Substance Abuse Counselor Job Requirements

The substance abuse counselor job requirements will include the applicant having their high school diploma or equivalent, their bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree or having taken the substance abuse counselor certificate program in place of the master’s degree.  In order to work as a counselor in a private practice you will be required to have obtained a master’s degree with 3,000 to 4,000 hours of clinical hours that have been supervised.  After you have completed your education you will then need to take a state licensing exam and earn 20 hours of continuing education hours each year, in order to renew the substance abuse counselor license every three years.  

In order to earn continuing education credits you can attend webinars, lectures, online study courses, online study exams or you can volunteer in this field under the supervision of a licensed substance abuse counselor. You can find information on each states continuing education and licensing requirements on the National Board for Certified Counselors website.

Where can a Substance Abuse Counselor Work?

As a counselor you can work in a private practice, homeless shelter, out-patient or in-patient treatment center, hospital or half-way house.

Working in a half-way house may require the counselor to live at the facility and be on-call 24 hours a day. This type of position will require the counselor to have three or more years of experience in the field. The supervisory position of the house director will involve counseling the patients on a one on one basis, closely monitoring patients for signs of relapse and working with the patients on their interviewing skills in order to prepare them for job interviews.

Working as a counselor at an in-patient treatment center will require the counselor to work in a hospital setting in the drug treatment unit. These units will commonly deal with patients that are suffering from drug or alcohol withdrawal. As a counselor you will lead group therapy sessions and provide one on one counseling to patient’s while also working on a substance abuse program that will meet their needs.

For those interested in finding out how to become a substance abuse counselor in a homeless shelter, the answer is by earning your degree and applying online or with government agencies you can find entry level employment.   Working in a homeless shelter will provide one of the lowest paying substance abuse counselor salaries but is often seen as one of the most rewarding environments to work in. As a counselor in a shelter you will assist clients with finding resources for food, housing and clothing while also being required to take careful documentation of each client in order to monitor their progress or look for signs of possible relapse.

The Substance Abuse Therapist License Continuing Education Requirements

Once you have earned your bachelor’s and master’s degree you will need to take the state licensing written and oral exam. The state licensing exam for the substance abuse counselor will vary from state to state as will the cost of the exam.  

Once you have obtained your substance abuse counselor license you will be required to earn twenty hours of continuing education credits a year, for a total of 60 hours in a three year period. You will need to renew your substance abuse counselor certifications every three years by providing proof of the required amount of continuing education credits. Failure to provide the correct amount can result in the loss or suspension of your license.

The Substance Abuse Counselor Work Environment

As a substance abuse counselor you can work in several different types of environments such as a homeless shelter, hospital, in-patient or out -patient treatment center, rehab, halfway house or a private practice.

The type of salary you can earn as a counselor will depend on your level of education, years of experience in the field and the type of environment you work in.

Places such as half way houses can offer the counselor free room and board in addition to monthly compensation, but will require the counselor to work long hours and be on-call 24 hours a day.

Positions for the in-patient counselor can provide a higher salary for those counselors that are willing to work on an on-call basis and will require them to work long hours dealing with patients that are going through withdrawals from drugs or alcohol.

The drug and alcohol counselor will work closely with clients who are former drug addicts and alcoholics or are currently struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. You will counsel clients on a one on one basis, assist them in finding resources for housing, food and clothing and you can also work by leading group therapy sessions.  You can also find employment as a drug and alcohol counselor that travels from school to school, counseling students and giving lectures in order to educate students on drug and alcohol abuse.