If you are searching for a career that’s both in high demand and fulfilling, substance abuse counselor jobs might be a perfect fit. Before taking the plunge into a new industry, however, it can be smart to learn as much as possible about the profession. Here are a few facts to help get you started on your path toward becoming a substance abuse counselor.
1.Counselors Are In Demand
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that nearly 400,000 people are employed as some type of substance abuse counselor across the United States. The median pay, as of 2023, was about $53,700 per year, although that will vary based upon your location, education and experience level.
The bureau also estimates 18% growth in this industry, which is considered much faster than average and means that substance abuse counselor jobs are relatively plentiful, which is good news for those hoping to move into this field.
2. There Are Many Career Options
At Sober College of Addiction Studies, we help individuals complete their educational requirements to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor or CADC. This is a very common type of counselor, and it is known by many names state-to-state.
For instance, in some states, this professional might be known as an Alcohol and Other Drug counselor, or AOD counselor. You might be known as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) or perhaps a Substance Use Disorder counselor, or SUD counselor. For this level of counselor, the names may vary but the licensing requirements tend to be similar.
CADCs, in most states, do not need a college degree, although possessing an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree may reduce the amount of supervised work experience hours required for certification. There are, of course, some counseling jobs that will require a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree, but for many counselors, this will not be a requirement although many counselors work to earn those degrees once they’ve completed their initial certification as this can open up many opportunities.
There are also many areas of specialization that counselors might consider after they’ve earned their initial credential or certification. For instance, you might decide to work as a Prevention Specialist or perhaps an Intervention Specialist. There are many additional choices, and if you find you are particularly passionate about a specific aspect of counseling, you could consider earning additional certifications.
3. Counselors Work In A Variety of Settings
In the movies, we generally see addiction counseling taking place at in-patient treatment facilities, and while this is common, it’s just one option. Hospitals and outpatient facilities also employ counselors, as well as community outreach programs, schools, criminal justice facilities and more.
4. Counselors Must Possess Certain Traits
The skills needed for any profession include hard skills and soft skills. For counselors, the hard skills would be completing the required training so that they have experience with all of the tasks required in this career. For instance, you would need a deep knowledge of professional ethics as well as addiction and different types of drugs as well as the effects of alcohol on the body, etc.
You also would need to know how to help new clients with facility intake and orientation, as well as learn various skills for individual, family and group counseling. The job description might state “counseling,” but recordkeeping and organizational skills also will be required as there is a substantial amount of paperwork involved in counseling.
Soft skills often refer to skills that match your personality, but these can be developed. These include skills such as listening skills, empathy, communication and leadership skills. We may call them “soft” but they are by no means unimportant. A good counselor is a person who can listen well and motivate others could be a great counselor.
Many people wonder if those in recovery would make good counselors, and, in many cases, these individuals possess insights that can help make them excellent counselors. In some states, you will be asked to show that you have at least a year or two of continued sobriety in order to earn your license, but that varies from state to state.
It’s also wise to note that counseling can be a stressful career, and not every client will end up with a successful conclusion to their treatment. This can be tough for any counselor to handle, but it can be especially stressful for those in recovery. We recommend that all counselors engage in activities such as meditation, yoga, journaling and daily exercise, etc., to help deal with stress in the most positive manner possible.
Additionally, if you have been convicted of a felony, some states may not allow you to become a licensed counselor. However, this varies by state and varies based upon the type of felony as well as factors such as when the felony occurred.
For instance, if you committed a felony at 19, but have maintained a clean record for many years since, you likely can apply to become a CADC or other type of counselor. If you have a felony conviction, please contact the team at Sober College to discuss your options as we may be able to provide you with further insights.
Of course, if you’ve never struggled with addiction, that certainly does not mean that you cannot be an excellent counselor. People with strong organizational and communication skills, in general, can be excellent counselors.
5. Education Is The First Step
While we stated above that college degrees are not required for some types of addiction counselors, there are educational requirements that must be completed. For CADCs, one generally must complete 315 hours of education from a provider approved by your state’s credentialing board.
At Sober College, we offer NAADAC-approved, IC&RC-approved and CCAPP-approved curricula, which means that students throughout the United States can use Sober College to complete their educational requirements. Unlike traditional college and university counseling programs, our program takes just six months to complete and can be completed 100% online. If you’ve been looking for substance abuse certification online, Sober College can be a great option to consider.
6. Licensing Requirements Vary
In addition to completing their educational units, CADC candidates also must complete 255 hours of practicum experience, which is an internship-type of experience. During this practicum, you must work at an approved facility and complete at least 21 hours working in each of the 12 Core Functions of Addiction Counseling. These functions include everything from intake to mental health counseling to the development of treatment plans and more.
We allow students to begin working on their practicum requirements once they complete our first course, Introduction & Overview of Drug and Alcohol Addiction. Keep in mind, that California and many other states require 255 practicum hours, but your state might require more or less, so be sure to refer to your state’s credentialing organization for clarification.
Candidates also must earn a passing score on the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam. This exam can be taken once you complete your educational units, and you have several opportunities to earn a passing score. If you are not able to pass after four tries, you will need to complete 20 hours of AOD education as well as completing an additional 100 hours of clinical supervision before trying again. Rest assured, our curriculum provides you with all you need to know to pass this exam.
The final requirement, aside from applying for and paying for your credential, will be to complete your supervised work experience hours. These hours vary by state as well as by the type of CADC certification you wish to earn. For instance, an entry-level CADC-I will need to complete 3,000 hours of work experience, while a CADC-II must complete 6,000 hours. Many CADC-I’s will go on to earn their CADC-II credential.
A CADC-III must complete 4,000 hours of supervised work experience, but CADC-III’s also must have completed their bachelor’s degree. Often a CADC-I or CADC-II will work on completion of this degree to earn their CADC-III credential. Again, every state is unique, and we’ve included California’s requirements above as an example.
7. Every State Has Its Own Credentialling Organization(s)
Some states have multiple organizations that can provide you with certification. For instance, in California, you can apply for your credential from the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP). Other California organizations include the California Association of DUI Treatment Programs (CADTP) and the California Association for Alcohol and Drug Educators (CAADE).
One of the first steps you should take is to find your state’s credentialing or certification body and carefully read over the requirements before committing to any educational program. We can provide education for most states (except Alaska, Montana and North Dakota), but it’s important to select approved providers.
8. Continuing Education Will Be Needed
Once you’ve earned your CADC certification, it will need to be renewed every two years (again, check your state’s requirements). In order to renew, you will be required to complete a specific number of continuing education (CE) units. These will ensure that you are up-to-date on the latest counseling methods, ethics, laws and data regarding substance use disorders.
Enroll Today At Sober College
Substance abuse counselor jobs can be a great career option to consider, and if you are ready to take that first step, we can help. At Sober College, we offer rolling admissions to our program, so you can get started at any time. If you have any questions about our program, don’t hesitate to contact us at any time. If you are ready to enroll, simply head to the Get Started tab on our homepage and download our application.
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