Substance Abuse Counseling Careers Guide
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Career Focus: Substance Use Counselors
Substance use counselors are experts in the physiological and psychological effects of drugs and alcohol and in how to treat dependence on these substances. This profession is growing fast as more people come to recognize the public health effects of substance use disorder.
What Do Substance Use Counselors Do?
Substance use counselors meet with patients who have problems stemming from their use of drugs or alcohol. They assess the patient's needs and offer advice on how to change their behavior, keeping meticulous records at each stage of treatment.
Effective counselors are perceptive, empathetic listeners with the desire to help people improve their lives. It also helps to be organized in order to stay on top of record keeping and patient billing.
Common types of employers include outpatient or inpatient substance use treatment facilities, hospitals, individual and family services (also called private practices), and corrections facilities. Outpatient counselors may refer patients to intensive inpatient treatment programs if they feel it's necessary for the person's health and safety. It's common to use both one-on-one and small-group treatment for substance use disorder.
Substance Use Counselor Career Outlooks
The career outlook for substance use counselors looks bright, but it can be difficult to analyze the available data. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) groups substance use counselors together with behavioral disorder and mental health counselors. As a whole, these counselors look to enjoy 22% growth in new jobs from 2021-2031. But we can't tell exactly how many of these jobs are likely to be substance use counselor positions as opposed to the other two types.
At least one study suggests that COVID-related stressors have decreased job satisfaction in addiction treatment and led to more burnout and people leaving the field. But there's not enough data yet to draw a firm conclusion on employment trends related to the pandemic or how COVID-related changes will affect this career long term.
The tables below have salary and job growth information that might be relevant to you as a future substance use counselor. All data comes from the BLS.
The following table uses data from Projections Central, a federal project that collects each state government's employment projections.
How To Become a Substance Use Counselor
There are several roads you can take to a substance use counseling career. The following steps show one common path.
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Enroll in an accredited bachelor's in substance abuse counseling degree program.
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Complete your program's internship or other field experience to graduate and satisfy your state's requirements for substance use counselors. This experience involves anywhere from 350 to 600 hours observing and working under a licensed substance use counselor so the state can place its trust in you for such a sensitive role.
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Pursue state licensure and certification, if applicable. See the Licensure and Certification for Counselors section below for more details.
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Find an entry-level job. You can't work for a private practice without a master's degree, but you could find work at another type of facility with a job title such as intake counselor, drug and alcohol treatment specialist, substance use and recovery treatment counselor, or chemical dependency counselor. This work could involve taking patient histories and directing them to relevant services, overseeing small group therapy sessions, or performing community outreach about the dangers of addiction.
We've listed another road to becoming a substance use counselor below:
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Earn a bachelor's degree in any subject, such as a bachelor's in counseling.
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Enroll in a master's in substance abuse counseling degree program.
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Complete the program's internship or field experience.
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Pursue state licensure and certification, if applicable.
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Find an entry-level job. If you have a state license, you're free to work at a private practice or open your own.
Our guide How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor has much more detail if you're considering this career. You can also read How to Become a Counselor if counseling intrigues you but you're unsure about a specialty.
Licensure and Certification for Counselors
A license is permission from a state government to practice substance use counseling in that state. All states require licenses to practice privately but you may be able to have a rewarding career without earning this credential.
To earn a license, you need a master's degree, a certain number of hours working as a counselor, and a passing score on a state competency exam. Maintaining a license requires you to engage in continuing education. State guidelines differ, but this usually involves completing or attending a certain number of courses or conference panels every two years. You can research state-specific requirements at the Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network (ATTCN) site.
A certification is a credential that showcases your expertise in a discipline. The Association for Addiction Professionals offers six types of certifications for counselors with different levels of education and experience. You don't need a certification to get a job, but they might improve your marketability to employers. As with licenses, certifications typically require that you pass a test and regularly renew the credential by undergoing continuing education.
Alternate Substance Use Counseling Career Paths
A substance use counseling education emphasizes knowledge and skills that can be potentially useful in other careers. These include social services policy, psychology and behavior modification, critical thinking, healthcare law, and active listening.
