4,000 hours of appropriate work experience and the 85 clock hours in Section 1 of the education and training related to knowledge of substance use disorders and all mandatory one-time education requirements. Sober College School substance abuse counseling of Addiction Studies is a NAADAC approved education provider. This means that our counselor training programs are approved to help those seeking to become certified substance use counselors on a state or national level.

Besides the doctors, nurses, and counselors, there are others who contribute to and provide care and treatment to those with substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health conditions. Both the application and payment plan forms can be found under the Get Started tab by simply selecting the Apply option. If you have any questions, select the Speak with Someone tab and fill out our quick contact form. Students are provided with the skills to work with individuals, groups, and families, in both theory, and through practical application. Upon completion of our Self-Paced or Accelerated Program, students will have earned the 315 hours of state board approved education, including 255 supervised practicum hours.

Drug and Alcohol Counseling (Certificate Online)

The OASAS Credentialing Unit will review your application to verify the eligibility requirements have been satisfied. The Credentialing Unit will issue a review summary based on the contents of your application. Any completed requirements will be noted, and any outstanding requirements will be noted as well. Use the review summary to help determine what else you need to submit for review. You can submit items at any time during the five-year application period without additional fees.

• We also pull information from reputable professional organizations and education providers’ direct websites.
• It works toward giving behavioral health care professional greater visibility, not only in the United States, but internationally.
• 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.
• Certification is evidence that standards of knowledge, skill competencies, and experience have been met.
• While the requirements vary by position, each includes specialized addiction training, certifications, and credentials to work in the complete care and treatment of individuals with addiction and other substance-related disorders.

There are several reasons why continuing education is important for health care professionals. With the rapid pace of change in the medical world, it is essential for health care professionals to keep abreast of new developments in order to provide the best possible care for their patients. The AIHCP reserves the right to approve all such courses for consideration toward substance abuse counseling  re-certification.

Examination Requirement

Since this specialty is relatively new, there is little in the way of consistency between each state. Some require lengthy periods in which burgeoning counselors must work under close supervision. The typical addiction counselor works in a rehabilitation facility with inpatient or out-patient clients. Since each facility is distinct, no two counselor’s job descriptions are identical. Some work in faith-based facilities that focus on specific religious beliefs as a means to recovery, where others might approach spirituality from a less mainstream angle.

• There are many different accrediting agencies, so one should be certain to research which is acknowledged by their state board.
• The remaining twelve hours should be split between ethics training and HIV/other pathogens education.
• Other prescription drugs such as Adderall, Ritalin, and Benzodiazepines are likewise triggering addiction problems across the population.
• They also help to refresh and update the skills of those who have been working in the field for many years.