BY STATE · ARIZONA · 49 CFR §40.281
How to Become a DOT SAP in Arizona
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 Arizona 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 Arizona that credential is:
CAC / CADAC (Certified Addiction Counselor / Certified Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor)
IC&RC-affiliated: Yes- Education requirement
- CAC: high school diploma or GED plus 200 hours of addiction/behavioral-sciences training. CADAC: bachelor’s degree plus 200 hours (90 in addiction, 90 in counseling). (per abcac.org/initial-certification)
- Supervised hours
- CAC: 4,000 supervised work-experience hours (2 years) with 300 hours of direct supervision. CADAC: 6,000 hours (3 years). (per abcac.org/initial-certification)
- Required exam
- IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination
- Also accepted
- NAADAC home-study qualification course + exam is also accepted by DOT directly (national path).
TRACK B
State clinical license
Arizona also issues a clinical license that qualifies on its own under §40.281(a).
LSAT / LASAC / LISAC (Licensed [Substance Abuse Technician / Associate / Independent] Substance Abuse Counselor)
- Issuing board
- Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (AZBBHE)
OTHER PATHS
Other SAP-eligible boards in Arizona
You do not have to be an addiction counselor. Any one of these Arizona 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.
THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS
The federal steps are the same in every state
Once you hold a qualifying Arizona 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
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/40.281
- https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/SAP_Certification_Organizations
- https://www.abcac.org/
- https://www.abcac.org/initial-certification
- https://azbbhe.us/
- https://psychboard.az.gov/
- https://www.azmd.gov/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-06
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