How to Sign Up for the NH IDCMP: Your First 30 Days, Step by Step
If you have just been convicted of a DWI in New Hampshire, the paperwork in front of you may feel difficult to interpret. The NH IDCMP process has clear steps, deadlines, documents, and fees. This guide explains how to sign up for the impaired driver program and what to expect during your first 30 days.
Step 1: Know the deadline printed on your paperwork
Start by finding the deadline in your court conviction paperwork. New Hampshire paperwork will state either 14 days or 30 days for completing intake and screening. The deadline printed on your paperwork is the one that applies to you.
The clock begins on the day after your conviction, or the day after your release from custody, whichever is later.
Do not wait until the deadline is close. If you are unsure how to read the date or believe the deadline may be difficult to meet, contact an approved IDCMP immediately. Early communication gives the program time to help you understand your options.
The first 30 days are mainly about opening your file, completing intake and screening, and identifying whether you need an evaluation or treatment plan.
Step 2: Contact an approved IDCMP
An Impaired Driver Care Management Program, or IDCMP, is approved by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services. The state publishes an approved IDCMP provider list.
Chrysalis Recovery Center has been an approved IDCMP provider since February 2013. We have provided counseling since April 2009, and our role is to offer clear guidance, respectful accountability, and practical support throughout the process.
One detail is especially important: your court order usually names a specific IDCMP. An agency cannot accept you if your paperwork names a different IDCMP unless the court changes the order first. Bring or send your paperwork when you contact us so we can review what it requires.
You can also review our NH IDCMP process guide before your first appointment.
Step 3: Gather your documents before intake
Having the correct records ready can prevent delays. Before your appointment, gather:
- A current original certified copy of your driver’s license record from the New Hampshire DMV, printed within the past 60 days.
- A certified driver’s license record from any other state where you hold a license, if applicable.
- A certified driver’s license record from any state where you were arrested or convicted of an impaired driving offense.
- Your court order, sentencing paperwork, or case summary.
- Chemical test results or documentation of a refusal.
- The arrest report or arrest narrative.
- Proof of completion of a state-approved impaired driver education program if you completed one within the last five years.
- Your criminal record.
The missing license record is the most common reason a completion report gets held up months later. If you are not sure how to obtain a document, tell us. Our required document information can help you identify what is needed.
Step 4: Complete your intake and screening appointment
Your first appointment is face-to-face. Under New Hampshire rules, face-to-face may mean meeting in person or through secure live video, as long as everyone can see and communicate with one another in real time.
During intake, we will:
- Review your court and driving documents.
- Explain the program requirements and attendance expectations.
- Have you sign required releases of information.
- Complete the appropriate standardized screening or evaluation process.
- Provide written notice of reduced-fee options and obtain your written acknowledgment.
- Collect the state per-client fee when applicable.
For a first-time, non-aggravated offense, screening is required. If the screening indicates a need for further assessment, you will be referred for an evaluation.
Second or subsequent offenses and aggravated cases go directly to a substance use disorder evaluation rather than the first-time screening process.
The state per-client fee is $70. It must be paid by money order payable to:
Treasurer, State of New Hampshire
This money goes to the State of New Hampshire, not to Chrysalis.
Step 5: Complete an evaluation if one is required
If screening indicates that an evaluation is needed, it must be scheduled and completed no later than 30 days after your conviction.
An evaluation is a structured review. It may address:
- Your personal, driving, and substance use history.
- Your relationship with alcohol or other drugs.
- Relevant family, health, and legal information.
- Co-occurring mental health concerns.
- Whether counseling, treatment, testing, or other recovery services are appropriate.
Only people who meet New Hampshire’s state qualifications may conduct the evaluation. The cost is $275. If you complete intake and screening but do not need an evaluation, the intake and screening cost is $100.
An evaluation is not a judgment about your character. It helps identify the level of support that fits your circumstances.
Step 6: Review your service plan if treatment is indicated
When treatment or recovery services are indicated, a written service plan is developed and discussed with you within 14 days of the evaluation.
The state minimum counseling requirements are:
- One DWI in a lifetime: at least 6 outpatient counseling sessions.
- Two DWIs: at least 20 outpatient counseling sessions.
