1.3 Minimum Standards and Eligibility Boundaries

Minimum standards are a floor, not every local rule

The IC&RC credential page gives minimum standards for the Alcohol and Drug Counselor credential. These standards help candidates understand the baseline structure, but they are not a substitute for local board rules. Member Boards may add local requirements or define documentation procedures.

Experience requirements depend on education level. The source brief lists 6,000 supervised ADC-domain hours with a high school diploma or equivalent, 5,000 with a related associate degree, 4,000 with a related bachelor's degree, and 2,000 with a related master's degree or higher.

Education and supervision have their own minimums. The ADC minimum education standard includes a high school diploma or jurisdictional equivalent and 300 hours of ADC-domain education, including 6 hours in counselor ethics and responsibilities. Supervision ranges from 300 to 100 ADC-domain hours depending on education level, with at least 10 hours in each domain.

The credential page also identifies a jurisdiction rule in the source brief: applicants must live or work at least 51% of the time in the Member Board's jurisdiction at application and testing. Recertification minimum standards include 40 hours of continuing education every two years. Local board renewal processes still control the details candidates must follow.

Scenario guidance: Devon has a related bachelor's degree and asks if the master's-level hour requirement applies. The correct approach is to match Devon's education level to the IC&RC minimum table, then confirm whether the board has additional rules. In an exam scenario, choose the answer that uses the minimum standard carefully and checks board authority.

Exam trap: do not memorize one number as the experience requirement for every ADC candidate. The hour requirement changes by education level, and local boards may add requirements. An answer saying all candidates universally need 6,000 hours is too broad because higher related degrees lower the IC&RC minimum.

Another trap is ignoring domain distribution in supervision. The source brief says supervised ADC-domain hours must include a minimum 10 hours in each domain. That reflects the broad competency model: science, assessment, treatment and referral, and professional responsibilities all matter.

Use minimum standards as a readiness map. Track education, experience, supervision, ethics, examination, jurisdiction, and recertification as separate rows. If one row is uncertain, do not fill the gap with assumption. Ask the board and document the answer.