The careers below are all related to substance use counseling in some way. Many of them require education in addition to a degree in substance use counseling, so be sure you understand the requirements involved before committing to any programs.
Other Types of Counseling
People see counselors for many reasons other than chemical dependence. For example, the BLS includes behavioral disorder and mental health counselors in the same category as substance use counselors. These professionals help patients through problems relating to mental illness, family issues, and problem behaviors. They often need a master's degree in counseling to practice their profession. Mental health counselors earn median annual salaries of $48,520 and are experiencing 22% job growth, partly driven by a spike in demand during the pandemic.
School counselors require specialized master's degrees in school counseling so they can guide young students through mental health and behavior issues in their place of learning. School counselors make median pay of $60,510 per year and can expect 10% growth in new jobs through 2031.
Psychology
Psychology bachelor's degrees are among the most popular nationwide, but it takes an advanced degree to practice a psychology career. For example, licensed clinical psychologists need to have a doctorate in psychology to counsel patients or conduct research on the mind.
Forensic psychologists use their expertise in criminal behavior to help investigators solve crimes and to serve as expert witnesses in court. They must have at least a master's degree in forensic psychology. Sports psychologists try to help athletes and coaches with the mental part of their performance. These employees usually also need a master's degree in sports psychology.
As a group, psychologists make median yearly wages of $81,040. Their job field is expected to grow 6% in the 2021-2031 decade.
Therapy
Technically, many types of mental health professionals give therapy. For example, psychiatrists are types of therapists who have medical doctor degrees and can prescribe medications to patients. Their extensive education and training can pay off with median annual salaries of $249,760, and their 9% job growth rate is the highest among all doctors.
Marriage and family therapists specialize in helping couples and families through their problems. With a 14% growth rate, their job field is expanding even faster than psychiatry. However, they only make median wages of $49,880 per year while still requiring a master's degree in marriage and family therapy to practice.
Other Careers in Substance Use Counseling
Employers might hire substance use counseling specialists for a variety of jobs in health and human services. For example, their knowledge might serve them well as health education specialists working with communities to address public health concerns such as addiction. These specialists earn median salaries of $60,600 annually and are experiencing 8% job growth through 2031.
Another possible career is social or community service manager. These professionals administer public service programs for government agencies or nonprofits. They earn $74,000 per year and the BLS projects a 12% job growth rate in the 2021-2031 decade.
Finally, a substance use counseling degree might be helpful in a career as a medical or health services manager. This occupation involves leading teams of healthcare professionals and projects at a variety of facilities. These professionals make median yearly pay of $101,340. The job field is growing very fast at 28% through 2031, but there may be a lot of competition from the growing number of candidates with degrees in healthcare management.
If cost is a primary concern, you might review our lists of the most affordable online substance use counseling bachelor's degrees or the most affordable online master's in substance use counseling as you consider your career.
FAQs About Substance Abuse Counseling Careers
How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make?
Substance use counselors make median annual wages of $48,520. Those who work for government agencies tend to earn much more than this at $60,450. Interestingly, some of the highest paying areas for these counselors are in places with fairly low costs of living. For example, you might earn relatively well in parts of Nevada and Utah.
How Long Does It Take to Become an Addictions Counselor?
It typically takes at least four to five years after graduating high school to become a substance use counselor. You'll nearly always need a bachelor's degree to do this work, which college administrators will tell you lasts four years. But most students take more than four years to finish. On the other hand, it's possible to graduate college early if you plan carefully and work hard.
Can You Be a Substance Abuse Counselor Without a Degree?
The BLS mentions that a few substance use counseling positions call for a high school diploma and nothing more. But these are rare. It's a much safer bet to study substance use counseling if you want to be eligible for jobs in this field.
Can You Be a Substance Abuse Counselor With a Felony?
You might be able to become a substance use counselor if you have a felony conviction, but it's not guaranteed because the rules differ by state. It's not uncommon for people in recovery from substance use disorder to become counselors themselves. The process may be harder with a felony conviction, which will require explanation during a background check. It helps to demonstrate a period of rehabilitation since the conviction, including steady work and education. You may be granted a contingent license until you've passed a certain period of supervision.
The ATTCN gives details on regional licensure rules around the country, including rules for candidates with criminal records.
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