Washington State Drug & Alcohol Counselor Training & Certification

Drug and alcohol counselors in Washington State are required to hold a minimum of an Associate's Degree in Human Services. Equivalency for certifications in other states is available. 850 hours of counseling experience is also required.

Chemical Dependency Professional

• This Washington State program is available through community colleges in Washington. The use of the CDP title is prohibited outside Washington treatment programs.

Requirements

• A Chemical Dependency Professional must pass a national exam. Ninety quarter credit hours or sixty semester credit hours from an approved WA school with a chemical dependency counseling program are also required. See an academic counselor for equivalency information for AA, BA, MA, or Ph.D degrees.

Trainings

• The Washington CDP certification involves face-to-face hours in a clinical setting to complete the certification program. The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute at the University of Washington provides graduate research in addiction counseling.