Sober College: Online Addiction Counselor Certification
If you are looking for a rewarding career in high demand, addiction counseling can be an excellent option to consider. At Sober College of Addiction Studies, we offer an easy, fast and affordable way to complete the educational requirements for addiction counselor certification. Here’s a quick look at our program as well as some helpful information for those interested in this career path.
Educational Requirements
At Sober College, our program is designed for people who wish to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, or CADC. This is a common type of substance use disorder (SUD) counselor, although some states will use another term in lieu of CADC. For instance, some states might refer to these counselors as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC), or perhaps as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, or LADC.
In order to earn your addiction counselor certification, the first step you must take is the completion of a specific number of education hours. The number of hours varies by state. For instance, California requires 315 hours, while other states might require slightly fewer hours.
As our program is based in California, we have included 315 hours in our program, but we are NAADAC-certified and IC&RC-certified, which means our program can be used in every state except Alaska, Montana and North Dakota, which have unique requirements for SUD counselor certification.
Why Choose Sober College?
Aside from the fact that our addiction studies certification program can be used in most states (and even internationally), there are many other reasons to consider using our school to complete your educational requirements for CADC certification.
- Fast Completion: Our program can be completed in just six months.
- Rolling Admissions: You can get started at any time rather than waiting for a college semester or quarter to begin.
- 100% Online: There are no in-person requirements, and you can plan your studies around your schedule, which is ideal for busy, working adults.
- Affordable Cost: Unlike most traditional college and university programs, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars, are program costs just $4,250, with books an additional $300 to $500, and there are no hidden fees.
- Practicum is Included: Most states require at least 255 practicum (internship) hours, and these hours are included in the program, which allows you to complete two requirements of addiction counselor certification in just six months.
- Quality Education: While our addiction counseling certification program is fast and affordable, you will not sacrifice quality. Our instructors are all seasoned professionals who can provide real-world knowledge and prepare students for the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor exam.
Additional Counseling Certification Requirements
As stated above, states require candidates to complete at least 255 hours of practicum experience, which we include in our program. During this practicum, you will need to spend at least 21 hours handling each of the 12 Core Functions of Addiction Counseling, which include everything from intake and patient evaluation to treatment planning and much more.
Once you’ve completed your practicum and educational hours, you should be prepared to take the IC&RC exam. IC&RC is an international organization that provides standardized testing for addiction counselors and other addiction professionals.
At this point, you are ready to tackle the last (and longest) step toward substance abuse counseling certification – completion of your work experience hours. The number of hours needed for certification varies by state and by CADC level.
For instance, in California, one must complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience in order to earn CADC-I certification and 6,000 hours to earn CADC-II certification. One can earn CADC-III certification with just 4,000 hours of work experience, but you also must have completed a bachelor’s degree. CADC-I’s and CADC-II’s need only possess a high school diploma or its equivalent.
If you do have an associate’s degree in behavioral science or an allied mental health profession, you need only complete 2,080 hours of supervised work experience to earn your CADC-I certification.
Keep in mind, these are just California’s CADC requirements and requirements in your state may vary. Therefore, it is crucial that you find your state’s certification boards and study the unique requirements in your area.
In many states, your practicum hours will be included in the total work experience hours, and, in some cases, volunteer hours. Also, most work experience hours outside of the practicum, will be paid work. You will be working as a CADC, but simply supervised, and handling the same day-to-day tasks as certified addiction counselors.
Job Opportunities
As you move from student to supervised counselor, there are many different types of facilities where you can complete your work experience hours, including:
- Residential Treatment Facilities
- Outpatient Treatment Facilities
- Hospitals & Detoxification Units
- Public Health Agencies
- Primary Care Clinics
- Private Practices
- Community-Based Programs
Once you’ve earned your credential or certification, you also may want to earn additional certifications and work as a Prevention Specialist, an Intervention Specialist or perhaps a Certified Criminal Justice Addiction Professional, and there are many other options to consider.
Additionally, after you’ve earned your credential, you will be required to complete some continuing education (CE) hours in order to renew your certification. This, again, varies by state. For instance, in California, 50 hours of continuing education are required, and several of those hours must be focused on ethics and confidentiality. Other states have different CE requirements, so research your state’s rules carefully. Typically, certification must be renewed every two years.
Get Started With Your New Career!
If you’d love to have a job where you truly help others, SUD counseling can be a great option, and Sober College’s addiction counselor certification program will allow you to complete your educational requirements as quickly as possible. To enroll, just click on the Get Started tab on our homepage and select “Apply.”
