How To Become an Addiction Counselor
What Is an Addiction Counselor?
A career in addiction counseling is often appealing to those who want to make helping others their life’s work. As an addiction counselor, you will have the opportunity to be a strong, positive influence on the lives of your clients. You may help others turn their lives around, and in doing this you may make a positive contribution to the surrounding community.
While there are many steps for how to become an addiction counselor, you may find a career in counseling to be a meaningful reward for all your hard work.
What Does an Addiction Counselor Do?
An addiction counselor works with people from varied backgrounds who struggle with substance use disorders, including addictions to different kinds of drugs and alcohol. Addiction counselors are responsible for helping individuals get treatment. They must be well-versed in teaching coping mechanisms and creating personalized treatment plans based on each individual’s specific addiction, needs and goals.
What does an addiction counselor do on a typical day? These counseling professionals may be found doing any combination of the following tasks:
Depending on company or state requirements, addiction counselors may also be called substance use counselors, alcohol and drug counselors or chemical dependency professionals.2 Despite the different titles, they will most likely have a similar job description.
Learning how to become an addiction counselor is beneficial if you are interested in a career helping individuals get the treatment and support they need to address their substance use disorders. Here is a typical educational pathway to help you get started in this career:
If you are in high school and considering a career in the counseling field, talk to your guidance counselor about taking related subjects, such as psychology. You may also consider taking courses in life sciences as well as communication or language classes.
When choosing a bachelor’s program, make sure your degree provides a solid foundation in counseling so your skills may later be applied toward an advanced degree and licensure. While some states and employers require only a bachelor’s degree for addiction counselors, other states and positions require a master’s degree in order to practice.3
In graduate school, your master’s degree curriculum will typically involve a practicum and internship experiences to help you gain the supervised clinical hours you need for licensure. Licensure requirements vary by state, so be sure your intended master’s program meets your state’s requirements.
Occupations that have similar job responsibilities to an addiction counselor, but may not require a graduate degree or licensure, include:4
- Health education specialists
- Correctional treatment specialists
- Social and community service managers
- Social workers
Obtain your professional license and certification. Check with the licensing board for the state in which you plan to practice and evaluate its requirements. In general, the licensing board may require academic and clinical experience hours, a background check and a fingerprint clearance.
Aspiring addiction counselors may also research national certifications with organizations including the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC). This organization, as well as state certification boards, offer a variety of certifications at different levels.5
Following this educational path may help prepare you with the necessary skills and experiences to pursue a career in the counseling field.
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Best Degrees for Addiction Counselors
Choosing an undergraduate and graduate degree with a focus in substance use or addiction counseling can offer the foundational skills and practical experience to prepare you for a career as a licensed addiction counselor.
If you are interested in becoming an addiction counselor, you are invited to explore these relevant degree programs at GCU. If you have specific questions regarding eligibility or requirements, please complete the form on this page to connect with a university counselor.
Bachelor’s Programs
Master’s Programs
Other Programs
Some of the most essential skills and characteristics needed to serve as an effective addiction counselor are:
- Communication: This is essential to be able to clearly explain ideas and concepts and to elicit clear communication from clients.
- Trustworthiness: Clients must be able to trust their counselors before they can voice their innermost feelings.
- Problem-solving: The ability to brainstorm solutions and creatively solve problems is crucial for every counselor.
- Interpersonal skills: Addiction counselors must have a keen grasp of interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence (EQ).
Where Do Addiction Counselors Work?
Some addiction counselors choose to work in private practices, working on their own or with other counselors. They may also work in a variety of settings, including:8
Inpatient and outpatient treatment centers
Some mental health centers hire addiction counselors to provide care through individual and group therapy sessions.
Residential treatment centers
Addiction counselors may offer therapy sessions for those in longer-term stay facilities who are dealing with substance use, addiction and other mental health disorders.
Advancement Opportunities Within Addiction and Substance Use Counseling
Licensed and experienced addiction and substance use counselors may choose to pursue possible career advancement into supervisory, managerial or administration positions. Another option for advancement is to open a private practice. Some further certifications or credentials may be needed based on state requirements.
Get started on your journey to becoming an addiction counselor. Contact a university counselor to learn more about the counseling programs offered at GCU.
1 National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers. (n.d.). Understand Addiction. Retrieved on Feb. 28, 2024.
2 Addiction-Counselors.com. (n.d.). Why Addiction Counselors Go by So Many Names. Retrieved on Feb. 9, 2024.
3 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, Sept. 6). How to Become a Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder or Mental Health Counselor. Retrieved on Feb. 9, 2024.
4 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, Sept. 6). Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder and Mental Health Counselors Similar Occupations. Retrieved on Feb. 27, 2024.
5 The Association for Addiction Professionals. (n.d.). Certification. Retrieved on Feb. 9, 2024.
6 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder and Mental Health Counselors as of May 2023, retrieved May 24, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as Top Executives nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
7 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder and Mental Health Counselors, retrieved on Feb. 9, 2024.
8 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, Sept. 6). Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder and Mental Health Counselors Work Environment. Retrieved on Feb. 9, 2024.