Millions of Americans suffer from substance use disorders, and substance use disorder (SUD) counselors are professionals who help these individuals heal and rebuild their lives. If you’re interested in pursuing a rewarding career where you help others heal, becoming a SUD counselor can be an excellent option.
Understanding Substance Use Disorders
In the past, we typically used the terms addictions or addicts to describe people dealing with substance use issues. The term “Substance Use Disorder” has not exactly replaced “addiction,” but it is used in the medical and professional communities to provide a more precise and clinically accurate description of the range of issues related to the use of substances, including alcohol, drugs, and prescription medications.
The shift towards using “Substance Use Disorder” reflects an understanding of addiction as a complex brain disorder and health issue rather than a moral failing or solely a behavioral problem.
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a medical condition characterized by the uncontrollable use of substances despite the harmful consequences to the individual’s health, social life, and responsibilities. This term is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), which outlines specific criteria for diagnosing SUD, including impaired control, social impairment, risky use of substances, and pharmacological criteria such as tolerance and withdrawal.
SUD is often categorized by the substance involved and the severity of the disorder (mild, moderate, or severe), providing a more nuanced understanding of the individual’s condition and guiding more tailored treatment approaches. This language change aims to reduce stigma, promote a more compassionate view of individuals struggling with these issues, and emphasize the importance of appropriate medical treatment and support.
SUD Counselor Education & Training
The term “SUD counselor” is common, but these counselors also might be called certified alcohol and drug counselors (CADC) or alcohol and other drug counselors (AOD) or perhaps alcohol and drug counselors (ADC).
The names vary by state, but the certification requirements tend to be similar throughout the United States. Whether you hear the terms CADC certification, ADC certification or AOD certification, these terms basically refer to the same type of SUD counselor.
The first step toward becoming a SUD counselor would be to complete your educational requirements. At Sober College of Addiction Studies, we offer CCAPP-approved, NAADAC-approved and IC&RC-approved curricula. Our program takes just six months to complete and is 100% online. Our addiction studies curriculum can be used throughout the United States, except Alaska, Montana and North Dakota, which have unique requirements.
Typically, a certified addiction counselor must complete 315 hours of education as well as 255 hours of field practicum. The practicum is an internship where you work at an approved facility handling or observing all of the tasks that an addiction counselor deals with on a daily basis.
Once you’ve completed your educational units and your practicum, you can move on to the next two requirements for certification. You must pass the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor exam and complete your supervised work experience hours.
The number of hours you will need to complete varies based on your previous level of education. For instance, to become a CADC-I, you will need to complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience. However, if you have an associate’s degree in behavioral science or a similar field, this requirement is 2,080 hours. Keep in mind, your practicum hours will count toward this total and you will be paid for this work.
While an associate’s degree can reduce the number of supervised work experience hours you need, rest assured that you do not need to have a college degree to become a CADC. You need only have earned your high school diploma or the equivalent, such as a GED.
Once you’ve completed these requirements, you can apply for your credential. Be sure to study your state’s requirements carefully as they might vary slightly from the requirements mentioned above. For instance, your state might require more or less supervised work experience. The cost of the credential itself also will vary from state to state.
After earning your credential, you will need to renew it every two years. In order to renew, a set number of Continuing Education (CE) hours will be required. The number of hours will vary by state, but these educational units will ensure that you are up-to-date on all the latest research regarding substance use disorders and counseling.
There are also many areas of specialization you can consider. For instance, if you’d like to help women dealing with substance use disorder, you could work toward earning your Women’s Treatment Specialist (WTS) certification. If you’d like to help people who are or have been incarcerated, you could work toward earning your Certified Criminal Justice Addiction Professional (CCJP) certification. These are just two of many options that you might find rewarding.
Sign Up With Sober College
When you are ready to take the first step toward becoming a SUD counselor, we are here to help. We offer rolling admissions so you can get started with your educational requirements at any time. To enroll, just go to the Get Started tab on our homepage and select Apply. From there you can download our application and learn more about our addiction studies program.
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