Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)

Pathway for BSW and MSW Students at the University of Montana

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or a Master of Social Work (MSW) at the University of Montana have the opportunity to seek dual licensure in social work and addiction counseling through the LAC pathway. This specialized route integrates fundamental social work courses with electives focused on Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), fulfilling the 270 course hours required for LAC candidacy licensure in Montana upon graduation from the Social Work program.

LAC Electives Coursework Overview

Addiction Studies Courses:

  • For BSW/MSW Students: SW 423, Addiction Studies, 3 cr.
  • For MSW Students Only: SW 553, Addiction Studies, 3 cr.

Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and Social Work Skills:

  • SW 426, SUDs and SW Skill Sets, 3 cr.
    (Note: SW 423 is typically a prerequisite, but consult an advisor for possible exceptions).

Motivational Interviewing:

  • SW 427, Motivational Interviewing, 2 cr.

Use and Abuse of Substances:

  • PHARM 110, Use and Abuse of Substances, 3 cr.

Gambling Addiction Education:

  • Free online self-directed Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available to fulfill the state’s requirement of 15 hours focused on Gambling. 

The Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) credential is offered to those individuals who meet the requirements of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) and the Board of Behavioral Health for licensure. The University of Montana does not grant the credential, but it offers courses that will help to meet the educational requirements of the state of Montana. This license is very valuable and helpful to social workers at both BSW and MSW levels of practice due to the knowledge and skills obtained during the education and training required for practicing in the field of addiction. Social Workers with dual licensure, as a LAC and an LBSW or LCSW, are a much-needed professional workforce. The pathway developed for UM Social Work students reflects a national trend toward building a professional workforce within higher levels of education to meet the complex needs of SUDs-impacted clients, families, and communities.

BSW and MSW LAC ADVISING PATHWAYS

BSW

MSW

The following information is provided as a way of helping students considering this credential. Students can begin the process of acquiring this credential while in school, and at graduation can apply for LAC-Candidate status. When LAC-Candidacy is approved by the Board of Behavioral Health, accumulating the hours of supervised experience required for licensure can begin. These hours cannot be acquired during school, so the social work practicum hours will not count toward the 1000 required hours, as they are post-degree only. 

Visit the MT Board of Behavioral Health LAC-Candidacy Checklist to familiarize yourself with licensure requirements.

Importance of the Licensed Addiction Counselor Credential

Because of the scope and impact of substance use disorders (SUD’s) in the overall population, and because the impact of these SUD’s is great for the individuals, their families and their communities, social workers must be knowledgeable about SUD’s and the recovery process. They need to develop skills in the areas of prevention, intervention, and social policy. The credential is essential for those wishing to work in the field of addictions, as it will often be required by agencies, and it demonstrates the social worker’s commitment to preparing themselves for effective practice in this area. Even those not planning to practice primarily in the field of SUD’s, this additional training and knowledge will be very useful in practice because of the prevalence of substance misuse and SUDs.

Reasons to Begin the Process of Licensing While Still in School

Although the actual LAC credential is only earned post degree, the coursework can completed while students are in the BSW and MSW programs. Students who are strongly interested in this credential are encouraged to learn about the requirements, plan their course of study around required courses, learn about practicum opportunities available in the field, and communicate with their advisor about their questions. Follow these guidelines as you pursue the LAC:

  1. Refer to the LAC Pathway Planning Advising grid at the top of this page, and meet with your advisor for assistance in planning a pathway the works for you.
  2. Make sure to inform your advisor of your commitment towards satisfying the LAC curriculum. This will assure you will receive LAC-related opportunities, such trainings, special events and licensure updates.
  3. Invest yourself in understanding the Board of Behavioral Health guidelines and application process. Keep all syllabi from courses you will be using to demonstrate to the Board of Behavioral Health that you have acquired the required content areas, specific to SUD skill sets, best practices and specific populations most vulnerable to the impacts of SUD’s.
  4. Ideally, your practicum should be in an agency that includes treatment for clients affected by SUD’s. Your practicum hours will not count towards your LAC-Candidacy, so this is ideal, but not required.
  5. Remember that you can also use webinars, in-service training events in your practicum or work site, and online courses from other institutions to meet hours as well. Keep all certificates of completion and attendance to prove that you have had this training.
  6. If you have not been able to take all the sample courses listed below, you can submit courses from other schools or from UM that contain similar content to the required areas.

