| With the number of jobs increasing faster than people | | | | state, especially if you want to become a substance |
| are graduating from counseling programs, now could | | | | abuse counselor. In most states, a different agency or |
| be the right time to enter this worthwhile profession. | | | | board governs them than the one that governs all |
| What Does an Addiction Counselor Do? | | | | other counselors. For instance, substance abuse |
| Two types of counselors deal with addictions: mental | | | | counselors may only need a high school diploma plus |
| health counselors and substance abuse counselors. | | | | counselor certification. By contrast, other counselors |
| Mental health counselors usually help individuals or | | | | need a master's degree, up to 2-years of supervised |
| groups with a wider variety of issues including | | | | clinical experience, and a passing score on a |
| depression, stress, and sometimes addiction or | | | | state-recognized exam to obtain a license. |
| substance abuse. | | | | In any counseling field, you can choose to take an |
| Substance abuse counselors focus their entire practice | | | | exam to receive national certification through the |
| on people with addictions. Their clients may have | | | | National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). It's not |
| problems with drugs, alcohol, gambling, or even eating | | | | mandatory, but it does indicate to employers a certain |
| disorders. A lot of times they hold group sessions for | | | | level of proficiency. |
| addicts or their families, or run programs dedicated to | | | | The Association for Addiction Professionals |
| preventing addictions. | | | | (NAADAC) offers several other optional certifications |
| Where Do Addiction Counselors Work? | | | | specifically for addiction counselors. There are |
| A wide variety of facilities employ addiction counselors. | | | | certificate programs focusing on drugs and alcohol, |
| Those that employ the most include: | | | | tobacco, and adolescent addictions. Finally, the Master |
| • Outpatient Care Centers | | | | Addiction Counselor certification is for those |
| • Residential Mental Retardation, Mental Health and | | | | counselors who have a master's degree plus three |
| Substance Abuse Facilities | | | | years of supervised experience. Again, none of these |
| • Individual and Family Services | | | | are required for licensing but they can advance your |
| • General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | | | | career. |
| Other industries employ far fewer professionals, but | | | | Job Prospects and Salaries for Addiction Counselors |
| offer higher salaries: | | | | While job prospects are excellent and growing rapidly, |
| • Insurance Carriers | | | | people don't enter this profession to make huge |
| • Elementary and Secondary Schools | | | | amounts of money. The median earnings for addiction |
| • Specialty Hospitals (except Psychiatric and | | | | counselors in 2006 were $34,040, considerably lower |
| Substance Abuse Hospitals) | | | | than those of psychologists. Addiction counseling is an |
| • Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | | | | easier field to enter, however, with generally lower |
| Local government is the one industry that makes the | | | | education requirements. Salaries are higher at the top |
| top 5 list in both categories. | | | | employers, with mean annual wages at $42,430 for |
| Working hours can also vary widely depending on | | | | local government and mean salaries over $49,000 for |
| where you work. Some counselors work evening and | | | | those employed at elementary and secondary schools |
| weekend hours to accommodate people with full-time | | | | or with insurance carriers. |
| jobs, others may work more traditional hours. | | | | People who enter this profession can be proud of their |
| How Do You Become an Addiction Counselor? | | | | work, helping individuals and loved ones deal with the |
| Both education and licensing requirements vary by | | | | difficulties of addictions and hopefully overcome them. |