Becoming an addiction counselor can be a deeply rewarding career choice, but many people mistakenly believe that they need a four-year addiction counselor degree from a university in order to work in this field. However, at Sober College of Addiction Studies, our counselor education program can be completed in just six months and entirely online, which makes it easy to dive into this new career.
Types Of Addiction Counselors
There are several types of addiction counselors, and while some do require a formal addiction counselor degree, such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree, many do not. One of the most common types of addiction counselors is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC).
The names of these counselors vary from state to state. For instance, in some states, they will be known as Alcohol and Drug Counselors (ADC) or perhaps Alcohol and Other Drug Counselors (AOD) or Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (LADC).
While the names differ, the certification requirements are often the same and many only require you to have earned a high school diploma or the equivalent. So, whether you are applying for ADC certification, AOD certification or CADC certification, you may not need a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in addiction counseling.
For instance, in many states, there are several levels of CADCs. Let’s take California as an example as its education requirements are similar to many other states. To become either a CADC-I or CADC-II, you do not need a formal addiction counselor degree or any level of college degree.
A CADC-III, however, will require you to have earned at least a bachelor’s degree, but many people simply start out as a CADC-I and work toward becoming a CADC-II rather than going to a university and earning a degree. The only difference between a CADC-I and CADC-II is the number of work experience hours required to earn your certification, which we will discuss further in this article.
Why Become An Addiction Counselor?
There are so many compelling reasons to consider becoming an addiction counselor, which can be a deeply rewarding career choice. Here are just a few reasons to consider this profession:
- Making a Positive Impact: As an addiction counselor, you have the opportunity to make a significant difference in people’s lives. Helping individuals overcome addiction can lead them to healthier, more fulfilling lives, and can positively impact their families and communities.
- Growing Demand: The demand for addiction counselors is increasing due to a greater recognition of addiction as a mental health issue. This growing need ensures that your skills will be in high demand, offering job security and opportunities for growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the need for counselors will grow at a higher rate than many other professions.
- Personal Fulfillment: Many find the field of addiction counseling personally rewarding. Witnessing the tangible progress and recovery of clients can provide a deep sense of accomplishment and purpose.
- Diverse Work Environments: Addiction counselors work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, and even private practices. This diversity allows for flexibility in choosing a work environment that suits your preferences.
- Continuous Learning & Professional Development: The field of addiction counseling is always evolving, with ongoing research and new therapeutic techniques. This offers a dynamic work environment with continuous learning and professional growth. In order to renew your credential, some continuing education units will be required.
- Building Relationships: Addiction counseling allows for the development of meaningful, trust-based relationships with clients. This aspect of the job can be very fulfilling for those who value interpersonal connections in their work.
- Advocacy & Education: In this role, you can also act as an advocate for individuals struggling with addiction, contributing to broader societal change and reducing the stigma associated with addiction.
- Flexible Career Path: The field offers various specializations and certifications, in addition to becoming a CADC, allowing professionals to tailor their career path to their interests and expertise. For instance, you can become an Intervention Specialist, a Prevention Specialist, a Medication-Assisted Treatment Specialist (MATS), a Criminal Justice Addiction Professional (CCAP), etc.
- Personal Growth: Working as an addiction counselor can also lead to significant personal growth, as it often requires developing patience, empathy and understanding, which are valuable life skills.
What Do Addiction Counselors Do?
As a certified drug and alcohol counselor, you will be responsible for many tasks, and while actual counseling sessions (group, individual & family) are a part of the job, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
For instance, part of your job will include developing treatment plans both for when they are at your facility as well as when they have finished your program. This can include finding good recommendations for mental health counseling, which can help support long-term recovery.
Of course, your clients struggling with substance use disorders often suffer from co-occurring disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder or other mental health disorders, so you will need to establish connections with mental health counselors and other professionals to ensure that all of your clients’ needs are met. Substance abuse treatment is far more successful when you also treat any other mental or physical health issues a patient is facing.
In addition to counseling and treatment planning, you will find that this job entails a great deal of case management and paperwork, which is why strong organizational skills are nearly as important for counselors as empathy and good communication skills. You also will have to handle intake tasks such as intake and orientation, as well as assess each patient to determine if they are a good fit for your facility.
Our Addiction Studies Program
At Sober College, we can help you complete several steps toward earning your addiction counseling certificate. To become a CADC (or a similar type of counselor), you must complete 315 educational units as well as completing 255 practicum hours, which basically serve as an internship. Both of these requirements can be fulfilled through our program.
Our program takes just six months to complete, and our classes are 100% online. Your practicum experiences are included in the program, and the total cost for tuition is just $4,250, which includes all class materials except books, which run about $300 to $500 in total. This is significantly less than you would pay to earn an addiction counselor degree at a four-year college or university, and a much faster process.
Additionally, while our program will prepare you for your work as a counselor, it also will provide you with all of the information needed to pass the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor exam, which is required by most states to earn your certification.
Once you’ve completed your educational units and practicum, you can begin working at a facility and working toward the completion of your work experience hours. To earn your credential, you must complete a set amount of supervised work experience hours.
These are paid hours, of course, and the number of hours varies depending on the level of certification you wish to earn. For instance, a CADC-I will need to complete 3,000 hours of work experience. If you have an associate’s degree in behavioral science or a similar subject, this requirement does drop to just 2,080 hours.
Get Started Today!
As you can see, a formal addiction counselor degree is not always necessary for those wishing to become an addiction specialist. If you are ready to jumpstart your new career, we offer rolling admissions, so you can simply go to the Get Started tab on our homepage and select the Apply tab.
Leave a Reply