Important Facts About Substance Abuse Counselors
| Licensure | Mandatory for private practice counselors; requirements are available through the National Board for Certified Counselors |
| Key Skills | Patience, empathy, active listening, situational awareness, clear oration |
| Work Environment | Outpatient care centers; residential intellectual and developmental disability, mental health, and substance abuse facilities; individual and family services |
| Similar Occupations | Psychologists, rehabilitation counselors, social workers, social and community service managers |
Courses
Associate's degree programs in this field usually require students to complete courses in psychology, addiction assessment, case management and ethics. Other courses include:
- Group counseling
- Case management
- Individual counseling
- Multicultural counseling
- Interventions
In general, these programs prepare you to find work as a substance abuse counselor. Substance abuse or addictions counselors perform one-on-one or group counseling sessions to help people struggling with chemical dependency. Working with other professionals, including social workers and psychiatrists, these counselors help clients understand their treatment options and work with them to meet treatment goals. Counselors might help their clients find employment or work with the clients' family.
As an addictions counselor, you might work at a residential care facility, outpatient center, prison or hospital. Other potential places of employment include detoxification centers, mental health facilities, halfway houses or clinics. Job opportunities also possible with this degree include crisis worker, case manager or detox specialist.
Certification
In most states, you'll need to be certified or licensed to work as an addictions or substance abuse counselor. Requirements to earn this credential vary, but you'll likely need at least an associate's degree and a minimum amount of supervised fieldwork to qualify. In some states, you might need to start out by getting certified as a counselor intern or a similar title in order to acquire enough work experience to work as a counselor.
Outlook and Salary
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 22% job growth for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors from 2021 to 2031. This growth is much faster than the average for all other jobs. Substance abuse counselors are expected to be in demand since many insurance companies are now including this service in their policies. Substance abuse counseling could also be used in place of prison sentences for some offenders. In May 2021, substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors earned a median salary of $48,520, the BLS reports.
