If you are passionate about helping others overcome substance use disorders, earning your addiction counselor certificate can be the first step toward a meaningful and rewarding career. At Sober College of Addiction Studies, students can gain the knowledge, practical skills, and support needed to pursue certification and make a difference in the lives of individuals and families affected by addiction.
How To Earn Substance Abuse Certification
There are several steps you will need to take in order to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, or CADC. This is a common type of counselor, although the term for a CADC varies by state. For instance, some states might refer to this professional as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) or another term. The requirements, however, tend to be similar and include the following:
Education
The first step toward earning an addiction counselor certificate is to complete your educational requirements. Most states require at least 300 hours of addiction studies curriculum from an approved provider.
At Sober College, our program includes 315 hours of education, and we are CCAPP-approved, as well as approved by the National Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) and the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC).
NAADAC is the largest national organization for addiction professionals, and this group offers certification, as well as advocating for the profession and for those struggling with addiction. IC&RC is an international testing organization, and most states require passage of the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam for certification.
Because we are NAADAC-approved and IC&RC-approved, our program can be used to complete educational requirements in most states. We are approved in 47 states; the only exceptions include Alaska, Montana, and North Dakota.
Sober College is unique for several reasons, including:
- Our program can be completed in just six months.
- Our program is 100% online.
- We offer rolling admissions, so you can begin at any time.
- Our program costs just $4,250, far less than most college programs.
Practicum
In addition to completing educational hours, you also must complete a specific number of practicum hours. This is much like an internship, and you will be working at an approved treatment center, handling all of the tasks that professional counselors tackle day to day.
These are known as the 12 Core Functions of Addiction Counseling, and, in addition to actual counseling, these include tasks such as intake, treatment planning, record keeping, and much more. Student counselors will need to complete at least 21 hours working with each of these 12 functions.
Our program includes 255 hours of practicum experience, and you can begin working on completion of these hours after you complete your first course at Sober College. Some states will require you to complete more than 255 hours of practicum, so it is important to research the number of hours required in your state.
IC&RC Exam
As stated above, passing the IC&RC ADC exam is required in most states, and our curriculum, along with your practicum experiences, will prepare you well for this exam. In most states, you will have four opportunities to pass this exam. If you do not pass at this point, you will need to take some additional coursework, and then you will be able to retake the exam. Most people pass on the first or second try, and there are test prep materials available.
Work Experience Hours
At this point, you will be ready to begin working as a counselor, although you will not be certified until you complete your work experience hours. The number of hours you will need to complete varies from state to state. For instance, in California, a CADC-I must complete 3,000 hours of work experience for certification.
Your work experience will be paid work, and you will be handling the same tasks as a certified counselor; you simply won’t be fully certified, and some of these hours will be supervised. For instance, you might be supervised for your first 300 hours to ensure that you are ready to handle tasks on your own.
Moving Forward: Future Careers in Addiction Counseling
Once you have earned your initial CADC certification, you’ll need to renew your credential every two years. To renew, you will need to complete some continuing education hours, typically about 40 hours, depending on your state requirements.
For a CADC, most people begin as a CADC I and then work toward becoming a CADC II. For instance, in California, a CADC II must complete 6,000 hours of work experience to earn this credential. Hour requirements in other states vary, and some states require you to have earned an associate’s or bachelor’s degree to earn CADC II certification.
Additionally, many states offer speciality credentials. In California, for example, you can become an Intervention Specialist (IS), Certified Criminal Justice Professional (CCJP), Medication-Assisted Treatment Specialist (MATS), Women’s Treatment Specialist (WTS), California Certified Prevention Specialist (CCPS), and more.
Again, for some certifications, you will need to complete an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in a field related to addiction counseling. Typically, the types of degrees that are accepted include anything related to addiction studies as well as mental health, such as psychology, behavioral science, counseling, etc.
Other degrees that might be accepted include social work, and even sociology and anthropology. You also can work toward earning a master’s degree, which will make you eligible for supervisory roles as well as potentially working as a licensed therapist.
Take Your First Steps With Sober College!
If you are ready to work toward earning an addiction counselor certificate, we offer rolling admissions so you can begin at any time. To enroll in our program, just click on the Get Started tab and select “Apply.” If you have questions, select the “Speak with Someone” tab and fill out our quick contact form.
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