Addiction counselors work with people who suffer from a range of substance use disorders (SUDs), including addiction to alcohol, opioids and other substances. Addiction counselors work in a variety of settings, including inpatient and outpatient facilities, sober living homes, hospitals or various community organizations.
An individual can enter the field of addiction counseling through multiple means, ranging from earning a certification with a high school diploma to becoming a licensed addiction counselor through a behavioral health graduate or doctorate degree with an addiction treatment focus. The state where an individual earns their certification or license affects what treatments they can provide and to whom.
Many states offer multiple paths to the same credential. The credential can be obtained by earning either a master’s, bachelor’s or associate’s degree or a high school diploma. The greater level of education achieved may be substituted for some of the required practice. For example, a high school graduate may need six years of experience to receive the credential, while someone with a graduate degree may only need one year of experience. In addition, individuals who have received a graduate degree are more likely to be authorized to diagnose and practice independently.
The map below shows the education required for an individual to obtain an additional counselor credential across the 50 states, D.C. and territories.