GROW Together MA GROW Together MA
For apprentices

Earn while you become a licensed counselor.

As an LADC apprentice, you'll work directly alongside people navigating substance use and mental health challenges — sitting in on counseling sessions, supporting treatment planning, and learning the craft from licensed clinicians.

✓No tuition cost to you
✓Education and guidance throughout
✓A real Massachusetts license at the end
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How to apply

The Process

From your first form to your first day on the job — here's exactly what to expect.

1

Step 1: Determine eligibility

Before applying, candidates should confirm they:

  • ✓Are at least 18 years old
  • ✓Are employed full-time (minimum 32 hours per week)
  • ✓Have at least a high school diploma, HiSET, or bachelor's degree (LADC II) or a master's degree in a behavioral science field (LADC I)
  • ✓Can commit to employment, coursework, supervision, and practicum requirements
  • ✓Have reliable internet access and a laptop or desktop computer
2

Step 2: Submit your interest form

Typical timing: Day 1 — AHP follow-up within several business days

Complete the Preliminary Apprenticeship Interest Application. AHP staff review every submission and reach out directly to eligible applicants.

3

Step 3: Gather required documents

Typical timing: 1–2 weeks

AHP will reach out requesting these requirements.

4

Step 4: Career briefing

Typical timing: scheduled periodically through recruitment

Candidates attend a required virtual career briefing covering:

  • ✓Program expectations
  • ✓Work-life balance
  • ✓ACT coursework
  • ✓Application process
  • ✓Current apprentice experiences
5

Step 5: Enrollment and orientation

Typical timing: prior to cohort start

Accepted apprentices:

  • ✓Sign their apprenticeship agreement
  • ✓Attend onboarding and orientation
6

Step 6: Begin apprenticeship

  • ✓On-the-job training
  • ✓Clinical supervision for practicum experience
ACT training: 54 weeks total Apprenticeship completion: 4,000–6,000 hours depending on education and prior experience
The journey

Year by year

Throughout your apprenticeship, you'll work a minimum of 32 hours a week with your employer and train under an assigned clinical supervisor. Your total required hours depend on your pathway and education — here's how the work breaks down year by year.

Year 1

Onboarding & foundations

Start working with your employer under your assigned clinical supervisor, begin logging supervised hours, and complete your first block of the 270 hours of classroom training required through Highpoint Treatment Centers.

Year 2

Building your hours

Continue supervised practice, complete your 300-hour practicum across the core counseling functions, and keep pace toward your total required hours.

Year 2–3

Exam & licensure

Finish remaining supervised hours, apply for your license, then sit for and pass the required state exam before stepping into practice as a credentialed counselor.

Exam preparation resources → [link coming soon]

Program funding covers a defined period, so staying on pace with your hours matters.

The Result

LADC I or LADC II

The license you receive depends on your education and experience. Both lead to a real Massachusetts license.

LADC II

The entry point

Education requirement

High school diploma, HiSET, or bachelor's degree

Related Technical Instruction (RTI)

270 curriculum hours, delivered via live virtual evening classes designed for working professionals

Practicum & work experience

300 hours of supervised practical training, plus 4,000–6,000 hours of supervised work experience

Scope once licensed

Practice under direct clinical and administrative supervision

LADC I

Independent practice

Education requirement

Master's degree in behavioral science, with at least 18 graduate counseling credits

Related Technical Instruction (RTI)

270 curriculum hours, delivered fully online in a self-paced distance-learning format

Practicum & work experience

300 hours of supervised practical training, plus 6,000 hours of supervised clinical work experience

Scope once licensed

Practice independently

Read more ↓

For entry-level clinical staff, recovery coaches, and baccalaureate-level apprentices pursuing LADC II licensing, AHP has confirmed its continued partnership with HPTC, a BSAS-approved Addiction Education Provider in Brockton, Massachusetts. HPTC's ACT Program will deliver the mandated 270 curriculum hours over approximately 54 weeks. Learn more about this on the About page.

Sample Curriculum

Knowledge of alcohol and drug addiction. Historical and contemporary models of substance use disorders; pharmacology of psychoactive substances; neurobiology of addiction and its impacts on individuals, families, and communities.

Counseling and case management skills. Mastery of screening, intake, orientation, assessment, treatment planning, counseling, case management, crisis intervention, client education, referral, record-keeping, and consultation.

Cultural competency; client education. Clinical practices tailored for diverse and historically marginalized populations; integrating trauma-informed care and National CLAS Standards to support treatment outcomes.

Clinical assessment and treatment planning. Dual-diagnosis assessment strategies; identifying co-occurring mental health disorders; establishing integrated clinical treatment plans and evidence-based clinical workflows.

Counseling and case management skills. Establishing therapeutic rapport, active listening, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy applications, and mastering individual and group facilitation dynamics.

Professional ethics and responsibilities. Focuses on the NAADAC and state ethical codes; federal confidentiality regulations (HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2); boundary management, and professional self-care.

Resources

Helpful resources

More resources will be provided by AHP after you complete the preliminary application.

Questions

Frequently asked

Nothing. GROW Together MA is a paid, funded apprenticeship — you are never billed for training.

Not for LADC II. LADC I requires a master's degree in a behavioral science field. We'll help you figure out which pathway fits your background.

Most apprentices complete their on-the-job training and required hours in about two to three years — the exact timeline depends on your pathway and prior experience, and can run shorter or longer.

More questions? Reach out to us here: loremipsum@ahpnet.com

For current apprentices

Already in the program?

Everything you need to track your progress and stay connected, in one place.