Resources for Quality CEU’s:

The Montana Primary Care Association provides frequent trainings related to SUD’s and integrated care and treatment. They are FREE! Get on their mailing list to receive notices.

The National Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) offers a low-cost membership for students. NAADAC members can take free on-demand webinars on topics that correlate with Board of Behavioral Health requirements. Students with needs for missing curriculum may find this helpful.

Educational Requirements for the LAC in Montana

Degrees

  1. AA degree in chemical dependency / addiction studies, BSW (or related bachelor’s degree), or MSW (or related master’s degree)

Required Addiction Coursework

  1. Specific coursework taken at the University of Montana, at other universities, through approved online courses, in-service training, or webinars.
  2. The following 270 hours of coursework are required in the respective categories (subject to change pending revised requirements).
  3. Portions of various courses will provide specific numbers of hours of education in the required content areas.
  4. To compute the number of contact hours in a course, one credit equals 15 hours of contact.
  5. You can use the same course in more than one category, but the hours claimed cannot exceed the clock hours in that course.

The pages below provide a curriculum to list when applying for your LAC-Candidacy post-graduation. There is a BSW and an MSW guide.

BSW LAC-Candidate Planning Guide

BSW Courses Used to Meet State Requirements:
Approved by the Behavioral Health Licensing Board, Legal Counsel, 2018. Revised to reflect legislative changes in 2021, updated 2024

Addiction Course Content

Contact Hours Required

UM SW Courses Which Can Meet the State Requirements in Some Combination

Chemical dependency assessment and patient placement (must include chemical dependency assessment, biopsychosocial testing, diagnosis, referrals, and patient placement)

60 Hours

SW 423 Addiction Studies (10)

SW 426 SUD’s and SW: Skill Sets (15)

SW 200 Intro to SW Practice (5)

SW 300 HBSE (10)

SW 350 SW Intervention Methods I (10)

SW 360 SW Intervention Methods II (10)

(60 hours total)

Counseling

90 Hours

SW 200 Intro to SW Practice (10)

SW 350 SW Intervention Methods I (10)

 SW 360 SW Intervention Methods II (15)

SW 423 Addiction Studies (10)

SW 427 Motivational Interviewing (30)

SW 486,487 Advanced Practice Class (15

(90 total)

Pharmacology (must include drug classification, effects, detoxification and withdrawal)

15 Hours

PHARM 110 Use and Abuse of Drugs (15)

or

CAS 231 (15) Missoula College

(15 hours total)

Ethics (ethics for addiction counselors)

15 Hours

SW 410 Social Work Ethics (10)

SW 426 SUD’s and SW: Skill Sets (5)

Alcohol and drug studies

30 Hour

SW 423 Addiction Studies (15)

PHARM 110 or CAS 231, Use and Abuse of Drugs (15)

(30 hours total)

Treatment planning and documentation

30 Hours

SW 423 Addiction Studies (5)

SW 426 SUD’s and SW: Skill Sets (10)

SW 350 SW Intervention Methods I (10)

SW 360 SW Intervention Methods II (5)

(30 hours total)

Multicultural competency (knowledge of and sensitive to the cultural factors and needs of diverse populations and demonstrate competency in applying culturally relevant skills)

15 Hours

SW 464 Cultural Humility in SW: Valuing Diversity (10)

SW 495 SUD’s and SW Skill Sets (5)

(15 hours total)

Co-occurring disorders

15 Hours

Undergraduate Abnormal Psychology

or

SW 423 Addiction Studies (5)

SW 491 SUD’s and Skill Sets (10)

(15 hours total)

Gambling / gaming disorder assessment and counseling

15 hours

15 hours CEUs, 

UMSSW Self-directed curriculum

MSW LAC Planning Guide

MSW Courses Used to Meet State Requirements:
Approved by the Behavioral Health Licensing Board, Legal Counsel, October, 2018

Revised for hours required, updated post 2021 Legislative Session changes, July 2022

NOTE: Undergraduate courses which fit the course content below may also be presented for approval. 

