If you’ve been thinking about completing the steps for drug and alcohol certification and becoming a substance use disorder (SUD) counselor, you likely have plenty of questions about this career and the training required to earn certification.
At Sober College of Addiction Studies, we can help you get started on your path toward substance abuse counselor certification. Before we dive into the details about our program, let’s take a look at some of the common questions that potential students ask our admissions team.
What Is Drug and Alcohol Certification?
A SUD counselor helps others heal from the ravages of addiction and support long-term sobriety and recovery. In order to work at any type of treatment facility, you will need some level of professional certification.
At Sober College, we help people who want to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, or CADC. A CADC is a common type of SUD counselor, recognized in many states. In some cases, a CADC might be known as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC), an Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC), or another term.
To become a CADC, you will need to complete educational units, practicum hours (an internship), pass a certification exam, and complete a set amount of supervised work experience hours.
What is the Difference Between CADC, LADC, and Similar Titles?
There are many titles for addiction counselors, and many of the requirements are similar to those for CADCs. The best advice we can give is for you to do an online search for your state’s credentialing or certification board and take a look at the different types of counselor certifications and what is required for each one.
Can You Become A Drug Counselor Without A Degree?
Absolutely. A CADC does not need a college degree to earn certification. As stated above, most states recognize either a CADC or a similar type of certification, and most of these individuals need only have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent to be eligible for certification.
As you progress in your career, working toward completion of a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree can open up many opportunities, but for your initial certification, it may not be required.
What is the Job Outlook for SUD Counselors?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for SUD counselors is expected to grow by about 17% in the next ten years, which is faster than average compared with all occupations. This translates to about 48,000 job openings per year, which means you likely will have many job opportunities once you complete your CADC certification requirements.
How Much Do SUD Counselors Typically Earn?
The typical addiction counselor salary varies based on location as well as years of experience. In general, entry-level salaries tend to start in the $40,000s, or about $20-24 per hour. As you progress and earn more experience and perhaps more education, these salaries can go as high as $60,000 or higher.
Again, this is often based on location, as areas with a higher cost of living tend to offer higher salaries. Additionally, the job may include benefits such as insurance, paid time off, free continuing education opportunities, and other perks that aren’t necessarily reflected in the actual salary figure.
How Long Does it Take to Become a SUD Counselor?
At Sober College, we help students who wish to become CADCs. The first step is the completion of your educational units. Each state has its own unique requirements for education, but typically, you need about 315 educational units or hours, which is what our program includes. Some states require fewer units/hours, but 315 is common.
Our addiction studies program offers many advantages for students wishing to jumpstart into a new career as a CADC. Sober College is 100% online and can be completed in just six months. Traditional university programs can take several years to complete, and often, you must attend in-person classes, which might be difficult for a busy, working adult.
We also offer rolling admissions, so you can begin at any time, rather than waiting for a semester or quarter start date. Additionally, other certification programs tend to have a much higher cost. The tuition for our program is just $4,250 with no hidden fees. Books will cost an additional $300 to $500 in total, but this is far less than you would pay at most colleges or universities.
Are Online SUD Counseling Programs Legitimate?
At Sober College, we offer the same high-quality curriculum that you would expect from a traditional college or university. More importantly, our curriculum is NAADAC-approved, CCAPP-approved, and IC&RC-approved, which means we are a recognized education provider throughout the United States, excepting Alaska, Montana, and North Dakota, which have unique counselor education requirements.
What Other Steps are Needed for CADC Certification?
In addition to completing your education, you will need to complete at least 255 hours of practicum experience, which is an internship at an approved treatment facility. We include this practicum as part of our program, so within just six months, you will have completed two requirements for certification.
You also must pass the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam. Our curriculum will provide you with all that you need to know to pass the IC&RC ADC exam, but you also can purchase test prep materials on the IC&RC website.
From there, you can begin working as a supervised counselor. While you will not be officially certified, you will be doing paid work and handling all of the typical day-to-day tasks that certified counselors must handle. To earn certification, you will need to complete a specific number of supervised work experience hours.
For instance, in California, where we are based, a CADC-I must complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience for drug and alcohol certification. A CADC-II must complete 6,000 hours, and many CADC-I’s will go on to earn this second tier of certification. A CADC-III needs only complete 4,000 hours, but this level also requires completion of a bachelor’s degree.
Get Started Today!
If you long for a career where you truly help others, earning your drug and alcohol certification can be a good option, and it’s in high demand. To enroll in our CADC certification program, just click on the Apply tab on our homepage and download our application.
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