Substance Abuse Counselor Training

In substance abuse counselor programs, you will learn about how to counsel individuals that are struggling with addiction, the options available to treat them and also how you can work with a patient’s family in terms of getting the patient the help they need. The addiction programs will provide training that will prepare a student for the end of the program state written and oral exam, which will be required in order to obtain licensure in this field.  

A student can expect to take some of the following core courses in a substance abuse counselor program: drugs of abuse, case management, counseling alcoholics, mental illness and addiction, professional practices, life skills training, counseling foundations, sexual issues in addictions and recovery dynamics.

During these programs the student will be expected to obtain 600 hours working in a facility that treats patients that are suffering from addiction. The amount of required areas will vary with each different type of degree as well as which state you reside in. this type of internship will not only provide the student with the much needed hands on experience in the field but can also help the student to determine which type of facility they will want to work in once they have obtained their degree.

Substance Abuse Counselor Salary

The salary for the substance abuse counselor will depend on how many years they have been working in the field and which type of environment they work in. Places of employment such as homeless shelters, clinics and low-income treatment centers will provide the lower annual salary and will require more work. The salary for these types of counselor positions will range from 28,000$ to 32,000$

Places of employment for the substance abuse counselor such as private rehabs, hospitals or private practices will provide the counselor with the higher annual salary. The salary for these types of substance abuse counselor jobs will range from 38,000$ to 44,000$

During the counselor’s career they will need to obtain continuing education credits in order to maintain their licensure. Options for continuing education credits can be found on the NAADAC’s website where you will find webinars and online study programs as well as listings of local seminars you can attend. The counselor will need to earn twenty credits each year in order to renew their license every three years.

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs

The substance abuse counselor can work in half-way houses, jails, prisons, social welfare agencies, drug and alcohol treatment centers, hospitals, homeless shelters and state and community departments.  The highest percentage of growth in drug and alcohol abuse is found in teenagers, requiring a need for substance counselors in schools and universities. A counselor can also work by teaching substance abuse awareness lectures and programs, traveling from school to school.  

An abuse counselor will be required to obtain a bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree. There are also certificate programs available in place of a master’s degree program that is one year in length. After you have earned your degrees you will need to take a state licensing exam, which will also require the substance abuse counselor to earn continuing education credits in order to renew their licensure.  The amount of continuing education hours for the counselor will vary from state to state but are typically 50 to 60 hours every three years at the time of the license renewal. A counselor can attend lectures, webinars, online study courses and at home study courses on the NAADAC website. Failure to provide proof of the required amount of continuing education hours can result in the loss or suspension of the registered substance abuse counselor’s license.

Salary Potential for the Substance Abuse Counselor

The salary for the substance abuse counselor will depend on their level of education, years of experience and their work environment. The substance abuse counselor salary will range from 32,000$ to 49,000$ a year, with the starting salary ranging from 28,000$ to 30,000$. For a higher paying salary potential a counselor can apply for a supervisory position once they have worked more than three years in the field which can increase their salary by 6,000$ to 8,000$.  Available positions such as live-in counselor or director of a halfway house can also offer a higher salary while working in a treatment center or homeless shelter will provide the lower registered substance counselor salary.  Working in a hospital or at an in-patient rehab can also provide a higher annual salary with supervisory positions available with field experience.