How to Become an Addiction Counselor

As awareness of mental illness and addiction grows – along with access to treatment – so does the demand for qualified substance abuse counselors. Here, we’ll take you step-by-step on how to become an addiction counselor and help those impacted by drugs and alcohol achieve sobriety.

Substance Abuse Counselor Job Description: What Do They Do?

A substance abuse counselor (addiction counselor) is a professional who works not only with people who have substance use disorders but as well as those who have eating disorders or other behavioral problems like gambling addiction. Addiction counselors spend time one-on-one with patients to map out treatment plans, listen to their struggles, and utilize methods like 12-step programming to help them achieve and sustain sobriety.

If the legal system is involved with a client’s drug or alcohol treatment, the counselor may report on progress to a judge. They also meet with clients in recovery and help them restart their careers, find employment, improve their situations, and refer them to other programs that could help. Additionally, since family and friends also feel the impact of addiction, substance abuse counselors may work with the addict’s loved ones to help them recover, as well.

How to Become a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor

As a counselor in the addiction treatment field, you can change a person’s life for the better. Keep reading to learn how to become an addiction counselor and make a difference in your community.

Education Requirements

To become an addiction counselor, you have to receive certain certifications, complete a certain amount of training hours, and have certain degrees under your belt. If you wish to go a step further and become a licensed substance abuse counselor, an accredited counseling degree and many hours of work experience are required. However, these requirements vary depending on the state, so always look into the state licensing requirements.

With that said, there are various degrees one may obtain to become a drug addiction counselor:

Associate’s Degree: Some states only require an associate’s degree in psychology or counseling. This is a two-year degree that covers the basics of treating patients. An associate’s degree can help an individual enter this career field by qualifying them for entry-level jobs like human services assistants, administrative positions in sober living facilities, and adolescent counseling.

Bachelor’s Degree: A bachelor’s degree in addiction counseling prepares the individual with fundamental skills and knowledge linked to the field and qualifies them for higher, better-paying positions. Though a bachelor’s degree is considered sufficient education for addiction counselors in most states to acquire certification, a master’s degree in this field is preferred and required in most states.

Counseling Master’s Degree: Aside from state requirements, a master’s degree is the best education program for those looking to become substance abuse counselors with higher-paying positions. Requirements for private practice usually include completing a master’s degree in counseling. The individual may also need to complete at least two years or 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience. Specializations or concentrations for a graduate program in addiction counseling include drug abuse counselor, alcohol abuse counselor, and clinical counseling.

However, keep in mind that the American Psychological Association (APA) only accredits doctoral programs, but all are either regionally accredited or nationally accredited. Due to this, we advise that you only choose regionally accredited schools if you want to qualify for an APA-approved doctoral program if, later on, you decide to advance your career. To qualify for these programs, students should at least have a bachelor’s degree in counseling or psychology-related field as well as some work/clinical experience.

Licensing and Certification Requirements

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