How to Obtain a Drug & Alcohol Counselor Licensure
As a licensed drug and alcohol counselor, you can help others regain control of their lives. The need for licensed professionals is substantial. The National Department of Health and Human Services found "in 2008, an estimated 22.2 million persons (8.9 percent of the population aged 12 or older) were classified with substance dependence or abuse in the past year . . . of these, 3.1 million were classified with dependence on or abuse of both alcohol and illicit drugs." Substance abuse counselors can work in any number of environments including hospitals, jails, and rehabilitation facilities.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Becoming a Licensed Counselor
-
1
Consider the level of counseling you wish to pursue. FindCounseling.com notes that an entry level license in drug and alcohol counseling can be acquired with an Associate's degree, while a full license would require a Master's degree. While all levels of counseling allow you to help others, the higher your degree, the more options you will have in shaping your career.
-
2
Research your individual state's requirements for drug and alcohol licensing. When considering schools to pursue, select programs meeting both state and national requirements. Whether you are willing to relocate for schooling or wish to attend a local school, it is important to invest time in visiting schools of interest to interact with the faculty, view the campus, and learn about the achievements of the program's alumni.
-
-
3
Complete a drug and alcohol counselor licensing program. In addition to traditional lecture and classroom studies, drug and alcohol counselor licensing requires several hours of hands-on training, generally attained through an internship. The hands-on training portion of licensing allows you to experience the day-to-day life of a counselor prior to graduation.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
For those already in the addiction counseling field that wish to advance their career, the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) notes four options for national recognition in addiction counseling: National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC 1); National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II (NCAC II); Master Addiction Counselor (MAC); and Tobacco Addiction Specialists (TAS).