- Three or more DWIs: at least 26 outpatient counseling sessions.
These are minimums. The plan may be individualized up or down when clinical information supports a different level of care.
Treatment must begin within 30 days after the service plan is discussed with you.
You may choose your own treatment provider. You should receive the full approved provider list in writing, and you may change providers at any time. Chrysalis can provide counseling when appropriate, or help you understand your options if another provider is a better fit.
Case management remains part of the process. It helps you track appointments, documents, treatment progress, testing, and other requirements.
Step 7: Complete the 20-hour education program
The required education component is the 20-hour Impaired Driver Education Program, or IDEP. It is part of the IDCMP and is not a separate “DUI class.” If you completed an approved impaired driver education program within the last five years, provide proof so your records can be reviewed.
The Chrysalis IDEP costs $400, including materials. Clients attend through Zoom from anywhere in New Hampshire. Current formats include:
- Night format: four evenings over two weeks, with each session from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Weekend format: Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., followed by Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The current class schedule is the source of truth for dates. At the time of publication, scheduled classes include:
- October 13, 15, 20, and 22, 2026: night format.
- October 30 through November 1, 2026: weekend format.
- November 10, 12, 17, and 19, 2026: night format.
- December 4 through December 6, 2026: weekend format.
- December 8, 10, 15, and 17, 2026: night format.
- January 6, 7, 13, and 14, 2027: night format.
- January 8 through January 10, 2027: weekend format.
Dates may change, so check the schedule before booking.
Attendance expectations are firm but straightforward:
- An unexcused absence means restarting the program and paying the full fee again.
- Arriving more than 15 minutes late means you cannot participate that day.
- An excused absence means making up only the missed session at no additional cost.
Communicate before an appointment whenever possible. A phone call early is almost always easier to address than a missed appointment with no explanation.
The full cost picture
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Intake and screening | $100 |
| Substance use disorder evaluation | $275 |
| 20-hour IDEP education class | $400 |
| Case management | $80 per month or $20 per week |
| State per-client fee | $70, paid by money order to the State of New Hampshire |
| Out-of-state clients completing services elsewhere | $350 |
Most major insurance plans are accepted. Medicare is not accepted.
If cost may be a barrier, say so at intake. Clients receiving TANF, Social Security disability, SSI, state supplemental assistance, or veterans disability who can document New Hampshire residency may qualify for:
- A 50% reduction in the class fee.
- A waiver of the $70 state fee.
Written notice about reduced fees is provided during intake, and your acknowledgment is documented.
Keep the Victim Impact Panel separate
If the court ordered a Victim Impact Panel, or VIP, it is a separate requirement from the 20-hour education class.
The VIP must be at least 3.5 hours online and have 24/7 access. The fee is paid directly to the VIP provider. Two programs that meet New Hampshire’s requirements are Court Solutions Online and YouImpact.
Chrysalis requires clients to complete the VIP before they complete the IDCMP program with us. You must submit your own VIP completion certificate directly to the New Hampshire DMV when applying for reinstatement, along with your SR-22 proof.
Giving a copy to Chrysalis does not replace your own submission to the DMV. That submission is yours to make.
What happens when you finish
Once you have met every applicable requirement and paid all required fees, Chrysalis sends a completion report to the sentencing court and the DMV within five business days.
That completion report is what makes you eligible for reinstatement through the IDCMP process. Keep your own records, follow any separate DMV instructions, and make sure your VIP certificate and SR-22 proof are submitted directly by you when required.
If something goes wrong, communicate early
Missed case management meetings and unexcused absences may be reportable. When required by state rules, the court and DMV must be notified.
This does not mean that one difficult day ends the process. Contact us before an appointment when you know there is a problem. If you miss an appointment, call as soon as possible and explain what happened. Clear communication gives the team the best opportunity to identify the next step.
Begin with a clear next step
If you are searching for idcmp NH, NH DWI classes, or asking, “How do I sign up for the impaired driver program?” you can start by contacting Chrysalis Recovery Center.
Call 603-998-4210 or email intake@crc-idcmp.com. You can also begin the online intake process.
If you are not sure whether you need an IDCMP at all, call anyway. We can review the paperwork with you and help clarify what comes next.