What Is AB 2473 and What It Means for Registrants (RADTs & SUDRCs) in California

If you are a Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician (RADT) or working toward your Substance Use Disorder Registered Counselor (SUDRC) credential in California, there is a piece of legislation you absolutely need to understand: Assembly Bill 2473 (AB 2473). Signed into law and taking effect January 1, 2026, this bill represents one of the most significant changes to SUD counselor education requirements in recent California history.

At ADCSI, we have been tracking this legislation closely because it directly impacts our students, our curriculum, and the broader SUD counseling workforce in California. This article breaks down what AB 2473 actually says, who it affects, and what you need to do to stay compliant.

The Background: Why AB 2473 Exists

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) holds sole authority in state government to determine the qualifications — including appropriate skills, education, training, and experience — of personnel working within alcohol or other drug recovery and treatment programs. This authority comes from Health and Safety Code Section 11833.

AB 2473 amended Section 11833 to accomplish two major goals. First, it establishes core competency education requirements for registered and certified counselors. Second, it increases the number of educational hours required for registered counselors. The intent is clear: California wants to ensure that every person providing SUD counseling services has demonstrated competency in a defined set of critical knowledge areas before they work with clients.

The 12 Core Competency Topics

Under AB 2473, registered or certified counselors must demonstrate an understanding of the following core competency education topics:

The current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria and continuum of ASAM levels of care
Utilizing cultural responsiveness, including for people with disabilities, and its implication for treatment
Case management and care coordination
Utilization of electronic health record systems
Knowledge of medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
Clinical documentation
Knowledge of co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions
Confidentiality
Knowledge of relevant law and ethics
Professional boundaries
Delivery of services in the behavioral health delivery system

These are not optional electives. Every single one of these topics must be covered in your education to meet the new standard. If you are enrolled at ADCSI, our ADCS 101: Case Management / Core Competencies module was specifically designed to address these requirements head-on.

Who Does AB 2473 Affect?

The law creates two distinct categories with different requirements:

First-Time Registrants (On or After July 1, 2025)

If you register as a counselor for the first time on or after July 1, 2025, you must complete a minimum of 80 hours of education — including all core competency topics — within six months of registration. This is a significant increase from previous requirements and aligns the education standard for registered counselors with the requirements for certified peer support specialists.

There is an important timing note: the policy in BHIN 25-029 took effect January 1, 2026. Counselors who registered between July 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025, became subject to the six-month timeframe on January 1, 2026. That means those individuals had until July 1, 2026, to complete their 80 hours. For anyone registering on or after January 1, 2026, the six-month window starts immediately.

Counselors Registered Before July 1, 2025

If you registered as a counselor before July 1, 2025, you must provide written documentation to your certifying organization showing that you completed a minimum of 315 hours of AOD education — including core competency topics — prior to initial certification. These hours count toward the 315 education hours required for certification.

Master's Degree Exemption

There is one exemption: individuals who register as a counselor and hold a master's degree in psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, or counseling are exempt from the core competency education requirements under Health and Safety Code section 11833(b)(9).

What "First-Year Registered Counselor" Actually Means

AB 2473 introduces specific terminology that matters for compliance. A "first-year registered counselor" is an individual who has been registered to provide AOD counseling services for less than one year. You remain a first-year registered counselor until you have renewed your registration at least one time — even if you transfer to a different certifying organization.

A "registered counselor" is someone who has been registered for one year or more and has renewed their registration at least once. This distinction matters because the 80-hour core competency requirement specifically targets first-year registered counselors at renewal time.

The Registration Renewal Process

First-year registered counselors must apply for registration renewal a minimum of 120 calendar days before their current registration expires. Within six months of registration, you must submit written documentation to your certifying organization demonstrating completion of the 80 hours, including core competency topics.

The documentation must include your full legal name, the name of the education provider, the names of courses completed, and the number of education hours completed. The certifying organization then has 45 calendar days to confirm whether you have met the education requirements.

If the certifying organization determines you have not fulfilled the requirements, you must complete the missing education hours before your first-year registration expires. This is not something you want to leave until the last minute.

Where to Complete the Education

The education must be completed with an education provider approved by your certifying organization. You can contact your certifying organization — whether that is CCAPP or CADTP — to confirm whether your education provider is approved and to obtain a list of courses that meet core competency requirements.

DHCS has also sponsored a free, asynchronous online course through the University of California San Diego (UCSD), which became available in early 2026 and will remain available through June 30, 2028. However, this free course must be approved and accepted by your chosen certifying organization.

At ADCSI, our full 635-hour SUD Counseling Studies program exceeds the 80-hour requirement many times over. Our ADCS 101: Case Management / Core Competencies module alone covers 80 hours and is specifically mapped to every one of the 12 core competency topics mandated by AB 2473. Students who complete coursework at ADCSI prior to registration can count those hours toward the 80-hour requirement.

What This Means for Your Career

AB 2473 is raising the bar for SUD counselors in California, and that is a good thing. Higher education standards mean better-prepared counselors, which means better outcomes for clients struggling with substance use disorders. But it also means you cannot afford to wait or cut corners on your education.

If you are considering a career in SUD counseling, the smartest move is to enroll in a comprehensive program that covers all the core competency topics from day one. Trying to piece together 80 hours from various sources after you have already registered puts you under a tight six-month deadline and creates unnecessary stress.

If you are already registered and approaching your renewal, audit your education hours now. Make sure you have documentation for every hour and every core competency topic. Do not assume your certifying organization will give you extra time — the 45-day review window is firm.

How ADCSI Prepares You

Our program was built with exactly this kind of regulatory landscape in mind. When you enroll at ADCSI, you are not just checking boxes — you are building a foundation that will serve you throughout your entire career. Our curriculum covers all 12 core competency topics across multiple modules, with particular depth in ADCS 101 (Case Management / Core Competencies) and ADCS 103 (Law and Ethics).

We are approved by both CCAPP and CADTP, which means your education hours are recognized by both major certifying organizations in California. Whether you are pursuing CADC-I/II through CCAPP or SUDCC-I/II through CADTP, ADCSI has you covered.

If you have questions about how AB 2473 affects your specific situation, we encourage you to book a call with our Program Director. We will walk you through the requirements, review your current education hours, and help you build a plan to stay compliant and advance your career.

This article is based on Behavioral Health Information Notice No. 25-029, dated July 31, 2025, issued by the California Department of Health Care Services. For the full text of the notice, contact DHCS directly or visit their official website.