A Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor is an American credential for practitioners who specialise specifically in substance use treatment, sitting at a different level from a fully licensed clinical credential such as an LCSW or LPC.
A specialist certification, not a full clinical licence
Requirements vary by state but generally involve a defined number of training hours, supervised clinical experience specifically within addiction services, and an examination. Because it is a specialist certification rather than a full clinical licence, many CADCs work as part of a wider treatment team rather than practising entirely independently, often alongside more broadly licensed clinicians.
How addiction work is organised in the UK
This credential is American and does not apply to UK practice. In the UK, addiction work is instead delivered by registered therapists with addiction specialism, mental health nurses working in this area, and specialist drug and alcohol services, rather than through a standalone certification equivalent to the CADC.