Addiction Course Content

Contact Hours Required

UM SW Courses Which Meet the State Requirements, some variation may be accepted

Chemical dependency assessment and patient placement (must include chemical dependency assessment, biopsychosocial testing, diagnosis, referrals, and patient placement)

60 Hours

SW 515 Individuals/Families (15)

SW 511 HBSE (10)

SW 535 Advanced Integrated Practice (10)

SW 553 Addictions or SW 423 (10)

SW 426: SUD’s and SW: Skill Sets (15)

(60 hours total)

Counseling

90 Hours

SW 427 Motivational Interviewing (30)

SW 505 Foundations of SW Practice (15)

SW 515 Practice with Individuals and Families (5)

SW 525 Practice with Groups and Communities (10)

SW 535 Advanced SW Practice (10)

SW 576, 577 Integrated Seminar (10)

SW 578, 579 Advanced Seminar (10)

(90 total)

Pharmacology (must include drug classification, effects, detoxification and withdrawal)

15 Hours

PHARM 110 Use and Abuse of Drugs (15)

Ethics (ethics for addiction counselors)

15 Hours

SW 426 SUD’s and SW: Skill Sets (5)

SW 515 Practice with Individuals and Families (5)

SW 535 Advanced Integrated Practice (5)

(15 hours total)

Alcohol and drug studies

30 Hours

SW 553 Addictions or SW 423 (15)

PHARM 110 Use and Abuse of Drugs (15)

(30 hours total)

Treatment planning and documentation

30 Hours

SW 515 Individuals/Families (10)

SW 426 SUD’s and SW: Skill Sets (10 )

SW 535 Advanced Integrated Practice (5)

SW 553 or SW 423, Addictions (5)

(30 hours total)

Multicultural competency (knowledge of and sensitive to the cultural factors and needs of diverse populations and demonstrate competency in applying culturally relevant skills)

15 Hours

SW 505 Foundations of SW Practice (5)

SW 530 History SW / Social Justice (5)

SW 426 SUD’s and SW: Skill Sets (5)

(15 hours total)

Co-occurring disorders

15 Hours

SW 411 HBSE (5)

SW 426 SUD’s and SW: Skill Sets (5)

SW 553 or SW 423 Addictions (5)

or

Undergraduate/Graduate Psychopathology (15)

(15 hours total)

Gambling / gaming disorder assessment and counseling

15 hours

Self-Directed CEU’s provided online, UM Online, UMSSW

(15 hours total)

 Post-Degree Supervised Work Experience

  1. 1000 hours of supervised post-degree work experience in an approved addiction treatment setting
  2. Supervisors must meet the requirements of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.
  3. Supervisors must provide 80 hours of direct supervision.
  4. Supervision must be provided in DLI-specified areas of practice, found on the LAC-Candidate checklist website.
  5. Work experience must be obtained in no more than 2 settings and within a specified period of time.
  6. All educational requirements must be met prior to acquiring the hours of work experience. This includes one of the required degrees and all of the required coursework.

An application to the DLI for the Licensed Addiction Counselor-Candidate status can be made upon completion of the educational requirements. Approval of the LAC -Candidate status allows individuals to begin accumulating the required hours of supervised work experience.

MSW Student LAC Planning Guide

MSW Courses Used to Meet State Requirements:
Approved by the Behavioral Health Licensing Board, Legal Counsel, October, 2018

NOTE: Undergraduate courses which fit the course content below may also be presented for approval. 

