Millions of people in the United States suffer from addiction and substance use disorder (SUD) counselors are in great demand. A career as a SUD counselor can be a great option for anyone who wishes for a meaningful job where they can truly help others. Sober College of Addiction Studies can get you started on your path toward earning your counseling certification.
What Is A SUD Counselor?
The American Psychiatric Association classifies drug addiction and alcohol addiction as mental health disorders, specifically known as substance use disorders. A SUD counselor is a person that supports patients through many stages of their addiction from treating addictions to preventing addiction.
For instance, some SUD counselors will work at inpatient facilities and hospitals to help patients during the initial detox and rehab phases of addiction. Other addiction counselors might focus on helping patients maintain a successful recovery and long-term sobriety. Other counselors might work on the prevention side, designing programs to help children and young adults make healthy life choices and find support if they are at risk.
SUD Counselor Training Vs. CADC Counselor Training
There is a myriad of titles for addiction counselors, and SUD counselor is just one of the many. Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) is another commonly used term, as is Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) and others. While the names might vary from state to state, the requirements for certification tend to be nearly identical.
For instance, in California, you can receive your SUD counselor certification through the California Association of DUI Treatment Programs (CADTP) or you can receive your CADC certification through the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP).
Both SUD certification and CADC certification allow you to work as a certified drug and alcohol counselor at treatment facilities throughout the state. Likewise, both certifications have virtually identical requirements, including:
- 315 Hours of Approved Education Units
- 255 Hours of Practicum Experience
- A Passing Score on the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor Exam
- Completion of Supervised Work Experience Hours
These requirements are not specific just to California, and most states have similar requirements in terms of the number of education units (and the educational content), the practicum hours and passing the IC&RC exam.
Sober College – Your Source For Education Units
At Sober College, we can assist you with the completion of your addiction studies curriculum. Our college is CCAPP-approved and CADTP-approved, but our curriculum also is IC&RC-approved and approved by the NAADAC, which is the largest national association for addiction professionals.
While our curriculum will provide you with all of the knowledge you need to pass the IC&RC exam, that’s only one reason to consider enrolling at Sober College. Because we are NAADAC-approved and IC&RC-approved, our coursework can be used throughout the United States. Alaska, Montana and North Dakota are the only states where our curriculum cannot be used to complete your educational requirements.
Our program is completed entirely online, which can be an excellent option for busy working adults. You can learn when it’s convenient for you and will still have access to help from our expert instructors whenever you need it. Best of all, the program (including your practicum hours) can be completed in just six months, and we offer rolling admissions so you can get started at any time.
The cost of our program also is significantly less than you would pay at other colleges and we have no hidden fees. Our counselor training program costs just $4,250 and this includes all class materials. Textbooks will cost an additional $300 to $500 in total.
Work Experience Hours
Once you’ve completed our coursework and your practicum hours, you can start working toward the competition of your work experience hours. The number of hours you must complete will vary, depending on your state and the level of counselor you wish to become.
For instance, a SUD counselor must complete 2,080 hours of work experience. A CADC-I must complete 3,000 hours of work experience unless they have an associate’s degree in behavioral science or an allied mental health profession. Then the work experience requirement drops to 2,080 hours.
A CADC-II will need to complete 6,000 hours of work experience, regardless of any college degree you may have earned. CADC-IIIs must complete 4,000 hours, but you do need to have a bachelor’s degree. These work experience hours will be paid work, and typically your practicum hours will be incorporated into this total and possibly any volunteer hours you have at approved treatment facilities.
Enroll In Sober College Today!
Enrolling in Sober College is fast and easy. You will need to provide us with proof of your high school diploma or GED and any college transcripts if you have completed a college degree.
To get started on the road to becoming a SUD counselor, just click on the Get Started tab on our homepage and download our application. Once you’ve submitted your application, an admissions counselor will get in touch with you as soon as possible to help you complete the registration process.
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