addictions license in Indiana you must take and pass one of the national exams.” (in.gov)

The board has adopted:

• The Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ADC) exam administered by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC)
• The National Certified Addiction Counselor – Level II (NCAC‑II) exam administered by NAADAC/NCC AP (in.gov)

The LAC application checklist lists:

• “ADC or Level II Examination” among required items. (in.gov)

After you complete your exam, you must have the testing agency send an official score report directly to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. (in.gov)

---

8. Final LAC application package

Once you have:

• The qualifying bachelor’s degree
• The 350‑hour practicum
• The two years of post‑degree addiction counseling experience under approved supervision (21–48 months)
• The 150 hours of required supervision (100 individual, 50 group)
• A passing score on an approved national exam

you submit the LAC application through IPLA with the following elements (summarized from the board’s checklist): (in.gov)

• Online Completed Application
• Application fee of $50 (nonrefundable)
• Criminal Background Check
• Positive Response Documentation (if applicable)
• Name Change Documentation (if applicable)
• Official transcripts for your bachelor’s degree
• Form C – Verification of Coursework
• Form P – Verification of Practicum (350 hours of addiction counseling services)
• Form E2 – Verification of Experience (two years of supervised addiction counseling experience, 21–48 months)
• Form S2 – Verification of Supervision (150 hours total; 100 individual, 50 group)
• License Verification from any other state(s), if you hold other licenses
• Official Exam Score Report (ADC or NCAC‑II/Level II)

If any experience or supervision took place outside Indiana, your supervisors still must meet Indiana’s definition of “qualified supervisor,” or be of equivalent status in a state that lacks regulation. (in.gov)

---

9. Hour‑related requirements at a glance (LAC only)

Type of Requirement	Amount / Structure	When It Occurs	Key Board / Rule Language
Practicum / internship addiction counseling hours	350 hours of addiction counseling services in a supervised practicum, internship, or field experience	During bachelor’s program (or documented equivalent)	Applicant must complete “at least… three hundred fifty (350) hours of addiction counseling services” in a supervised addiction counseling setting. (in.gov)
Post‑degree addiction counseling experience	Two (2) years of addiction counseling experience under approved supervision, over 21–48 months	After bachelor’s degree, typically while licensed as LACA	“‘Two (2) years of addiction counseling experience that must include at least one hundred fifty (150) hours under supervision’ means experience under approved supervision, acquired over not less than twenty-one (21) months and over not more than forty-eight (48) months…” (law.cornell.edu)
Supervision hours within that experience	150 hours total: 100 hours individual supervision + 50 hours group supervision	During the 2‑year experience period	“This supervision must include at least one hundred fifty (150) hours under supervision, one hundred (100) hours of which must be under individual supervision and fifty (50) hours… under group supervision under a qualified supervisor.” (in.gov)
Supervisor qualification (experience)	Minimum 5 years of addictions counseling experience	For post‑degree supervision	Qualified supervisor must be in specified licensed professions “with at least five (5) years of experience in addictions counseling.” (in.gov)

---

10. How this differs from “1,500 / 1,500 hours” models

Some states and some other Indiana licenses (for example, certain social work levels) define experience by total clock hours, such as 1,500 or 3,000 hours, and sometimes split those into “direct client contact” vs. “supervised” hours.

For the Indiana LAC, the governing statute and board rules instead:

• Define post‑degree work as “two (2) years of addiction counseling experience”, interpreted as 21–48 months of supervised work after the bachelor’s degree; and
• Specify 150 hours of clinical supervision (100 individual, 50 group) within that period;
• Require a 350‑hour practicum of addiction counseling services.

They do not currently specify that you must document something like “1,500 hours of direct experience and 1,500 hours of supervised experience” for the LAC. (in.gov)

Because licensure regulations can change, it is wise to check the Indiana BHHS Licensing Information page and the latest version of 839 IAC 1‑5.5 and IC 25‑23.6‑10.5 shortly before you apply, but as of the most recent updates, the hour‑related requirements for an Indiana LAC are as outlined above.