While working is essential, it doesn’t mean that the career you select can’t be fulfilling and meaningful. Working as a certified alcohol and drug counselor (CADC) can be a rewarding field where you truly help others. Sober College of Addiction Studies can help you make the first steps into this new career, but first, let’s gauge whether or not it’s the right fit for you.
A good substance abuse counselor should possess a combination of personal qualities, professional skills, and ethical standards that enable them to effectively assist individuals struggling with substance abuse. Here are some key characteristics:
- Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of others is crucial. Empathy helps in building trust and a therapeutic relationship with clients.
- Strong Communication Skills: Effective communication, both in listening and speaking, is essential for understanding clients’ needs and conveying the right messages during therapy.
- Patience: Recovery is a process that can be slow and non-linear. Patience is vital in supporting clients through setbacks and progress.
- Non-Judgmental Attitude: A non-judgmental approach creates a safe environment for clients to open up and be honest about their struggles without fear of being criticized or shamed.
- Cultural Competence: Understanding and respecting cultural differences ensures that substance abuse counseling is relevant and sensitive to the diverse backgrounds of clients.
- Problem-Solving Skills: The ability to think critically and creatively to help clients find practical solutions to their challenges is important.
- Ethical Integrity: Adhering to professional and ethical standards, including confidentiality, is fundamental in this field.
- Self-Awareness: Counselors need to be aware of their own biases and emotional triggers to provide the best care for their clients.
- Adaptability: Being flexible and adaptable in approach, as what works for one client may not work for another.
- Commitment to Professional Development: Staying updated with the latest research and techniques in addiction treatment and continuously seeking to improve one’s skills.
- Resilience: Working in substance abuse counseling can be emotionally challenging. Resilience helps counselors manage their stress and avoid burnout.
- Compassion: Genuine concern and sympathy for clients’ struggles are key to fostering a supportive therapeutic environment.
- Organizational Skills: Keeping track of appointments, treatment plans, and progress notes requires good organizational capabilities.
- Boundary-Setting: Knowing how to set and maintain professional boundaries to protect both the client and the counselor from dependency or other ethical issues.
- Motivational Skills: Being able to motivate and encourage clients, especially during difficult times in their recovery journey.
These characteristics, when combined with proper training and education, enable addiction counselors to effectively guide their clients toward recovery and improved mental health.
Facts About Our Addiction Studies Program
Many people mistakenly believe that you need a college degree, such as a bachelor of science in addiction studies or a similar field. While some addiction counseling jobs require a bachelor’s degree, there are many career opportunities for people with no college degree and just a high school diploma or the equivalent. Our program is ideal for students who wish to become counselors yet lack that four-year degree.
If you’ve been searching for an addiction studies program that will help you jumpstart into a new career as a certified drug and alcohol counselor, Sober College of Addiction Studies can be one of the best options to consider. Here’s why our program stands out from many other addiction studies options.
1. We Offer Rolling Admissions
At a traditional four-year college or university, you typically have to apply by a certain date and then wait for approval before enrolling and then wait for the start of a new semester. Sober College offers rolling admissions so you can begin your studies whenever you want.
Our admissions process is fast and easy, as well. Once you complete the admissions and payment forms, our admission department will contact you within 48 hours. You will need to show proof of either a high school diploma, your GED or the equivalent. If you do have any college transcripts, you can submit them as well.
2. Our Program Can Be Completed In Just Six Months
Unlike other addiction studies programs, which can take up to three years to complete, our program can be completed in just six months. Students take one class per month for six months, and during those months, you also can complete your supervised practicum hours.
To become a certified drug and alcohol counselor (CADC), you must complete 315 hours of education and 255 hours of a supervised fieldwork practicum, which is a type of internship, at an approved facility.
(As a side note, a CADC may be called by another name such as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor, or ADC, etc. While the names vary from state to state, the credential requirements tend to be identical and the day-to-day work tasks also will be similar.)
3. Complete Your Studies Entirely Online
For a working adult, finding time for college courses can be tough, but at Sober College, our program is entirely online, and you can complete your work at any time. You don’t have to worry about driving to a campus and lectures and materials can be accessed 24/7 providing you with the ultimate level of flexibility.
4. Our Addiction Studies Program Is Affordable
While we do not accept financial aid, our program is more affordable than many similar substance abuse counselor degree programs. The total cost of our program is $2,500 with no hidden fees. Book purchases for the program tend to cost an additional $300 to $500. All other class materials are included in the cost of our program.
Students can pay the tuition cost upfront or schedule monthly payments for either six months or 12 months. With the six-month payment plan, you’ll spend less than $425 per month on tuition and receive the same high-quality education that a four-year university or other colleges may provide.
5. We Are CCAPP, NAADAC & IC&RC-Approved
To become an addiction specialist, your education provider must be approved by a credentialing organization, such as CCAPP, which is California’s state credentialing organization. NAADAC is a nationally recognized credentialing organization and IC&RC is the organization that provides the tests required to become a certified addiction counselor.
Sober College is CCAPP-approved, NAADAC-approved and IC&RC-approved, which means our substance abuse counselor certification program can be used by students throughout most of the United States, as well as Washington, D.C. The only exceptions include Alaska, Montana and North Dakota.
Additional Requirements
Before earning a credential as a CADC-I, CADC-II or CADC-III, you must complete several requirements. Sober College will provide you with the 315 educational hours and 255 practicum hours that are required, and our curriculum will prepare you for the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor exam.
In addition to the education, practicum and a passing ADC exam score, you must complete supervised work experience hours and the number required depends upon the level of CADC you aim to become.
A CADC-I will need to complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience. However, if you have earned an associate’s degree in behavioral health or an allied mental health profession, then this requirement drops to just 2,080 hours.
A CADC-II must complete 6,000 hours, regardless of any college degrees earned. A CADC-III must complete 4,000 hours of supervised work experience, but this individual also needs to have completed a bachelor’s degree.
It’s always important to remember that supervised work experience hours are typically paid work hours. You will be working as an addiction counselor and handling all of the typical tasks associated with that career, but you will simply be working under a supervisor. In some cases, however, previous related experience and even volunteer experience may fulfill a portion of these required hours.
Once your credential is issued, you will need to complete a set number of continuing education hours to renew your CADC certification. State credentialing organizations often offer low-cost continuing education (CE) units, and there are often workshops and events for people in the industry where you can earn CE units.
Get Started Today!
If you would like to enroll in our addiction studies program, just click on the Get Started tab on our homepage and select Apply. If you have questions about the program, you can select the Speak With Someone tab and fill out our quick contact form.
Leave a Reply