2023 Best Online Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees in Michigan

In Michigan, if you've earned an in-person or online substance abuse counseling degree, you can pursue several different career options. One of the most common choices is to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). Although a bachelor's degree is not required for this type of certification, having a degree will minimize the number of hours of previous work experience you'll need to qualify. If you decide to continue your education with a master's degree or doctorate in counseling, you'll meet the Michigan state requirements for becoming a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC).

A substance abuse counseling degree also prepares you for nonclinical careers in public health. Some specific opportunities include working for a government-sponsored agency or nonprofit organization as a community health worker or a health education specialist. In these roles, you're likely to manage prevention or treatment programs, develop educational campaigns, or conduct fundraising activities to support the organization.

Licensure for substance use counseling in Michigan is managed by the Michigan Certified Board for Addiction Professionals (MCBAP). The board has established two levels of substance abuse counseling certification, each with its own requirements.

The first level is Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, or CADC. You do not necessarily need a college degree for this level, but you must have 300 hours of college education in substance use disorder (SUD) counseling. You also need prior work experience in SUD counseling, which can be paid or voluntary. The number of required hours varies depending on your education level. For example, those without a college degree need 6,000 hours of work experience, while those with master's degrees need only 2,000 hours. Of these, 200-300 hours must have been completed under direct supervision. Finally, you must pass the ADC exam sponsored by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC).

The second level is Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, or CAADC. For this certification, you'll need a master's degree or doctorate in some type of clinical counseling, such as addiction studies, and your transcripts must show at least 180 hours of SUD counseling courses. You'll also need 100 hours of supervised post-degree work experience. CAADC candidates must pass the AADC exam through IC&RC.

All associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees must be earned at an accredited college or university. If you haven't yet completed a graduate degree, you may be interested in our lists of the best online substance abuse counseling master's degrees and the most affordable online substance abuse counseling master's degrees. All of these online substance abuse counseling degree programs are institutionally accredited. 

CADC and CAADC licenses need to be renewed every two or three years. When you apply for renewal, you'll need to provide documentation that you've completed 20 hours of continuing education per year since your last renewal.

Yes, because Michigan is an IC&RC member state, it offers reciprocity for substance use counselors in good standing from other IC&RC member states. As long as you live or work in Michigan at least 51% of the time, you can provide in-person or online substance abuse counseling in the state. The level of your Michigan substance abuse counseling certification — CADC or CAADC — will be comparable to your current credential.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are nearly 8,800 substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors working in the Great Lake State who earn a mean annual salary of $54,080. ProjectionsCentral expects the number of substance abuse counseling jobs in Michigan to expand by 21.3% through 2032.