How to Become an Addiction Counselor in Florida

Florida's addiction counselor credentials are issued by the Florida Certification Board (FCB), the state-recognized certifying body. The FCB administers a tiered structure from entry-level roles through CAC and CAP, with the CAP as the advanced tier and MCAP as the master's-level tier.

Credential tiers

• CAC (Certified Addiction Counselor) — FCB-approved education, supervised work experience, and written exam.
• CAP (Certified Addiction Professional) — bachelor's degree, additional supervised experience, and the advanced exam.
• MCAP (Master's-Level CAP) — master's degree in a behavioral-health field with supervised experience and examination.

Adjacent licenses

LMHC is a separate state license issued by the Florida Department of Health's Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling. It is a different pathway from the FCB addiction credentials.

What this page is not

A structural reference. Not career advice. Not a substitute for the exact hour totals and application forms published by the FCB.