Types of Licenses in Substance Abuse Counseling

Substance abuse is widespread in the United States. As such, the demand for licensed professionals to counsel those individuals who abuse drugs or alcohol is growing. The requirements and license types vary on a state-by-state basis, as do the requirements for the prerequisites to obtain the license. It can be difficult to traverse the different laws and regulations for those who are looking to become a dedicated professional in the area of substance abuse counseling.

National Certification

• Substance abuse counselor's certificate

  The highest qualification a professional counselor can hold is a license combined with a certification by the National Board for Certified Counselors. In general, for counselors to receive this certificate, they must hold a master's degree in counseling, have two years of supervised fieldwork and pass a board exam. Addiction and substance abuse counselors must pass an additional exam. Some states allow a waiver of the state certification once the individual acquires the national certification, but most do not.

Independent Counselor

• DARE certificate

  An independent substance abuse counselor, senior addiction counselor or licensed professional counselor serve the same purpose and have the same certification requirements. These are the highest levels of counseling license a person can obtain aside from national certification. Receiving these licenses requires a master's degree in a behavioral health field; a minimum of 24 credit hours in counseling coursework; a minimum of 3,200 hours of supervised work in a clinical setting, with 1,600 of those hours in direct contact with clients and all within 24 months; and passing a Level II or higher written examination. This type of licensed counselor may counsel a client unsupervised and train associate counselors.

Associate Counselor

• The associate substance abuse counselor license is a step below an independent counselor but still has many of the same requirements. This level of license requires a bachelor's degree in a behavioral health field with 24 credit hours coursework in any area of counseling. The hourly requirements are the same as those for the independent counselor. The associate counselor also must pass a Level II or higher written exam. The associate may not counsel a client unsupervised and may not train other counselors.

Substance Abuse Technician

• Sigmund Freud

  This is an entry-level certification. This license requires associate's degree of applied science in the area of chemical dependency. The technician must have at least 30 hours of coursework in counseling and pass a Level II exam or higher. According to CareerInfoNet.org, study credits may be waived if the individual: "provides services pursuant to a contract or grant with the federal government under the authority of 25 U.S.C. 450 - 450(n) or 25 U.S.C. 1601 - 1683; has obtained a high school diploma or equivalent degree; because of cultural considerations, obtaining the degree required for substance abuse technician licensure would be an extreme hardship for the applicant; has completed a minimum of 6,400 hours of supervised work experience in substance abuse counseling in no less than 48 months completed within the seven years before the date of application; and has completed a minimum of 200 hours of clinical supervision in no less than 48 months within the supervised work experience submitted."

Considerations

• If you are considering a profession in a counseling field, be sure to check for rules and regulations specific to the state where you wish to practice. The credentials listed here are for general information only. You can obtain state-specific information from AllPsychologySchools.com and your state's board of licenses.