Those degrees may not come with required educational coursework, however, which is where these online diploma and certificate options may come in. In some cases, you will find online courses specifically aimed at certain degree holders, such as graduate certificates. But in most programs, there is no special relationship between the certificate courses and your degree level. Online addiction counseling courses are typically laser-focused on the specific coursework needed to fulfill the educational requirements for licensing or certification at various levels. CACREP does, however, recognize an addiction counseling specialization so you can count on the quality of programs it evaluates in this field as well.

Online Certificates in Addiction & Substance Abuse Counseling

• Like NAADAC exams, IC&RC exams are made up of 150 multiple choice questions and have a three-hour time limit.
• As a result of this knowledge base, students will be able to initiate the process of formulating interventions with families.
• Substance abuse counselors are included under the wider umbrella of addiction counselors, who typically must be licensed to practice.
• As a space-grant and sea-grant school, the University of Florida’s campus in Gainesville serves approximately 56,450 students.
• The University of Florida offers its addiction and recovery certificate program through its medical school, which hosts one of the largest addiction research efforts in the country.

ASU Online is dedicated to providing innovative, high-quality online education to students from across the country and around the world. Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences takes a transdisciplinary approach to education with a vast spectrum of degrees in the social sciences, natural sciences and humanities. We inspire students to become socially aware critical thinkers and global citizens.

HAVE AN AA DEGREE AND READY TO BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION IN CERTEMY?

It sets national standards for different certification levels, but state affiliates are free to set those higher. You can learn more about the steps to become an addictions counselor in your state. You’ll come out of the comprehensive Northcentral program with the ability to evaluate clients, develop treatment plans, integrate with other providers, and manage client cases with the best of them. You can apply in only a few minutes, and with no fee involved, there’s no cost to giving it a shot! Join the tradition that graduates from Northcentral have in changing lives since 1912. The fact of the matter is, when you’re looking at all the different requirements in different states for different licenses, best is a moving target.

Stone Child College​

• So it’s entirely possible you still have a few more questions about the process, what you can accomplish, and how these types of courses fit into the big picture of addiction counseling certification.
• We insure this by modeling our Certification programs on student’s achievements in a strong curriculum of continuing education in order to achieve our professional Certifications.
• This means that unless your state has extra requirements, you might be able to qualify for certification with fewer steps and fewer fees.
• Maine offers diverse paths to becoming a credentialed alcohol and drug counselor.
• UCLA’s addiction counseling certificate online program meets the requirements as set forth by the California Consortium of Addiction Programs & Professionals.

Remote learning makes becoming a certified substance abuse counselor possible without entering a college classroom. Earning an addiction counseling degree online is ideal for students with substantial work or family requirements. For that reason, you’ll see degrees in those fields listed here with a combined focus on addictions studies. ASU’s substance abuse counseling certificate program is 21 total credits and takes 7.5 weeks per class.

• Use the review summary to determine the remaining requirements you need to submit for review.
• As a result, this online program is just as high-quality as in-person programming.
• The credential education requirements also include 10,000 total hours, or five years of full-time experience working as a substance use disorder/addiction counselor.
• Upon successful completion of your online addiction courses, you will need to submit your certificates of completion along with the rest of your application packet to the state board.

Guilford Technical Community College​

A license is typically a credential offered directly by a state agency, and usually has a scope of practice and requirements for attainment that are outlined directly by state law, typically referred to as the state’s addiction counselor license act. It is not usually required for licensing or certification that the school where you train be specially accredited in substance abuse therapy or counseling. However, specialty accreditation is a sign of quality over and above the standard criteria you should consider. Hopefully you found exactly what you were looking for in our top 50 list, but as we warned you, addiction counseling certification is a complicated topic. Taking your training courses in a relatively new online format only increases the complexity. With two paths to training in substance use disorder counseling, Quincy gives you a choice to dip your toe in or substance abuse counseling definition get right into the deep end of the pool.

• With a drug or alcohol counseling certificate, a qualified mental health professional can work in private practice or in a facility.
• Continuing education is vital for professional growth and maintaining high standards, and it also can help renew your enthusiasm for the profession.
• Depending on the program, students will have quite a bit of choice in selecting their elective courses over the course of their certification training.
• Issues of multiculturalism and diversity will be presented and developed throughout the course via readings, discussions and student writing assignments.
• B. The board may grant an extension for good cause of up to one year for the completion of continuing education requirements upon written request from the certificate holder prior to the renewal date.

It can be very demanding on the substance abuse counselors psyche and can result in stresses at home and elsewhere. There is no higher satisfaction than when a substance abuse counselor hears from addicts who have been sober for multiple years. This page provides information for aspiring substance abuse addiction counselors. This 24 credit hour certificate equips students to work with persons impacted by substance use disorders. The certificate is for working professionals with a bachelor’s degree or students wanting to get a bachelor’s degree. This certificate provides the knowledge and skills needed to support people struggling with addiction as well as advance related careers in the helping professions.

Many large hospitals and hospital systems employ substance abuse counselors to allow them to help incoming patients who are dealing with problems arising from addiction. As certain dependencies, such as alcohol and opioid addiction, can significantly increase certain medical risks, these specialists play an important role in hospital settings. Addiction and substance abuse counselors are vital in helping individuals struggling with drug or alcohol dependence. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC 2024) estimated that 107,543 individuals died from a drug overdose in the year 2023—81,083 of which were attributed alcoholism treatment to opioids such as heroin or fentanyl. I have a high school diploma, GED certificate, or a post-secondary degree and have completed 120 clock hours of didactic training in substance abuse education.

Wake Technical Community College​

Until significant social policy arises to reign in the problem, licensed addictions counselors should find a healthy employment market. The dramatic rise in opioid prescriptions and the subsequent addiction then triggers heroin markets in areas where the drug was once unheard of. Other prescription drugs such as Adderall, Ritalin, and Benzodiazepines are likewise triggering addiction problems across the population. Some systems allow counselors to enter the field with little more than a one-year certificate rather than a degree. Nonetheless, a person can attain licensure and then decide to return for more education and a higher level of state certification. Specializing in areas such as adolescent, veteran, or co-occurring disorder counseling enhances expertise.