Becoming a Substance Abuse Counselor in Connecticut
Find Programs Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees in Connecticut
There’s no question that drug and alcohol addiction is a serious problem in the United States. Addiction can lead to physical injury, loss of work and income, and destroy family relationships.
If you earn your CT substance abuse counselor certification, you can help tackle this devastating problem and provide the people of Connecticut with the help they need to lead lives free of alcohol and illicit drugs.
In an effort to combat this problem, the federal government awarded Connecticut with a grant of nearly $190,000 to prevent substance abuse and to treat substance use disorders (CT Post, 2016). This award is renewable for up to four years.
Are you ready to become a certified addiction counselor?
Find out how to become a substance abuse counselor in CT by getting in touch with counseling degree programs today.
Substance Abuse Counselor Training in Connecticut
A Bachelor’s accredited counseling degree may be the first step for you if you do not yet have an undergraduate degree in psychology, human services, or human development.
Across Connecticut schools, the average degree completion time is eight semesters. As you earn between 120 and 130 credits, you build your knowledge of addiction and substance abuse through courses similar to those found below.
Bachelor‘s-Level Substance Abuse Counseling Courses
- Legal and Ethical Issues for Substance Abuse Counselors
- Multicultural Counseling Skills
- Case Management and Crisis Intervention Skills for Addiction and Substance Abuse
- Relapse Prevention in Substance Abuse Treatment
- Psychopharmacology in Addiction Treatment
Master’s in Substance Abuse Counseling—Connecticut Requirements
If you already have a Bachelor’s degree, you may want to earn a certified addiction counselor Master’s degree. This program goes beyond the core courses in a Bachelor’s degree to really delve into the causes and treatments for substance abuse.
As you develop your critical thinking skills and learn how to function in a clinical setting, you put your new knowledge to work during clinical rotations. You may work with patients of different ages and with different types of addictions.
The more diverse experiences you get, the more prepared you may be for the patients you see as an independent counselor. Overall, the process of earning a Master’s degree in counseling usually takes approximately two years.
Addiction Counselor Connecticut Graduate Courses
- Chemical and Psychological Dependency Counseling
- Group Counseling
- Advanced Addictions Counseling
- Co-occurring Disorders and Treatments
- Ethics for Addictions Professionals
Substance Abuse Counselor Careers in Connecticut
Upon meeting drug and alcohol counselor degree requirements in Connecticut, you may be ready to start working toward certification. This process is regulated by the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
- To earn your CADC certification, CT requires that you have: at least 360 hours of education, 300 hours of practical training, and three years of supervised work experience.
- To earn your LADC certification, you need: a Master’s degree, 300 hours of practical training, and three years of supervised work experience.
While exploring substance abuse counselor careers, you may find openings at private rehabilitation clinics, public inpatient and outpatient clinics, and mental health centers.
In Connecticut, substance abuse counselors claim an average income of $46,920 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). Job openings for counselors may increase 18% through 2024 (O*Net, 2016).
You may also become a substance abuse social worker. Professionals in this position report an average salary of $60,920 per year (BLS, 2016). A 14% boost in job openings is expected by 2024 (O*Net, 2016).
Drug addiction can be an embarrassing, isolating problem that is nearly impossible to solve alone. By supporting your patients and their families, you can ensure that they do not have to do it.
Discover how you can work toward certified alcohol and drug counselor certification by contacting Connecticut schools below.
