While your main goal in becoming an addiction counselor is to help others heal, there’s no getting over the fact that an addiction counselor salary is going to be a consideration. After all, there are bills to pay for everyone. Here’s a quick look at different types of addiction counselors and what they might expect to earn each year in general.
Registered Alcohol & Drug Technician
A RADT-I or RADT-II is the first step on the career ladder for addiction counselors in California. Earning this credential requires just nine hours of education, and you are not required to have any level of college degree. However, this credential will not last forever. At some point, you will need to start working toward a higher level of credential.
Salary expectations vary for RADTs, but in general, you could expect to earn about $31,000 as a RADT. Keep in mind, that some RADT jobs are not full-time, so this salary could be significantly lower. Additionally, we have seen many job openings that require an associate’s degree or higher in addition to the RADT credential, so be sure to read job postings carefully.
Certified Drug & Alcohol Counselors
Known as CADCs, these professionals are needed at a wide range of facilities, including, but not limited to:
- Hospitals
- Prisons/Jails
- In-Patient Treatment Facilities
- Outpatient Treatment Facilities
- Social Welfare Agencies & Organizations
- Homeless Shelters
- Educational Facilities (High Schools, Colleges, etc.)
As a CADC, the average national salary for this profession is about $43,000 per year, although that definitely varies by state. Keep in mind, that there are several levels of CADC, including CADC-I, CADC-II and CADC-II. A CADC-I might earn less than this average while a CADC-II or CADC-III might earn more.
Additionally, an addiction counselor salary tends to vary geographically, and you might earn a bit more in a state such as New York or California simply to compensate for the higher cost of living expenses. You also should keep in mind that these salary figures don’t include benefits, such as insurance, paid vacations, sick leave, retirement plans and other possible benefits.
Those with CADC-I and CADC-II credentials do not need to have more than a high school diploma in order to begin working toward this credential. However, if you have an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in behavioral science or a related degree, the number of work experience hours needed as a CADC-I is less than those without that degree. A CADC-III must have completed a bachelor’s degree in order to earn that credential.
Licensed Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselors
If you’ve earned a master’s degree in behavior science or an allied mental health profession, this opens up your options to that of a Licensed Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (LAADC).
In order to earn the credential, you will need to complete 300 hours of alcohol & drug counseling education, including six hours relating to counselor ethics, but you this might be covered by curriculum you completed as part of your master’s program.
In addition, you will need to complete 4,000 hours of work experience and pass the IC&RC Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor Exam. Typically, with this higher amount of education, you can expect to earn a bit more than a CADC, perhaps more than $55,000 per year, and even more if you work toward earning a supervisorial credential.
However CADCs with many years of experience also can earn higher than average salaries, as experience often is just as important as what degree you earned in college. Don’t be discouraged if you haven’t earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree, as work experience can be a huge factor in the hiring process.
Of course, you do have to earn that credential before you can begin your job search, and Sober College of Addiction can help. We can provide you with all of the educational hours you will need in order to become a CADC-I, CADC-II or CADC-III.
Actually all three of these credentials require the same 315 hours of approved education and a passing grade on the same IC&RC written exam, as well as a set amount of practicum hours, which basically are internship hours at an approved facility.
The difference between these three levels of credentialing lies in your educational background. For a CADC-I without an associate’s degree in behavioral science or a related field, you must complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience, while those with that associate’s degree only have to complete 2,080 hours.
If you want a CADC-II credential, your level of education is irrelevant. All candidates must complete 6,000 hours of supervised work experience. As we stated, above, CADC-III credentials require a bachelor’s degree as well as 4,000 hours of supervised work experience.
At Sober College, we offer coursework for CADCs and you can complete the entire 315 hours in just six months, either in-class or online. If you need test prep materials for your IC&RC exam, we have that available, as well. We also offer career guidance and counseling to ensure that you find the best possible facilities for internships and, ultimately, employment.
Becoming an addiction counselor is an exciting and rewarding career, and while we cannot tell you precisely what your addiction counselor salary will be, we can provide you with a high-quality education that prepares you for this quickly growing industry. To learn more, look at the Counselor Training tab at the top of our homepage.
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