About Drug and Alcohol Treatment Counselor Training

Drug and alcohol treatment counselors are an important part of the mental and physical health of our society. Becoming a drug and alcohol counselor is a career choice that helps people seeking recovery from substance addiction as well as their families. In most states, there is a lack of enough counselors to help those who need treatment. For example, according to the Washington State Department of Social Services, 40 percent of Washington state drug and alcohol treatment center directors reported their centers were understaffed. Other states are in similar positions. This makes drug and alcohol treatment a field full of opportunities for those interested.

Hours

• Drug and alcohol counselors are required to have a specific amount of hours of education before qualifying you take a certification exam. The standard curriculum hours requirement is 270 hours. In some states, most of these hours may be completed online, while in other states all credits must be done in a classroom setting. Depending on the state, curriculum hours may vary from 150 to 300 hours. Check with your local state department of licensing to discover your state's requirements.

Subjects

• The required course subjects for certification may vary, but most states require education from specific areas, including drug pharmacology and identification, counseling skills, ethics, AIDS training and substance abuse prevention. Many programs lead to an associate's degree in chemical dependency, while some colleges may also offer bachelor's or master's degrees in drug and alcohol counseling.

Internship

• Once education hours have been reached, all states require that chemical dependency students take part in internship hours before becoming certified. Internships allow students to work with clients under supervision of certified drug and alcohol counselors. This gives hands-on experience before entering the field as well as gives the counseling student connections into the future job market. The number of hours required for an internship depends on state requirements as well as the level of degree the student is pursuing.

Certification/Licensing

• Once all education and internship hours have been completed, a drug and alcohol counseling student must sit for and pass a certification exam given by the NAADAC Association for Addiction Professionals. Manuals, practice tests and study preparations classes are available to help you pass this test by visiting the NAADAC website or by talking to your chemical dependency counseling adviser at your college. Once all education, internship and testing requirements have been met, you may apply for state licensing through your states department of licensing or health department.

Continuing Education

• After certification, drug and alcohol treatment counselors are required to complete continuing education classes on an annual basis. The amount of hours required depends on the state you currently practice in. These hours help counselors stay on top of new trends and treatment options in addiction treatment. Continuing education classes are provided through colleges, treatment centers and even online in some states.