2023 Best Online Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees in Louisiana
An undergraduate online degree in counseling is a great start for students seeking entry-level careers in addiction and substance use counseling or similar fields. Our list below highlights online substance use counseling degrees in Louisiana at all program levels available, which include associate through bachelor's degrees in substance use counseling.
Alternatively, you can check out our overall list of the most affordable online substance use counseling programs if you are concerned about cost.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
- Locations: Natchitoches
- Annual Tuition: $19,460
At Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSU) — a medium-sized, public institution — prospective students can pursue a bachelor’s degree in addiction counseling.
- An online Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies is a 120-credit degree program that helps students develop a strong understanding of human behavior and improve their communication, analytical, and organizational skills. Sample courses include Developmental Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Family Dynamics. Graduates of this program may go on to careers like human resource managers, substance abuse counselors, and program managers.
NSU facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning on the learning management system Moodle. Courses are delivered either fully online or in a hybrid format. Online students at NSU can access a student helpdesk, advising, tutoring, proctoring, and a virtual library.
- Financial Aid Recipients: 95%
- Avg. Aid Package: $9,347
- Repayment Rate: 87%
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Avg. Graduation Rate: 44%
- Retention Rate: 64%
- Recommend Rate: 83%
- School Type: Nonprofit (Public)
- Undergraduate Online: 4,905 enrolled
- Graduate Online: 1,023 enrolled
- Certificate Online: 1,836 enrolled
Southern University and A & M College
- Locations: Baton Rouge
- Annual Tuition: $17,192
Southern University and A & M College is a mid-sized, public, and Historically Black University that hosts an online bachelor’s degree in counseling.
- The online Bachelor of Science in Psychology - Substance Abuse Counseling totals 120 credit hours. The Substance Abuse Counseling concentration gives students an overview of substance abuse counseling and human behavior. It also offers a certification after the concentration’s required courses are completed, which include Clinical Aspects of Addictions, Therapeutic Approaches to Substance Abuse Treatment, and Substance Abuse & Human Behavior, to name a few. The program’s graduates often pursue careers as addiction therapists, counselors, and social workers.
Moodle is Southern’s learning management system for online asynchronous and synchronous courses available for part-time and full-time students. The university offers online student resources like an online library, career services, a bookstore, disability services, and academic advising.
- Financial Aid Recipients: 98%
- Avg. Aid Package: $7,726
- Repayment Rate: 90%
- Acceptance Rate: 45%
- Avg. Graduation Rate: 32%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Recommend Rate: 92%
- School Type: Nonprofit (Public)
- Undergraduate Online: 940 enrolled
- Graduate Online: 140 enrolled
- Certificate Online: 643 enrolled
University of Holy Cross
- Locations: New Orleans
- Annual Tuition: $15,280
The University of Holy Cross (UHC) is a small, private, and nonprofit institution affiliated with the Roman Catholic tradition. It hosts two online degrees in addiction counseling at the associate and bachelor's levels.
- The online Associate of Science in Addiction Counseling comprises 61 credit hours, and it's a helpful stepping stone for students interested in addiction counseling careers. A few examples of the program’s courses include Interviewing and Counseling, Recovery Counseling, and Addictions Counseling. Prospective careers include substance abuse counselors, case managers, and recovery coaches.
- A 120-credit online Bachelor of Science in Addiction Counseling goes beyond the foundational courseowork of the associate degree by helping students better understand human behaviors and improving their skills in counseling, research, assessment, and interviewing. Example courses include Juvenile Delinquency, Sexual Trauma, and Crisis Intervention. A few potential career options for graduates include care coordinators, social workers, and clinical supervisors.
The university utilizes the digital platform Canvas to deliver online coursework in synchronous formats for part-time and full-time students. Online students at UHC can access resources such as a writing center, advising, online libraries, and a tech helpdesk.
