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- A Bachelor's Degree, earned at an accredited college or university. Students pursuing careers in addictions often select behavioral health related majors such as psychology, social work, human services, or Alcohol & Drug Abuse studies, but there is no required major.
- A Master’s Degree, or a Doctorate (PhD) in counseling will provide students with the knowledge and skills required to become a licensed counselor. The core areas of mental health education programs are approved by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.
Licensed Professional Counselors must:
- Earn a Master’s degree in counseling or a closely related mental health discipline
- Complete post-master’s clinical work under the supervision of a licensed or certified mental health professional
- Pass a state-developed or national licensure or certification examination
Each state has unique requirements. You can find more information about Licensed Professional Counselor certification here: https://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/licensure-requirements
Addictions or substance use counselors can acquire certifications to signify their training in addictions. There are several types of certification.
- National Certified Addiction Counselor (NCAC I)
- National Certified Addiction Counselor (NCAC II)
- Master Addiction Counselor (MAC)
- Nicotine Dependence Specialist (NDS)
- National Certified Adolescent Addictions Counselor (NCAAC)
- National Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS)
*Note, a variety of behavioral health practitioners (i.e. social workers, mental health counselors, marriage & family therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists) can qualify for the Addictions certifications. More information about these certifications can be found at: https://www.naadac.org/types-eligibility
Addiction counselors earn a median average annual salary of $41,030. The best-paid 10 percent could make $60,220 or more while the lowest-paid 10 percent made $25,280 or less.
American Counseling Association. (2015). Licensure Requirements for Professional Counselors, a state by state report. Retrieved from https://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/licensure-requirements
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. (2019). Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm
NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals. (2019). Types and Eligibility. Retrieved from https://www.naadac.org/types-eligibility
