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 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.

Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs

You can find work as a counselor in a homeless shelter where there are also supervisory positions available, such as manager or shelter director. The director position will require the substance abuse counselor to work with case managers, oversee staff, manage the shelters finances and help the case managers to assess the needs of clients. In this position you will also need to work with the volunteer coordinator in order to help recruit volunteers and plan the shelters volunteer schedule. The salary for this type of supervisory position will range from 36,000$ to 38,000$.  

Working in a halfway house the counselor will work counseling patients that are recovering from drug or alcohol abuse. The counselor will help the patients to develop a plan for sobriety and also monitor their progress and help to build the patients interview skills in order to prepare them for employment. The salary for this type of position will bring an annual pay of 29,000$ to 30,000$.

Working in a Hospital Setting as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor

Working at an in-patient treatment center the substance abuse counselor will work with patients that are going through withdrawals from drugs or alcohol and will counsel them on an individual basis or they will lead therapy groups.  Out-patient treatment centers will involve the counselor working with patients during the weekends or evenings, in order to allow them to maintain their full time employment. The counselor will be available to work with these patients on a one on one basis, monitor their progress and also lead group therapy sessions. The annual salary for the in-patient counselor will range from 30,000$ to 34,000$ while the out-patient counselor salary will range from 30,000$ to 35,000$. Both types of salaries will depend on the counselors work experience and level of education.

The substance abuse counselor employment can also be found in a hospital, in the drug dependency unit where they will work with patients that are suffering from withdrawals from drug or alcohol abuse. This type of position may require the counselor to work long hours or have a rotating schedule, as these facilities will receive patients that are recovering from overdoses or other types of severe cases that can involve the patient entering the facility at any hour of the day or night. The salary for this type of position will range from 32,000$ to 34,000$.

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.