Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska
University of Nebraska Medical Center
University of Nebraska Medical Center

The Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor Workforce in Nebraska: 2020 to 2025

Purpose

This data snapshot includes information about the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) workforce in Nebraska from 2020 to 2025. LADCs evaluate individuals for substance use disorders, assess openness to treatment, develop treatment goals, recommend treatment options and help clients develop skills to recover from substance use disorders. They also assist and teach families about substance use disorders and refer clients to community resources.

Key Takeaways

  1. The Nebraska LADC workforce grew 13% from 2020 to 2025.
  2. The number of LADCs increased in 4 of the 6 Nebraska behavioral health regions, including 2 largely rural regions, and declined in 2 of the 6 Regions (both rural).
  3. The number of LADCs per 100,000 residents exceeds the national average in both urban and rural areas.
  4. The largest growth is seen in the 46-55 age group, possibly suggesting individuals pursuing second careers as licensed alcohol and drug counselors.

LADC Training Programs

To obtain a provisional LADC license in Nebraska, students typically complete 300 hours of practical training and 8 courses totaling 270 clock hours. Eight education programs in the state have DHHS pre-approved coursework which meets the 270-hour requirement : Chadron State College and Western Nebraska Community College (Region 1), Central Community College and UNK (Region 3), Northeast Community College (Region 4), Peru State College and Southeast Community College (Region 5), and Bellevue University (Region 6).


There also are alternative educational pathways that meet DHHS course requirements for the provisional LADC license. One example is the Union Adventist College’s (Region 5) Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. This program offers a pre-licensed alcohol and drug counseling emphasis which includes 5 DHHS pre-approved courses. Additionally, programs at Wayne State College (Region 4) and the University of Nebraska Omaha (Region 6) enable mental health practitioners to earn a provisional LADC license. Individuals who are enrolled in graduate programs that prepare them for licensure as a provisionally licensed mental health practitioner or other qualifying mental health credential are eligible for these programs, as are those who already are provisionally or fully licensed mental health practitioners. These programs include 3 DHHS pre-approved courses.

Supervised paid clinical work experience in alcohol and drug counseling is required to move to full licensure. The amount varies based on education level. Individuals with a high school diploma or GED must complete the most supervised paid clinical work (6,000 hours), followed by those with an Associate’s degree (5,000 hours), Bachelor’s degree (4,000 hours), and Master’s degree (2,000 hours).

Regional Trends

The number of licensed LADCs practicing in Nebraska increased 13% from 2020 to 2025 (from 534 to 605). The number of LADCs increased in Nebraska behavioral health Regions 1, 4, 5, and 6, and decreased in Regions 2 and 3 (see Figure 1).

Figure showing the number of LADCs practicing in Nebraska by behavioral health region, 2020-2025.

Rural and Urban Distribution of LADCs

The number of LADCs per 100,000 residents in both urban and rural areas increased in 2025. However, rural areas still have fewer LADCs per 100,000 population compared to urban areas (see Figure 2). At 25+ LADCs per 100,000 population, Nebraska counties (both urban and rural) exceed the national average of 20 LADCs per 100,000 population. LADCs remain the profession closest to parity in supply between urban and rural areas in Nebraska.

Figure showing the number of LADCs per 100,000 residents in the state, urban, and rural areas in 2020-2025.

Age of LADCs

Compared to 2020, the number of LADCs in all age categories has remained flat or fallen slightly except those in mid-career (ages 46-55). This age group has grown over that same period (see Figure 3). This may suggest an influx of individuals pursuing second careers.

Figure showing the age distribution of LADCs in Nebraska in 2020 & 2025.

 

Conclusions

The LADC workforce in Nebraska has grown since 2020, with 4 of the 6 Nebraska behavioral health regions increasing in number, including in rural areas. The availability of LADCs remains higher in urban areas compared to rural areas, though the number of providers per 100,000 residents exceeds the national average. Nearly every behavioral health region in the state offers educational opportunities to become a licensed LADC. The greatest growth is in the 46-55 age group, suggesting possible second careers for these individuals. Overall, these findings highlight positive changes in the Nebraska LADC workforce along with the need for continued efforts to ensure the number of LADCs remains sufficient to meet the needs of Nebraska residents.

 

Suggested citation:

Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska. (2026). The Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor Workforce in Nebraska: 2020 to 2025.

Footnotes

[1] BHECN analyzes data provided by the Health Professions Tracking Service (HPTS) to determine the number and type of licensed behavioral health professionals practicing in Nebraska. HPTS receives monthly licensure information from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Licensure data does not include practice location, and an active license does not necessarily indicate that a provider is currently practicing in Nebraska, as providers may maintain a license after moving or practicing in another state, leaving clinical practice, or retiring. To address these gaps in the licensure data, HPTS also sends annual surveys to all licensed behavioral health care providers that ask about practice location(s) and provider and patient demographic characteristics. BHECN continually reviews and refines its data collection procedures and verification protocols to increase provider engagement. While this approach may yield more conservative estimates than licensure counts alone, it provides a more realistic picture of the workforce available to deliver behavioral health services in Nebraska.

[2] Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. (2025). Education Pre-Approved for Initial Licensure As An Alcohol and Drug Counselor. https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/pages/alcohol-and-drug-counselor.aspx#docaccess-2120fd31b6fb3310e048e03e63cf7e7077dec0899304ba8e3ed588a298117ce1

[3] This document presents non-hierarchical counts of LADCs, which means all LADCs are included in these numbers, regardless of whether they hold other license types. Since LADCs often also hold LMHP/LIMHP licenses, they are undercounted when hierarchical counts are presented.

[4] Zippia. (2025). Substance Abuse Counselor Demographics and Statistics in the US. https://www.zippia.com/substance-abuse-counselor-jobs/demographics/