Out-of-State Applicants

Washington State welcomes out-of-state applicants wishing to obtain credentials in Washington State to provide substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and counseling services. This page provides a basic overview of the reciprocity pathways and eligible credentials for out-of-state applicants.

Important Note:

Applicants who hold a national certification from one of the following organizations are considered to have met Washington State’s education, experience, and examination requirements for full Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP) certification:

  • National Certified Addiction Counselor (NAADAC), Level I (NCAC-I) or higher
  • International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC)
    • Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC), or
    • Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC)

Please review RCW 18.130.077 to learn about the licensure requirements waiver for out-of-state nationally certified applicants. 

Washington State has three primary options for SUDP certification:

SUDP Trainee*

Allows credential holders to earn supervised experience while working under an approved SUDP supervisor. SUDPTs must be actively working to obtain necessary experience and required education to maintain their credential, and all documentation must be signed off by an approved SUDP supervisor. Additional supervision requirements are also necessary.

* These descriptions are intended to provide a summary of basic credential requirements and do not provide detailed requirements. Interested applicants should review the full requirements listed in chapter 246-811 WAC and, if necessary, contact the program manager for questions specific to their situation.

SUDP Probationary Credential*

Allows qualified out-of-state applicants (see “Reciprocity Program” below) to work with the full scope of practice as an SUDP in Washington State while the department evaluates differences in the licensing standards of their credential’s state of origin. Most often, applicants in this category require additional review of academic transcripts to identify equivalency with SUDP education standards outlined in WAC 246-811-030. Applicants under the probationary pathway are not required to complete the examination if deficient. The probationary credential may only be renewed once, giving the applicant 1-2 years to meet full SUDP certification requirements.

* These descriptions are intended to provide a summary of basic credential requirements and do not provide detailed requirements. Interested applicants should review the full requirements listed in chapter 246-811 WAC and, if necessary, contact the program manager for questions specific to their situation.

SUDP*

Allows the credential holder to practice independently at the full scope of an SUDP in Washington State, in both private practice and state-regulated facilities. 

* These descriptions are intended to provide a summary of basic credential requirements and do not provide detailed requirements. Interested applicants should review the full requirements listed in chapter 246-811 WAC and, if necessary, contact the program manager for questions specific to their situation.

Licensure Reciprocity Program/Probationary Licensure

Scope of Practice Analysis – Probationary Certification

This certification pathway evaluates out-of-state addiction counseling credentials by their scope of practice. Qualifying credentials are evaluated to be equivalent in scope of practice with the SUDP scope of practice in Washington State. Scope of practice for SUDPs in Washington is defined in 18.205.020 RCW as the provision of "substance use disorder counseling," which means “employing the core competencies of substance use disorder counseling to assist or attempt to assist individuals with substance use disorder in their recovery.” The core competencies of substance use disorder counseling are defined as “competency in the nationally recognized knowledge, skills, and attitudes of professional practice, including assessment and diagnosis of substance use disorders, substance use disorder treatment planning and referral, patient and family education in the disease of substance use disorders, individual and group counseling, relapse prevention counseling, and case management, all oriented to assist individuals with substance use disorder in their recovery.”

The completed analysis identifies 42 states as having an equivalent and/or greater scope of practice to Washington. The following eight states’ scopes of practice were deemed not to be substantially equivalent to Washington:

  1. Utah
  2. Delaware
  3. Kentucky
  4. Maryland
  5. Mississippi
  6. New Jersey
  7. North Dakota
  8. Vermont

The analysis of scopes of practice is based strictly on statutory and rules language of each state. Differing states may refer to substance use practitioners by various titles; however, the assessment is based on the practice of substance use and/or chemical dependency counseling as defined in statute and rule for each state. Applicants with a qualifying credential under the scope of practice evaluation may apply for the SUDP Probationary credential.

Substantial Equivalency

Qualifications

Washington State offers licensure for applicants licensed in another state with comparable licensing standards. This process allows qualified professionals to obtain Washington credentials without repeating education or exams already completed in another state.

As of July 23, 2023, new criteria established under RCW 18.130.077 apply to out-of-state applicants seeking initial licensure in Washington. These criteria are specific to initial licensure and do not necessarily apply to licensure by endorsement.

To qualify under this law, you must:

  • Hold a current license in a state that is considered substantially equivalent to Washington (see list below),
  • Have been licensed in that state for at least two years, and
  • Have no history of disciplinary action on your license.

Universal Licensure

Eligibility Criteria

If you are licensed in a state considered substantially equivalent, your application will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Being from a substantially equivalent state does not automatically guarantee eligibility. Additionally, if you have ever been licensed in a universal licensure state, you may not qualify under this pathway. Please review the information below to better understand how universal licensure may affect your eligibility.

What is Universal Licensure? 

  • Universal licensure allows some states to issue licenses to professionals even if they do not meet all of that state’s standard education or examination requirements. 
  • Under SHB 1724, Washington requires that the original state where you were first licensed meets our substantial equivalency standards. 
  • For example, if you were initially licensed in a non-equivalent state and later obtained a license in a universal licensure state, you may not meet Washington’s eligibility criteria under the new law. 
  • Washington evaluates where you were first licensed. If your initial license was granted by a state with lesser requirements, even if you currently hold a license from a substantially equivalent state, you may not qualify under this pathway. 

The following states have adopted universal licensure policies: 

  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • Idaho
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Utah

Please Note: This list may change as more states adopt or modify universal licensure policies. 

Please select your state below and review the results. These results will help determine which out-of-state credentialing pathway you are eligible to apply for.

  • If your credential is eligible only under the "Reciprocity" search, apply for the Probationary credential AND the full SUDP credential.  
  • If your credential is evaluated to be Substantially Equivalent, apply for the full SUDP credential.

Check if your state's credentials are valid in Washington