With just 12 additional credits, they can also meet the requirements for Virginia’s Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner credential. Founded in 1969 in University Park, Illinois, Governors State University runs seven online programs, including the online master of health science in addiction studies. In 2021, more than 46 million people had a substance use disorder in the U.S., according to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Addiction specialists have become integral pieces of the healthcare, social services and criminal justice systems. To join the ranks of this growing profession, you typically need a master’s in addiction counseling or a related field and professional licensure. If you are considering a career in addiction treatment, we can help you get started.
- Along with an embedded addictions counseling internship, you can complete an optional criminal justice internship to qualify for a criminal justice addictions professional certification.
- Located in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota, Crown College began as the Alliance Training Home in 1916.
- Furthermore, when a person has state licensure in one state, they can either find a state that offers full reciprocity or one that will allow temporary licensure.
- Since its founding in 1971, Liberty University has graduated more than 285,000 students.
- Kimmy has been a freelance writer for more than a decade, writing hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics such as startups, nonprofits, healthcare, kiteboarding, the outdoors, and higher education.
- Examinations, ethics courses, background checks, and references are frequent education requirements for licensure.
- Often, these hours can be completed as part of a degree program, but sometimes they are in addition to education already obtained.
Submitting the FAFSA could qualify you for federal loans, grants and work-study programs, plus scholarships at the national, regional and institutional levels. If you wish to work in a specific subfield of counseling or addiction counseling, choose a program that would help you develop expertise in your area of interest through a specialization or mentorship with a faculty member. Our team sources data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. We also pull information from reputable professional organizations and education providers’ direct websites. Our rankings use a strict methodology to determine the best schools, programs or bootcamps for each category.
Step 5: Complete Supervised Work Experience (Timelines Vary)
A master of science (MS) in addiction counseling is the most common degree for this field. There are numerous online master’s programs and on-campus options with flexible schedules, which allow students to pursue higher education substance abuse counseling in this field while still balancing work or family. Certification is a voluntary process by which professionals with a special interest in prevention or addiction treatment may receive recognition of demonstrated competency.
Successful applicants typically have a degree in social work, psychology, or some other related field. However, state boards are interested in the coursework they find on an official transcript. For this field, an official transcript should reflect successful coursework in covering content areas that include, but are not limited to abnormal psychology, human development, personality theory, theories of addiction, and cultural sensitivity. The experiential portion of one’s application can span from 350 hours to five years of supervised training. As with most state credentials, a background check is imperative, as is ethics training and letters of recommendation.
What is the Value of Credentialing?
After graduation, future counselors will need to pass an examination as set forth by their state boards. Either faculty will address it, or students will circulate rumors and other stories attesting to its relative difficulty. Ultimately, a Bachelor of Science or Arts degree should serve as a minimum standard. Even if a state board currently has lower standards for the field, that is likely to change. At some point, a counselor with a two-year degree (or less) will likely need to return to school to maintain their license.
CCAPP identifies and qualifies education institutions; approves continuing education providers; and supports AOD education systems through research, grants, and test development. If you are interested in pursuing a career with a NAADAC approved provider, Sober College School of Addiction Studies can work for you. Those with RADT-II certification are especially well-prepared to move on to CADC certification. The California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) and similar organizations offer CADC certification to those who want to work in this field. This certification proves that you have valuable experience and abilities in the field, instilling confidence in your clients and employers.
Contact Information and Application
At the entry-level, you can expect to earn perhaps $22 per hour and often more. Look for opportunities to work with a licensed alcohol and drug counselor in a clinical setting. The Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) certification is a professional credential from the International Association of Addiction and Offenders Counselors and the National Board for Certified Counselors. This certification verifies a professional’s competence as an addictions counseling specialist. MAC certification requires relevant graduate coursework, experience and a passing score on an exam.
- As with most state credentials, a background check is imperative, as is ethics training and letters of recommendation.
- Even if a state board currently has lower standards for the field, that is likely to change.
- Getting certified as a LAADC requires that you have a master’s degree, and hold professional liability insurance.
- PCB offers credentials that help a professional progress along a career ladder.
