Completed applications should be accompanied by a payment of $235, non-refundable, and should include passing scores on the NCC AP’s NCPRSS exam. Addictions counselors who wish to specialize in adolescent care should consider this national certification. Applicants need at least a bachelor’s degree in substance use disorders/addiction or some related field such as social work, mental health counseling, or psychology. Transcripts should also reflect 270 contact hours of academic training in substance use disorders/addiction, including 70 hours of training pertinent to adolescent treatment.

Function 4: Assessment

The 12 core functions as they’re used today weren’t created by one person at a single point in time. Instead, they were developed and refined over years by numerous organizations and SUD treatment professionals. These variations also mean that not every state or organization uses the 12 core functions. Because every patient is different and struggling with various degrees of addiction, you may find yourself working with some individuals in a crisis situation, while others will meet with you regularly as they recover. Candidates must also earn 2,240 hours of experience in a state-licensed or state-certified facility.

North Carolina Education Requirements & Certification for Substance Abuse Counselors

• Like interview techniques, SUD counselors use a wide range of assessment tools and may even use combinations of them to get a clear picture of their clients’ needs.
• Courses and internship experiences offered at the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School are designed for substance use and mental health licensure.
• Psychoeducation is often conducted in a group therapy setting and helps participants learn more about the effects that substances have, the related behaviors that often contribute to drug use, and the potential consequences.

The experience requirement is also lower than what is required of other certificate holders as applicants need only 200 hours of direct practice in a peer recovery environment. A supervisor must verify that experience and then an additional 60 contact hours in academic training is required. Of that, 48 hours must be in the fields of case management, community/family education, screening/intake, or basic pharmacology, among other topics. The remaining twelve hours should be split between ethics training and HIV/other pathogens education.

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. 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.

Obtain your credential as an addiction and/or recovery professional from the Georgia IC&RC Affiliate Board!

Created in 1981, the Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CADC) is the largest credential in the field of addiction-related behavioral health care – totaling over 20,000 professionals worldwide. There are now more than 63 countries, U.S. states, and territories that offer a reciprocal CADC credential. Both the CADC-II and CAADC grant independent scopes of practice specific to addiction counseling, and the CAADC is uniquely qualified to screen for, recognize, and coordinate care for co-occurring mental disorders. The CAADC reciprocates as a graduate level licensure to many other states (such as North Carolina). Just as important, achieving a credential from the ADACBGA demonstrates proficiency as an addiction and/or recovery professional. Addiction counselors work in a variety of professional settings, from community mental health centers to state and federal government agencies.

What do substance abuse/addiction counselors do?

Two types of substance abuse counseling accreditations are recognized in the United States; institutional and specialized counselor certification. Institutional accreditation takes the entire institution into account while the specialized focus on professional preparation programs. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is a specialized accreditation that focuses on master’s and doctoral degree programs in counseling at colleges and universities worldwide.

It can be very demanding on the substance abuse counselors psyche and can result in stresses at home and elsewhere. However, becoming a substance abuse counselor can also be highly rewarding. There is no higher satisfaction than when a substance abuse counselor hears from addicts who have been sober for multiple years. This page provides information for aspiring substance abuse addiction counselors. The goal of this course is to help the student comprehend the theoretical concepts and intervention techniques in the field of family therapy.

State boards must license professional counselors to practice their trade. Every state licensing agency has its own criteria, but there are a few general guidelines that should be helpful. First, aspiring LPCs should attend and graduate from an accredited program where they complete the requisite number of credit substance abuse counseling: definitions, requirements and finding a counselor hours in mental health counseling, social work, or an affiliated field. Most states require a master’s degree to work as a counselor, but those criteria are often lower for addiction counselors. Note that some states may require a certain number of credits in particular courses, augmented by elective credits in specific areas. Frequently, they require two years of full-time work as a counselor, but more time may be required.

• A certified substance abuse counselor is a licensed professionals with special knowledge and skills that allow them to assist individuals who struggle with alcohol and drug abuse and/or addiction.
• However, becoming a substance abuse counselor can also be highly rewarding.
• Students will gain knowledge and practical skills in case management, ongoing monitoring and assessment, and referral of clients to appropriate services as needed.

Sign the CCAPP Code of Conduct for Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselors. Complete all steps in our online electronic application system, called Certemy. Before you access the portal, you’ll need to create a valid my.ny.gov ID.

If you have held your license for 18 months or more, complete 40 contact hours. For your second biennial renewal and subsequent renewals, complete 40 contact hours. Completion of 50 hours of CEUs including nine hours in ethics and confidentiality. A minimum of three (3) of these ethics hours must be on the subjects of diversity, inclusion, culture, equity, or LGBTQIA2+.

Plan on reviewing material from every year that you were in school because it’s likely to be on the licensing exam. All applicants must also complete at least 300 hours of supervised practical training, with at least 10 hours in each of the core competencies. Supervised practical training must take place under the supervision of a Qualified Health Professional (QHP). You may meet these requirements through the completion of an internship or practicum within your degree program.