- Financial Aid Recipients: 94%
- Avg. Aid Package: $7,662
- Repayment Rate: 95%
- Acceptance Rate: 46%
- Avg. Graduation Rate: 30%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Recommend Rate: 100%
- School Type: Nonprofit (Private)
- Undergraduate Online: 59 enrolled
- Graduate Online: 38 enrolled
- Certificate Online: 1 enrolled
Overview of Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees in Louisiana
A 2023 study conducted by WalletHub uncovered some alarming statistics for the state of Louisiana. Out of 50 states and Washington, D.C., the state ranked fourth in drug overdose deaths per capita, fourth in opioid pain reliever prescription use per 100 people, and fifth in drug arrests per capita.
To address this ongoing public health crisis, the state government created the Louisiana Advisory Council on Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE Council) five years ago. In the years since, the council has made significant progress in expanding treatment services. The HOPE Council's goals for the next three years include enhancing the statewide treatment network, which increases job opportunities for graduates of substance abuse counseling programs.
If you're looking for more online bachelor's degree options, you'll find them on our ranked listings of the best online substance abuse counseling degrees, the most affordable online substance abuse counseling degrees, and the best online counseling degrees.
FAQs About Substance Use Counseling Degrees in Louisiana
What Can You Do With a Substance Use Counselor Degree in Louisiana?
If you've earned a traditional or online substance abuse counseling degree, you can choose to follow one of two main career paths.
One option is to pursue clinical roles that allow you to provide substance use counseling in Louisiana, either to individuals or in group settings. A bachelor's degree qualifies you for either of the two lower levels of certification — the Registered Addiction Counselor (RAC) or the Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC). You'll need a master's degree to obtain the highest Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) level of certification.
The other option is to pursue one of many nonclinical roles in, for example, local or state government agencies or nonprofit organizations. Becoming a community health worker or health education specialist allows you to assist people suffering from substance use disorder and other addictions. You may find yourself running or monitoring a prevention, education, or treatment program.
How Do I Become a Substance Use Counselor in Louisiana?
If you want to become a substance use counselor in Louisiana, you'll need to work with the licensing and regulatory board for substance abuse professionals, which is the Louisiana Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority. Before you apply for one of the three levels of substance abuse certification, you should complete the requirements for higher education and experience.
To become a Registered Addiction Counselor (RAC), you need only a high school diploma or the equivalent — not a college degree — but you will need to provide transcripts showing that you've completed 270 hours (18 credits) of college coursework in addiction counseling and ethics. You will also need to provide verified documentation of 6,000 hours of supervised work experience in substance abuse counseling. This on-the-job training needs to cover the core functions of a counselor, such as screening, assessment, treatment planning, and counseling.
For the Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) level, you'll need a bachelor's degree in addiction counseling or a similar degree in human services or behavioral science. You'll also need 4,000 hours of supervised practice.
For the highest level of certification, which is the Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), you'll need a master's degree or doctorate in a clinical counseling discipline, such as addiction counseling. You'll also need 2,000 hours of supervised clinical experience.
After you have met these preparatory requirements, you can submit your application for certification. If approved, you'll be scheduled to take the ADC exam sponsored by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC).
Once you've earned certification, you'll need to renew your license every two years. As part of the renewal process, you'll be required to provide documentation that you've completed 48 hours of continuing education.
Louisiana state counseling requirements also indicate that all college degrees must be from institutionally accredited schools. If you haven't yet earned a bachelor's degree, you may be interested in the accredited online programs on our lists of the best online substance abuse counseling degrees and the most affordable online substance abuse counseling degrees. To explore accredited online master's degree options, review our lists of the best online substance abuse counseling master's degrees and the most affordable online master's in substance abuse counseling.
Does Louisiana Have Reciprocity for Substance Use Counselors?
Professionals from other states who have passed qualifying exams through the IC&RC may be able to transfer their counseling credentials to Louisiana. Licensed counselors in good standing who want to offer in-person or online substance abuse counseling in the state can submit an application to the Louisiana Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority. Depending on your previous certification, you may be exempt from repeating the necessary exams.
How Much Does a Substance Use Counselor Make in Louisiana?
Salary data for Louisiana's three levels of substance abuse counselors is not available. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in the state earn a mean annual salary of $41,090. There are currently about 4,810 professionals working here, and ProjectionsCentral expects the number of substance abuse counseling jobs in Louisiana to grow by 11.3% throughout this decade.
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