They may also provide case substance abuse counseling: definitions, requirements and finding a counselor management services and refer clients to other resources, such as support groups or 12-step programs. This may involve working with people with alcohol use disorders, but they may also work with clients with substance use disorders involving drugs such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and prescription medications. CBT is a long-standing, evidence-based treatment that has proven effective in helping addiction and mental health conditions.
Not Included in Professional Development
- While a master’s degree in counseling or social work is a common requirement to work as a substance abuse counselor, not every state requires this level of education.
- The last step is to apply for licensure or certification in your state.
- A LASAC is a counselor and acts completely as a counselor, however they must be under direct supervision unlike the LISAC.
- This kind of therapy could also be a requirement of someone’s jail sentence, probation, or parole.
- Each treatment center has a unique set of staff titles that are created by their human resources departments.
- The course will also expose students to the medications that have been developed to augment the treatment of addictions, and the ways medication and psychotherapy can work together.
Treatment plans for substance use disorders are often developed using the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) framework. While requirements vary by state, Hazelden Betty Ford’s certified addiction counselor training programs are some of the most widely respected in the country. Requirements may include degree type, curriculum, number of credits, accreditation, clinical experience, internships, and exams. Substance abuse counselors utilize a variety of tools to help in this process.
What Is an Addiction Counselor?
- If you have had your license for less than 12 months, complete at least 20 contact hours for your first biennial renewal.
- The frequency and duration of these sessions can vary depending on your needs and the stage of your recovery.
- In addition to working with the individual with a substance use problem, counselors also work with couples, families, and others who may be affected by an individual’s substance use.
- There’s still work to be done, but the 12 core functions of a substance abuse counselor provide a blueprint for future advancements.
Obtaining one of the gold standard, internationally reciprocal credentials from the ADACBGA reflects a deep personal commitment and sense of accountability that inspires credibility and confidence in your professional knowledge. It also shows your dedication to high standards of care in the treatment and/or recovery support of individuals with substance use and/or other process disorders. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of substance abuse counselors is projected to grow 23 percent from 2020 to 2030. As a licensed counselor with a master’s degree, you can look forward to a strong job market and reliable employment. Trained substance abuse counselors are experts at understanding the underlying causes of addiction and helping patients learn coping strategies and recognize their unique triggers.
A good resource is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Their treatment locator can help you find drug and alcohol treatment centers near you. Your substance abuse counselor should be patient because recovery takes time. They’ll offer encouragement and support and celebrate even small achievements. Because Alaska is highly rural, you may work in a rehab facility that is located at a distance from your direct supervisor.
Becoming a Credentialed Professional
In many states, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree to practice alcohol and drug counseling. Even if your state doesn’t, earning a master’s degree in addiction counseling will increase your job opportunities and grant you more clinical experience. A drug addiction counselor will first attempt to ascertain the type and extent of a client’s substance abuse before developing a therapy plan for them. The client is often interviewed for this purpose, and they’re encouraged to be absolutely honest about their behavior. Counselors who work with substance-abuse clients may also be able to tell something about them based on specific behavioral and physical characteristics. A substance abuse counselor is supervised in every aspect of their work.
Career Opportunities
It is written into U.S. state and national practice regulations and insurance legislation. If you work with children or teenagers, you could end up working in schools or after-school programs. Application materials are available on the sites of the individual certification boards. Candidates should be aware that if the board operates in states other than California, there may be separate California registration materials. CADTP also offers a clinical supervisor credential and specialty credentials. To qualify for the CATC I, you must complete a CAADE-accredited Alcohol and Other Drug Studies/Addiction Studies (AOD/ADS)program of at least 30 units.
However, the 12 core functions aren’t just a list to memorize or a set of motions to go through. They’re an evidence-based framework you can use to help people in one-on-one counseling sessions, community education events, and any recovery-focused setting. The median annual salary for substance abuse counselors was $48,520 in May 2021. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the lowest 10% of wage earners make less than $30,870, while the highest 10% earn more than $77,980. However, individual requirements can vary depending on the state and the employer.
Alaska Licensing & Certifications for Associates & Independent Counselors
Having a direct line of support who can help provide care and offer potential options to assist in reducing the stress of early recovery can be essential in maintaining long-term recovery. Biofeedback and neurofeedback therapies use active displays of an individual’s physical vital signs, including blood pressure, respiration rate, and pulse. The counselor technician 1 should take confidentiality and ethics classes, four hours each, required of every behavioral health and social services professional. Because of where you plan to work, take eight hours of CPR and first aid classes.
Important Exam Information
The dramatic rise in opioid prescriptions and the subsequent addiction then triggers heroin markets in areas where the drug was once unheard of. Other prescription drugs such as Adderall, Ritalin, and Benzodiazepines are likewise triggering addiction problems across the population. Finally, state licensure shows that a counselor has satisfied certain requirements and is thus able to practice within the scope of that license.
You’ll have to attend seminars and training sessions where you’ll be earning continuing education hours. Every year or two, you’re going to have to document those hours to the state of Alaska so you can renew your licensure. Using your college substance abuse counseling textbooks, review the behavioral health materials you’ve been studying for the past three to seven years, because the exam is pretty likely to be a wide-ranging one. The topics will be comprehensive, asking about some of the most basic information you learned in your first years of college, as you began working on your major.
