If you want to become an alcohol and drug counselor, several steps are required before you can earn certification, and completing educational units is part of the process. At Sober College, we offer one of the best addiction counselor training programs in the United States, and our program features the following benefits.
- You Take All Classes Online
While most colleges switched to online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve been offering online addiction counselor training for years and have perfected this option. Taking courses online makes it easy for students to fit in their educational hours around work hours as well as family responsibilities. All you need is a laptop and an internet connection, and you can learn from just about anywhere.
- Our Program Takes Just Six Months
You don’t have to take years of coursework in order to become a certified addiction counselor. Our addiction studies program takes just six months to complete, although we do offer a self-paced program that allows students to complete their coursework and practicum course in just three months.
With the self-paced program, you also can take up to 18 months to complete your coursework. The self-paced option is ideal for anyone who wants to accelerate the completion of their education units or for those who need a bit more time than our standard six-month program.
- Students Receive Plenty Of Support
While our program is completed online, that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to engage with your professors or classmates. Students engage in weekly online discussions with their classmates and their instructor.
Our professors have a “virtual” open-door policy for their students, and not only will they review coursework in a timely manner, but they are also happy to answer questions and offer advice. Many of our instructors are still working as addiction specialists, so you can trust that their knowledge is thorough and up-to-date.
- Sober College’s Curriculum Is Accepted Throughout The United States
While we are based in Los Angeles and offer a CCAPP-approved curriculum, our addiction studies curriculum also is NAADAC-approved and IC&RC-approved meaning that students in just about every state can use Sober College as their education provider. The only exceptions include Montana, North Dakota and Alaska, which have unique educational requirements for their addiction specialist certifications.
- There Are No Hidden Fees
There are many addiction counselor training programs that take years to complete, and many of these programs include thousands of dollars in expenses for tuition, books and supplies. At Sober College, you don’t have to work for years to complete the program and we are completely transparent about the costs of our program.
The tuition for our six-month online addiction counselor training program is $2,500, which includes the cost of class materials. The cost of books depends upon the course and the source of purchase, but typically you can expect to spend an additional $500 for books. This is substantially less than many other college programs, yet we offer the same high-quality curriculum and instructor support as traditional colleges and universities.
- We Offer Rolling Admissions
With traditional colleges, you have specific application deadlines and set semesters. At Sober College, you can apply today and get started on your coursework almost immediately. All you have to do is fill out our application, payment forms and provide us with a high school diploma or GED, and you can get started at any time.
Additional Addiction Counselor Training Requirements
If you wish to become a certified alcohol and drug counselor (CADC), there are several requirements beyond the completion of your curriculum. For instance, CADCs must complete 255 hours of practicum experiences, and two of the courses you will take at Sober College include practicums to help you fulfill this requirement.
Additionally, you must pass the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam. IC&RC is an international organization that provides examinations for several different types of addiction professionals. In addition to the ADC exam, which Sober College’s curriculum will prepare you for, they also offer credentialing exams for Prevention Specialists, Criminal Just Addiction Professionals, Peer Recovery specialists and several more.
Once you’ve completed your educational units, passed the IC&RC test and completed your practicum hours, you are ready to really hit the ground running for your final portion of your addiction counselor training – your supervised work experience.
The required hours of supervised work experience vary depending on which type of CADC credential you intend to earn. A CADC-I, for instance, must complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience or 2,080 hours if you have earned an associate’s degree in Behavioral Science or an allied mental health profession.
A CADC-II must complete 6,000 hours of supervised work experience, regardless of any college degree. A CADC-III will need to complete 4,000 hours of work experience, but these individuals also must have earned a bachelor’s degree. Keep in mind that all of your practicum hours will be included in this total, and this will be paid work, it just means you must work under a supervisor until you earn your credential, but you will be handling the same tasks as a certified addiction counselor.
After you become certified, you will have to renew your credential every two years. To renew, a certain amount of continuing education (CE) units will be required, and your state credentialing board and, likely, your employer can help you find sources for your CE units. The NAADAC website also offers resources to help addiction professionals continue their education.
Get Started Now!
Addiction counseling is a rewarding career where you truly help make a difference in people’s lives. It’s also a job that is in high demand, so you’ll find that there will be many employment opportunities once you complete your educational requirements and practicum experiences.
If you would like to get started with the education portion of your addiction counselor training, you can enroll in Sober College at any time. To sign up, just head under the Get Started tab at the top of this page. In this section of the website, you can apply for admission or fill out our quick contact form and an admissions team member will be in touch to answer any questions you might have about our addiction counselor program.
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