Substance Abuse Counseling Associate Degrees
A career in substance abuse counseling is raw and unrelenting, requiring you to provide a way forward for those clawing their way back from the edge. It’s not glamorous, by any means, but it does have its share of beautiful moments marked by transformation, recovery, and mended relationships. It’s not a career for everyone, but you already know that, and you’re more than ready for the challenge.
Your resilience, steadfastness, and compassion have made you the ideal person to enter the field of addiction counseling. Now it’s time to get serious and get the education you need to put all those characteristics to work.
For newcomers in most states, an associate degree in addictions or substance abuse counseling makes the most sense and will get you where you need to be in about two-year’s time.
An Associate Degree in Addiction Counseling Meets Certification or Licensing Requirements in Many States
For many coming into the field, an addiction counseling associate degree is the obvious starting point. But it can be more than that. It’s comprehensive, offering core courses and practical training in substance abuse counseling that you’ll need to enter the field along with general coursework that will make you a better communicator in general and more worldly person in general. In fact, in most states, an associate degree includes all the necessary coursework and practical field training you need for certification or licensure as a full-authority substance abuse counselor.
As a rule, in states where an associate degree is all you need to become certified, schools design the programs specifically to meet those requirements.
For example, in New York, any accredited private university or school within the SUNY system offering associate programs in substance abuse counseling will include the 300-hour practicum and 50 didactic hours required to become a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC).
Associate programs are similarly tailored around requirements anywhere in the country, even when a lot more course-hours are required. That’s the case in Nebraska, for example, where most associate degrees in substance abuse counseling satisfy the 270-hour classroom education hours required to become a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC). But based on the time constraints of the program, they aren’t able to include the embedded internship to knock out the 300-hours of supervised practical training required to become certified in Nebraska. So instead, those 300 training hours are simply rolled into the post-associate supervised experience hours LADC candidates need to accumulate before becoming licensed.
In states where all you need is a short certificate course to meet the education requirement, an associate degree can still be a very wise choice since it can dramatically reduce the supervised pre-professional experience requirements. In these state, an associate degree is generally counted as the equivalent of 1,000 hours of work experience — half a year out in the field.
Take Missouri, for example, earning an associate degree in addictions and substance abuse counseling not only meets the educational requirements for the Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CADC) credential, it reduces the experience hours you’ll need for certification. Applicants who meet the state’s education requirements with a basic certificate of completion must complete at least 4,000 hours of work experience to qualify for certification. But with an associate degree in a relevant field, it’s just 3,000 hours.
Even in states that require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree for certification or licensure, an associate degree can often be an ideal starting point in your educational journey and allow you to become credentialed while you work towards a bachelor’s degree.
For example, the minimum educational requirement for the Nevada Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC) credential is a bachelor’s degree, but you can be credentialed as a CADC-Intern (CADC-I) after earning 60 semester credits of education, which you can accomplish by earning an associate degree. That means you can work as a CADC-I and get valuable experience in the field while you work toward your bachelor’s degree. Most associate degrees seamlessly transfer to a bachelor’s degree in a similar field, so you won’t miss a beat when it comes to earning your bachelor’s degree.
An associate degree meets the requirements for full-authority independent addiction counselor credentials in these states:
- Alaska – Chemical Dependency Counselor I/Chemical Dependency Counselor II
- Alabama – Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor
- Arizona – Certified Addiction Counselor
- Colorado – Certified Addiction Counselor II
- Connecticut – Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor
- Washington DC – Certified Addiction Counselor I / Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor
- Delaware – Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor
- Georgia – Certified Addiction Counselor I / Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor
- Hawaii – Certified Substance Abuse Counselor
- Iowa – Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor
- Idaho – Certified Alcohol-Drug Counselor
- Illinois – Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor
- Indiana – Certified Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselor II
- Maine – Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor/Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor II
- Michigan – Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor
- Missouri – Addiction Counselor II
- North Carolina – Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor
- Nebraska – Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor
- New Hampshire – Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor
- New Jersey – Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor
- New York – Credentialed Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Counselor II
- Ohio – Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor II
- Rhode Island – Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor/Licensed Chemical Dependency Professional
- South Dakota – Certified Addiction Counselor
- Tennessee – Level I Licensed Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor
- Texas – Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Counselor/Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor
- Utah – Substance Use Disorder Counselor
- Washington – Substance Use Disorder Professional
- Wisconsin – Substance Abuse Counselor/Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor
- West Virginia – Alcohol & Drug Counselor
In these states, it meets the requirements for either provisional or associate-level credentials for counselors who provide counseling services under general supervision in places where a full-authority counselor is either on-site or just a phone call away:
- California – Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor I (Associate-level)
- Connecticut – Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor-Provisional
- Maine – Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor
- Massachusetts – Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (Associate-level)
- Missouri – Missouri Associate Alcohol & Drug Counselor II
- Montana – Licensed Addiction Counselor (Associate-Level)
- Missouri – Missouri Associate Alcohol & Drug Counselor II
- New Mexico – Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (Associate-level)
- Oregon – Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor I (Associate-level)
- Pennsylvania – Certified Associate Addiction Counselor
Associate Degree Options in Addiction Studies and Substance Abuse Counseling
Associate degrees in substance abuse counseling are about 60 credits and take about two years of full-time study to complete. These degrees have a wide range of titles that can reflect a slightly different curriculum focus, or simply different professional titles for addiction counselors in different parts of the country. Even with all that variation, there’s a great deal of consistency in what they cover:
- Substance abuse counseling
- Addiction studies
- Behavioral health counseling
- Alcohol and drug counseling
- Substance use disorder counseling
- Mental health and addiction studies
- Human services – addiction counseling
Substance abuse counseling associate degrees may be offered on-campus, online, or through a hybrid format that combines both. Many newer programs offer the option of distance learning to appeal to busy, working professionals and anybody who doesn’t live close to a campus location.
