How to Become a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor in North Carolina
Each state may have different requirements for becoming a certified substance abuse counselor. The process to becoming a certified substance abuse counselor in North Carolina may take up to four years to complete. A certified substance abuse counselor can work in his or her own practice.
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Things You'll Need
- Registration application packet
- Proof of high school diploma or GED, bachelor's degree or other advanced degree
- Fees totaling $325, as of June 2010
Instructions
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Certification process
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1
Write the North Carolina Substance Professional Certification Board for the substance abuse counselor registration packet. Enclose a check or money order in the amount of $25,as of June 2010.
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2
Complete the registration application, read and sign the supervision contract and the Ethical Standards form. The supervision contract is a proposal of gaining supervision by a certified counselor supervisor or certified, counselor supervisor intern.
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3
As of June 2010, mail the completed registration packet with the listed forms and a $125 check or money order to the North Carolina Substance Professional Certification Board.
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4
Obtain three years (6,000 hours) of drug and/or alcohol abuse treatment experience under supervision at a substance-abuse treatment program.
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5
Complete board-approved education and training: 190 hours of substance-abuse specific, 80 hours of general skill building, 12 hours of HIV/AIDS training and six hours of training in professional ethics.
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6
Pay a $100 oral examination and case presentation fee, $125 written exam fee. Complete the oral exam and case presentation with a passing grade.Fees are as of June 2010.
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7
Request completed evaluation forms from three references: a supervisor, co-worker nd a colleague. The evaluation forms must be mailed back to the board by those completing them. Provide a prepaid, addressed envelope with the evaluations to making mailing them easier.
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Tips & Warnings
To maintain your substance-abuse counselor certification renewal is every two years with proof of 60 hours of training approved by the board, 30 hours of substance-abuse specific training (15 hours may be in service training, six hours of HIV training and three hours of professional ethics training).
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Blank award certificate form image by Stasys Eidiejus from Fotolia.com
