How to Become A Drug Abuse Counselor

How to Become an Addiction Counselor

In most states, for someone to become a substance abuse counselor, they at least have to have a bachelor’s degree, state licensure, and pass a substance abuse counselor certification exam. Below is an in-depth review on how to become a drug abuse counselor, including education and experience requirements.

Education Requirements

Certified alcohol and drug abuse counselor education requirements vary depending on the state. Even so, counselors in all states need to have at least a bachelor's degree in addiction counseling, though they can’t open a private practice without a graduate degree.

Addiction counselors without a master’s or doctoral degree (Ph.D.) require supervision under a graduate-level counselor. Normally, becoming a licensed addiction counselor involves graduating with a graduate-level degree, which first requires you to have your bachelor’s degree.

For those who are interested in the academia or research aspect of addiction treatment, earning a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in substance abuse may be the best choice. A Ph.D. provides you with a solid understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods and counseling theory.

For people who already have a degree and are searching for a shorter program that can potentially help them gain state licensure, many schools offer certificate programs in substance abuse counseling. At the undergraduate level, certificate programs require that students have a high school diploma or associate degree. At the graduate level, certificate programs require that students have a bachelor’s degree.

It’s also important to choose a program that’s accredited or approved by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). When a program is accredited, it means that the content and quality of the program have been evaluated by top professionals in the said field and meet the standards set by the profession.

CACREP-approved programs ensure that students are prepared to take the necessary certifying and licensing exams. By ensuring that your program is CACREP-approved, you can be assured that everything you’re learning is important to obtaining your certifications and licenses.

Training and Experience Requirements

Before getting licensed as an addiction counselor, students must spend a certain number of supervised hours gaining clinical experience. These hours may be completed through internships or practicums, which are usually a part of your degree program.

In states where state licensure can be attained with a bachelor's degree, students typically spend 4,000 to 10,000 hours gaining clinical experience. On the other hand, those with master’s degrees may only need to complete 1,000 hours of supervised experience.

Once these hours are completed, students are then allowed to take an exam to become licensed.

Examination and Certification Requirements

Depending on the state, receiving a bachelor’s or master’s degree and completing a certain number of clinical hours, a candidate can take an exam to attain their licensure. However, the requirements are different to receive a certification as a certified drug addiction counselor.

The difference between a certification and licensure is that certification is usually issued by a non-governmental agency, such as an association of nurses, while licensure is issued by a government agency or entity. Receiving a certification usually takes many additional hours of counseling experience to attain.

Generally, you must complete 4,000 to 6,000 hours at an approved treatment facility, which usually takes two to three years of full-time counseling. Three different types of addiction counselor certifications are offered by The National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC):

• National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I)
• National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II (NCAC II)
• Master Addiction Counselor (MAC)

These certifications must be renewed every two years, which typically requires a certain number of hours of continuing education credits. For each of the certifications mentioned above, counselors must complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years to renew their certifications.