National estimates for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors:

Employment (1)Employment RSE (3)Mean annual wage (2)
293,6201.2 %$ 51,550

What are the requirements to become an addiction counselor?

If you want to be a drug abuse counselor, decide on your specific career path and education. You can be an abuse counselor with a high school degree, an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, or a master’s degree. Then, work on getting your education and certification.

Do I need a degree to be an addiction counselor?

To become an addictions counselor, you typically need a bachelor’s level education in psychology or social work. Many employers however, prefer that you have a master’s degree, or may state it as a formal requirement. ×.

How to become an addiction counselor?

Understanding the Role of the Addiction Counselor. An addiction counselor works with people from all backgrounds who are struggling with substance use disorders,including addictions to drugs and alcohol.

  • State Requirements for Licensure. To be an addiction counselor,you must meet the minimum academic qualifications and training requirements for licensure or certification in your state.
  • Earning Your Undergraduate Addiction Counseling Degree. The next step is to enroll in an addiction counseling degree program offered by an accredited university.
  • Earning an Advanced Degree in Addiction Counseling. It may be possible to land a position at a substance abuse treatment center with just a bachelor’s degree.
  • Completing Supervised Clinical Experience Hours. Your state licensing board will specify how many supervised clinical experience hours you must complete.

    • How much do drug addiction counselors make?

    According to the BLS, the median annual salary for substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors was $46,240 as of May 2019. This means that half of all counselors make more than this amount and the other half make less.