British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy
Steps to Becoming an Addictions and Mental Health Professional To become a drug abuse counselor, you must complete a rigorous educational program. To get certified, you will need to complete coursework as well as supervised on-the-job training (experience). To become a licensed counselor, you’ll need a graduate-level education as well as a significant amount of job experience.
Community colleges, select universities, and schools that provide career training may provide certifications in drug abuse counseling programs that allow students to become credentialed in specific areas of the field of addiction therapy.
For this occupation, you may be required to have a bachelor’s degree in social sciences with a focus in medical expertise, drug misuse counseling, or a comparable discipline, depending on your state. Two years are required to complete an associate’s degree in drug addiction counseling.
From accounting to engineering, you’ll find that certification is essential in a wide variety of areas. In the field of substance misuse therapy, a drug and alcohol counseling certificate demonstrates that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential to treat clients.
An Overview of Credentials According to the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP), addiction counselors can earn three different certifications: These qualifications are appropriate for individuals with varied levels of knowledge and formal training, depending on their skill set as a drug use disorder specialist.
Requirements for becoming a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC).
CADC I
Be certified in all areas pertinent to drug addiction counseling after completing at least 270 hours of training. Complete 300 hours of practical training under the supervision of a qualified instructor. Work 6,000 hours in the area of alcohol and drug counseling (or 4,000 hours for LADC II if the candidate has a Bachelor’s degree) to be eligible for certification.
LCDC-I
Certification. Counselor in Substance Abuse Certification (CSAC)
After being convicted of a felony, it is not difficult to pursue a career as a substance misuse counsellor. Despite the fact that it may be difficult to find work, you must keep all of your credentials in order to make the process easier for yourself.
We are accredited by the NAADAC and have relationships with various credentialing boards, as well as reciprocity with the IC&RC. We are available online throughout the country.
The California Commission on Alcohol and Drug Programs (CCAPP) encourages you to become a Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor III (CADC-III)
The California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) has been accredited by the California Department of Health Care Services (California Department of Health Care Services). CCAPP is a state agency that is responsible for registering and certifying alcohol and drug counselors in California.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage for a drug addiction counselor in the United States is $20.18. Salary information for 3.6k employees was last updated on April 28, 2022.
LADC Requirements
Possess a High School diploma or a GED equivalent qualification. Have completed a minimum of 270 hours of chemical dependency training or educational opportunities. A minimum of 135 clock hours must be devoted specifically to drug misuse and addiction therapy. The remaining 135 hours might be spent on clinical counseling courses that are linked to your field.
Even though salaries in the LCDC jobs category can range from $48,732 to $24,366, the majority of salaries in the category currently range between $31,454 (25th percentile) and $39,428 (75th percentile), with the top earners (90th percentile) earning $44,302 per year in Texas, according to data from ZipRecruiter.
The following are the five steps to become a therapist in Texas.