Drug and Alcohol Counseling Certification Programs and Colleges

<h3 id="section---WhatYouNeedToKnow">What You Need to Know</h3> <p>Technical colleges, community colleges and universities all offer programs for substance abuse counseling. You will also need certification, and requirements differ in each state. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td><b>Certification</b></td><td> Professional certification requirements vary by state</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Degrees</b></td><td> Associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees; certificates also exist</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Courses</b></td><td> Counseling, psychology and chemical dependency</td></tr> </table><h3 id="section---WillCompletingADrugAndAlcoholProgramMakeMeProfessionallyCertified">Will Completing a Drug and Alcohol Program Make Me Professionally Certified?</h3> <p>Each state has different requirements for gaining certification as a drug and alcohol counselor. Completing a drug and alcohol program signifies that you have completed the requirements for the school, but will not give you professional certification. Many states require that you complete a state-approved college program, pass a competency examination, and complete supervised work experience to become certified. Drug and alcohol counselors are certified at different levels, with advancing levels dependent on education and supervised work experience. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatKindOfProgramsAreAvailable">What Kind of Programs Are Available?</h3> <p>Most programs combine practicum or fieldwork experience with classroom lectures, providing you with a solid foundation in the field of addiction. Programs are available at the certificate and associate degree levels. Additionally, there are many bachelor's and master's degree programs which offer specializations in drug and alcohol counseling. For example, you could take a Bachelor Of Science In Counseling with an emphasis in Addiction, Chemical Dependency, and Substance Abuse as your degree program. A Master of Science in Social Work with a concentration in Alcohol and Drug Counseling may also be available. </p> <h3 id="section---WhereCanIStudy">Where Can I Study?</h3> <p>Drug and alcohol counseling programs are designed for individuals looking to begin substance abuse counseling and for people already working in the mental health field. They can be found in technical colleges, community colleges and universities. These programs require that you have a high school diploma or its equivalent to begin coursework. They often require that you have been in recovery for at least two years prior to admission if you have struggled with substance abuse issues yourself. The following is a list of schools that offer drug and alcohol counseling certification programs: </p> <ul><li>University of Louisville (KY) </li><li>Gateway Community College (New Haven, CT) </li><li>Monroe Community College (Rochester, NY) </li><li>Delaware Technical Community College (Multiple locations) </li><li>Purdue Global (Multiple locations) </li><li>University of California at San Diego Extension </li></ul><h3 id="section---WhatWillILearn">What Will I Learn?</h3> <p>Drug and alcohol counselor training programs provide you with an understanding of many different substance addictions, such as heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and alcohol addiction. Skills pertinent to employment as an addictions counselor, including case management and treatment team coordination, are also covered. Many programs offer courses in: </p> <ul><li>Group counseling </li><li>Counseling techniques </li><li>Counseling models </li><li>Psychology </li><li>Chemical dependency </li><li>Crisis intervention </li><li>Environmental risk factors </li><li>Genetic risk factors </li><li>Disease of addiction </li><li>Evidence-based treatment models </li><li>Counseling ethics</li></ul>