If you are looking for a career in great demand and also want to truly help others, working as a licensed chemical dependency counselor can be an excellent option to consider, and Sober College of Addiction Studies can help you jumpstart your new career.
How To Become A Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor
A licensed chemical dependency counselor, or LCDC, is one name for an addiction counselor. This term is used in several states, but other states will call this job an Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC), Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) or perhaps a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). However, the educational requirements and training requirements are similar from state to state.
For most types of LCDC or CADC, you only need a high school diploma to get started although some states do require a person to have earned an associate’s degree in behavioral science and/or a nursing degree.
Your first step toward becoming an addiction counselor will be to find an approved education provider. At Sober College, our curriculum is NAADAC-approved, IC&RC-approved and CAADAC-approved, which means students from throughout the United States can use our online program to complete their educational units.
For most states, students are required to complete 315 educational units as well as 255 hours of practicum experience, which is simply an internship. During your practicum, you must work at an authorized facility.
You must complete all of the 12 Core Functions of Addiction Counseling during the practicum, dedicating 21 hours to each of these Core Functions, which include everything from patient intake to assessment to counseling and several more. These requirements may vary slightly by state, but this typically is what you should expect.
There are many different types of clinical training institutions counselor interns can work at to complete the practicum experiences, including hospitals, detox facilities, inpatient or outpatient facilities, recovery centers, community mental health centers and sometimes even at a school or criminal justice facility. In general, you can work at any facility that offers addiction counseling and treatment, and we can help ensure that you find a facility approved by your state.
IC&RC Examinations
To become a substance abuse counselor, you also must pass the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam. IC&RC is an international organization that provides testing for several different types of addiction specialists.
Students have four chances to pass the ADC exam, and if a passing score is not earned after four attempts, additional educational units are required. Once those are complete, you can attempt the exam again, but most people pass the exam within those first four attempts.
Work Experience Requirements
Before you can become an officially certificated or licensed chemical dependency counselor, you will be required to complete a specific amount of supervised work experience hours. The total for this licensure requirement varies by state and, sometimes, by your overall level of education.
For instance, in California, a person wanting to become a CADC has several credential options, and each has its own work experience hour requirements. A CADC-I must complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience. However, if you have an associate’s degree in behavioral health or an allied mental health degree, the number of required hours drops to 2,080.
A CADC-II must complete 6,000 hours of work experience, regardless of any earned college degree. A CADC-III only must complete 4,000 hours but that candidate must have earned a bachelor’s degree. Keep in mind, you are being paid for these work hours; you simply work under a supervisor during this time.
As another example, Florida candidates are required to complete 6,000 hours of supervised work experience if they have a high school diploma or GED, but only 5,000 hours if they have an associate’s degree and just 4,000 hours if they have earned a bachelor’s degree in behavioral health or a related field, such as human services or perhaps psychology, etc.
Why Choose Sober College?
At Sober College, we offer a unique program ideal for busy working adults. Our entire coursework can be completed 100% online and in just six months. We also offer a substantial value over similar programs at four-year colleges and universities.
Our program tuition costs just $2,500 with no hidden fees and all class materials are included in the cost of the program. We provide you with the same high-quality curriculum as a four-year college, yet those programs cost far more and can take up to three years to complete.
Enroll Today!
If you have dreamed of becoming a licensed chemical dependency counselor, don’t wait another day to start working toward your goal. We offer rolling admissions, so you can sign up and get started at any time. Just click on the Get Started tab on our homepage and select the Apply tab. If you have any questions, select the Speak With Someone tab and an admissions specialist soon will be in touch with you.
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