Whatever the title or course delivery method, all programs include a blend of core coursework, foundational coursework, and practical learning:
Core Coursework
- Communication
- Math (algebra, statistics, calculus)
- Natural science (biology, chemistry, physics)
- Social/behavioral science (psychology, sociology, anthropology)
- Humanities (English, history, philosophy)
Foundational Courses
- Ethics counseling
- Diversity
- Human development
- Interviewing and counseling
- Intro to chemical dependency
- Intro to pharmacology
Practical Learning
Practical learning experiences include observation and supervised fieldwork at locations like community organizations, inpatient centers, hospitals, and prisons.
What’s the Difference Between AS, AA, and AAS Degree Programs in Addictions Counseling?
Associate of Science (AS)
An Associate of Science (AS) in a field related to addiction counselor or substance abuse counseling will feature a more science-based curriculum and include courses in research, biology, and psychology. An AS degree is ideal for both entry into the profession and for transfer to a bachelor’s degree.
Associate of Arts (AA)
An Associate of Arts (AA) in substance abuse counseling or a related field features a broader liberal arts education, with courses focused on the humanities, the social sciences, and communication. An AA is ideal for both entry into the profession and for transfer to a bachelor’s degree.
Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
An AAS in substance abuse counseling offers a more narrow, focused course of study specifically designed for those looking to enter the field. Because of its career-focused intent of these programs, you can expect a more practical, hands-on curriculum and less in the way of general and humanities courses and fewer elective options outside the field.
Though some AAS programs are built as a foundation for bachelor’s completion programs at the same school, not all AAS programs are designed for academic progression and can present a challenge when transferring credits towards a bachelor’s . This last point is important to pay attention to if your goals include leveling up to higher degrees throughout your career.
How an Associate Degree in Substance Abuse Counseling Can Give You Everything You Need to Make Your Way in the Field
Though the curriculum of associate degrees may vary slightly from one college to the next, you’ll find a common thread of courses that are specifically designed to prepare you to assume entry-level substance abuse counselor positions in a wide variety of settings and with diverse populations. These include:
Introduction to Addiction Counseling: This course is your formal introduction to the field. You’ll get a broad overview of what addiction counseling is, what it encompasses, its history, and contemporary topics in the field. You’ll also get a clearer understanding of the roles and responsibilities of an addiction counselor. Through this introductory course, you’ll get a lay of the land of the field and the information that will become the foundation for more specialized courses in substance abuse counseling.
Counseling Theories and Techniques: This course dives deeper into what substance abuse counseling looks like and how it’s delivered. You’ll learn about a number of counseling strategies and approaches, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing, along with practice techniques like active listening and effective communication.
Case Management: A large part of any substance abuse counselor’s job is case management, and this course will cover the many aspects of it. This course explores documentation, ethics and confidentiality, the development of personalized treatment plans, and client assessment techniques.
Ethics in Counseling: Ethics is an important part of any counseling career, and it includes a number of topics and considerations. In this course, you’ll explore the principles and guidelines that govern the substance abuse counseling profession and take a deep dive into ethical standards as outlined by the by NAADAC (National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors). Other topics within ethics include establishing professional boundaries, understanding privacy and confidentiality laws like HIPAA, and examining cultural competency issues surrounding working with diverse populations.
Introduction to Pharmacology: This course examines the effect of substances on the brain and body and includes an overview of drug classifications and drugs. You’ll learn how drugs interact with the brain and body and affect emotions, cognition, and behavior. You’ll also explore the science behind addiction, including the biological and physiological processes of addiction.
Prevention and Treatment: This course provides a more detailed examination of the strategies used to prevent substance abuse disorder and treat individuals with addiction issues. Some of the topics in this course include prevention strategies, treatment modalities, trauma-informed care, and client assessment.
Can You Customize an Associate Degree In Substance Abuse Counseling?
Though most associate degree programs offer a structured curriculum that’s specifically designed to meet workforce and certification/licensure standards, it is still very much possible to customize your associate degree program to reflect your specific interests and career goals.
Here’s how:
Choose your electives wisely.
Most associate degree programs in substance abuse counseling can be personalized through your choice of electives. Just some of the areas on which you can focus your addictions counseling associate degree include:
- Individual counseling
- Group counseling
- Family counseling
- Adolescent counseling
- Co-occurring disorders
- Crisis intervention
- Community outreach and prevention
- Policy and advocacy
- Trauma-informed care
- Medication-assisted treatment
Consider adding a specialized certificate.
Some colleges and universities offer specialized certificates that can be earned alongside your associate degree in substance abuse counseling.
Make your internship count.
Choose an internship that reflects your interests and career goals in substance abuse counseling. Does exploring public health initiatives or serving as a member of court-mandated counseling programs in a government agency appeal to you, or does lending your skills in advocacy and education in a community health clinic sound like a better fit? Do you have aspirations of working in private practice, or does a hospital setting sound like a better match? Your internship is an outstanding place to begin specializing your skills in substance abuse counseling, so make it count!