Addiction Course Content

Contact Hours Required

UM SW Courses Which Can Meet the State Requirements in Some Combination

Chemical dependency assessment and patient placement (must include chemical dependency assessment, biopsychosocial testing, diagnosis, referrals, and patient placement)

60 Hours

SW 515 Individuals/Families (15)

SW 511 HBSE (10)

SW 535 Advanced Integrated Practice (10)

SW 553 Addictions or SW 423 (10)

SW 491: SUD’s and SW: Skill Sets (15)

(60 hours total)

Counseling

90 Hours

SW 595 Motivational Interviewing (30)

SW 550 Theories of Counseling (45)

SW 576,577 Integrated Seminar (10) in a SUD clinical practicum setting

SW 578,579 Integrated Seminar (10) in a SUD clinical practicum setting

(90 total)

Pharmacology (must include drug classification, effects, detoxification and withdrawal)

30 Hours

PHARM 110 Use and Abuse of Drugs (30)

Ethics (ethics for addiction counselors)

15 Hours

SW 491 SUD’s and SW: Skill Sets (5)

SW 535 Advanced Integrated Practice (5)

SW 530 History SW / Social Justice (5)

(15 hours total)

Alcohol and drug studies

30 Hours

SW 553 Addictions or SW 423 (15)

PHARM 110 Use and Abuse of Drugs (15)

(30 hours total)

Treatment planning and documentation

30 Hours

SW 515 Individuals/Families (10)

SW 491 SUD’s and SW: Skill Sets (10 SW 535 Advanced Integrated Practice (5)

SW 553 or SW 423, Addictions (5)

(30 hours total)

Multicultural competency (knowledge of and sensitive to the cultural factors and needs of diverse populations and demonstrate competency in applying culturally relevant skills)

15 Hours

SW 530 History SW / Social Justice (5)

SW 553 or SW 423, Addictions (5)

SW 491 SUD’s and SW: Skill Sets (5)

(15 hours total)

Co-occurring disorders

30 Hours

SW 411 HBSE (5)

SW 491 SUD’s and SW: Skill Sets (5)

SW 553 or SW 423 Addictions (5)

SW 552 Psychopathology (15)

(30 hours total)

Gambling / gaming disorder assessment and counseling

30 hours

(15 additional hours required in addition to the courses in the column to the right)

SW 553 or SW 423 Addictions (5)

SW 552 Psychopathology (5)

SW 491 SUD’s and SW: Skill Sets (5)

(15 hours total)


Course

College or University

Course#

Course Title

Semester or Quarter Hours Earned

Addiction Studies

UM

SW 596

MSW Independent Study: T.A. SW 423, Special Topics in Addictions

1-3 (Varies)

Human Behavior, Sociology, Psychology or Similar emphasis (6 semester credits or 9 quarter credits= 90 hours)

U of Montana

SW 300

PSYX 100

SOCI 100

Human Behavior in the Social Environment

Intro to Psych

Intro to Sociology

3 credits (45 hours)

3 credits (45 hours)

3 credits (45 hours)

Psychopathology or coursework exploring patterns and courses of abnormal or deviant behavior (3 semester credits or 4.5 quarter credits = 45 hours)

U of Montana

PSYX 340

Abnormal Psychology

3 credits (45 hours)

Group counseling (6 semester credits or 9 quarter credits =90 hours)

U of Montana

SW 360

SW486,87

Social Work Intervention Methods II

SW Advance Practice

4 credits (60 hours)

2 credits (4 credits per semester)

Theory of counseling (3 semester credits of 4.5 quarter credits= 45 hours)

U of Montana

SW 300

SW 350

SW 360

Social Work
HBSE Intervention Methods I

Social Work Intervention Methods II

3 credits (45 hours) 3 credits

4 credits (60 hours)

(3) Supervised Work Experience

  1. 1000 hours of supervised post-degree work experience in an approved addiction treatment setting
  2. Supervisors must meet the requirements of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.
  3. Supervisors must provide 80 hours of direct supervision.
  4. Supervision must be provided in DLI-specified areas of practice, found on the LAC website.
  5. Work experience must be obtained in no more than 2 settings and within a specified period of time.
  6. All educational requirements must be met prior to acquiring the hours of work experience. This includes one of the required degrees and all of the required coursework.
  7. An application to the DLI for the Licensed Addiction Counselor Eligible (LACE) status can be made upon completion of the educational requirements. Approval of the LACE status allows individuals to begin accumulating the required hours of supervised work experience.