The role of a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor is an important one, helping others heal from the pain of addiction and rebuild their lives. This career option is in high demand, and if you’ve considered working as an addiction specialist, here are a few facts that might prove helpful for those just starting out.
What Is A Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor?
This type of counselor helps people with any type of substance use disorder (SUD), which is now the preferred term for addiction. These professionals work in public and private treatment facilities, hospitals, community centers and even within the criminal justice system.
While Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, or LCDC, is one term for a SUD counselor, you also might hear the terms Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) or another term. The official titles may vary from state to state, but the job requirements tend to be the same, at least for entry-level counselors.
How Much Do SUD Counselors Make?
This is a career in high demand, and the starting salary for a counselor ranges from about $35,000 to $50,000, however many factors affect this amount. For instance, your location will impact your salary. In California and New York, where living expenses can be quite high, the salary might be higher.
As you gain experience and, potentially, earn a college degree, your salary will increase. Keep in mind, that in addition to this salary, there may be additional benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, 401Ks and more.
Do You Need A College Degree?
In general, you do not need a college degree to earn your CADC certification. At Sober College, our students need only have earned a high school diploma or the equivalent to enroll.
It is important to note that most states offer different “levels” of CADC certification. For instance, a CADC-I and CADC-II do not need to have earned a college degree. A CADC-III does need to have earned a bachelor’s degree. However, all three of these levels must complete identical education units for certification – generally 315 units of addiction studies curriculum from a provider approved by your state’s credentialing organization.
As you progress in your career, you may decide to complete a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree. These degrees typically allow you to earn a higher addiction counselor salary, as well as serve as a supervisor for other counselors.
How Long Does Certification Take?
This depends on several factors. At Sober College, we are an IC&RC-approved, NAADAC-approved and CCAPP-approved education provider and our program can be completed in just six months. Traditional colleges and university programs can take two or three years to complete and cost significantly more than our program. Our program is also 100% online, which can be very convenient for working adults as you can work on your own time rather than having to attend in-person classes at a set time and location.
In addition to completing your educational units, you also must complete a 255-hour internship, known as a practicum experience. This could take several months to complete, but, at Sober College, you can complete your practicum simultaneously while you are taking our classes.
Once you’ve completed your educational units and practicum, you have two final hurdles – the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam and the completion of your supervised work experience hours. The number of hours required depends upon the level of CADC certification you wish to earn.
This ranges from 3,000 hours for a CADC-I to 6,000 hours for a CADC-II. A CADC-III needs only 4,000 hours, but, again, these counselors also must have completed a bachelor’s degree.
Let’s break down how long it takes to compile these hours. For a CADC-I, working full-time (40 hours per week) at a treatment facility, it would take about 75 weeks or about 1.5 years to earn these hours. To earn your CADC-II certification, you will need to earn an additional 3,000 hours, so it would take about three years to become a CADC-II.
Keep in mind, that you will be paid for these supervised work experience hours, and this pay should include benefits such as health insurance and paid time off. Additionally, your 255 practicum hours can be counted toward your total. In some cases, volunteer work or other paid work also might be applicable to bring down this total.
Should I Become A RADT First?
A Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician (RADT) is an entry-level position that provides one with a deep understanding of what it’s like to work as a substance abuse counselor although these workers do not lead counseling sessions, develop treatment plans or perform clinical assessments on patients. These workers typically act as assistants to CADCs and other types of counselors.
RADT is a term used exclusively in California. In other states, this position might be called a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor Assistant, or CADC-A. In other states, a RADT is known as an Alcohol and Drug Counseling Intern (ADCI) or a Substance Use Disorder Technician (SUDT). This position does not require a college degree and, generally, you only need to complete a 9-hour orientation course to become a RADT or the equivalent.
You do not need to become a RADT to become a CADC, but it can provide valuable experience. Keep in mind, that you can only serve as a RADT for five years, and then you must complete your requirements to become a CADC.
Ready To Enroll?
If you have dreams of becoming a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, we offer rolling admissions, so you can start our program at any time. To learn more, head to the Why Choose Us tab on our homepage. To enroll, simply go to the Get Started tab and select Apply.
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