Becoming a Substance Abuse Counselor in Indiana
Find Programs for Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees in Indiana
If you’re objective when looking at complex situations, compassionate to people in need, and able to navigate stressful situations, the field of substance abuse counseling needs your skills. Substance abuse covers alcohol consumption, the use of illegal drugs, and the use of prescription medications in non-medical situations.
In Indiana, the state government received a $255,000 annual grant to prevent substance abuse and make treatment more readily available to patients (WFYI, 2016).
If you’re considering pursuing substance abuse counseling certification in Indiana, browse the list of schools below.
The next step is to contact schools near you.
Substance Abuse Counselor Training in Indiana
Entry-level counseling jobs may allow you to start your counseling career with a Bachelor’s degree.
You may work through a set curriculum of classes that totals at least 120 credits. On average, this takes four years of full-time study.
While learning how to become a certified addiction counselor, you may explore topics like pharmacology, the physiology of addiction, and current evidence regarding effective treatments. Clinical experience is part of your training, although it isn’t quite as time-consuming as it is at the Master’s degree level.
Bachelor‘s-Level Substance Abuse Counseling Courses
- Addictions Theory
- Psychopharmacology
- Addictions Counseling Skills
- Theory and Practice of Group Counseling
- Counseling Addicted and Dysfunctional Family Systems
- Addiction Programs and Professional Development
Master’s in Substance Abuse Counseling—Indiana Requirements
Some Indiana counseling and counselor education programs are designed for those studying at the graduate level.
To be accepted to a graduate program, you need a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Prior coursework in addiction, psychology, and human development is advantageous.
By the time you finish your two to three years of training, you may have between 30 and 40 credits. Keep in mind that Master’s degree programs have far more extensive clinical experience requirements than undergraduate programs. All in all, you may spend close to 1000 hours working with patients.
Addiction Counselor Indiana Graduate Courses
- Issues in Addiction Recovery
- Psychopathology
- Advanced Theories and Treatment of Addiction
- Counseling Addicted Families
Substance Abuse Counselor Careers in Indiana
Indiana Licensed Addiction Counselor requirements cover two levels of certification.
- To become an Indiana Licensed Addiction Counselor, you need a Bachelor’s degree, 350 hours of field experience, and 150 hours of face-to-face supervised experience.
- The next level of licensure is LCAC, which requires a Master’s degree and two years of supervised work experience (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, 2016).
Across the United States, the demand for substance abuse professionals is high. In Indiana, job growth rates are even higher than average. By the year 2024, O*Net predicts a 24% increase in job openings for substance abuse counselors (2016). Demand for substance abuse social workers may swell 25% (O*Net, 2016).
Your salary may be determined by your level of licensure, how much experience you have, and which type of facility you work for. The average annual salary for a certified substance abuse counselor is $37,840 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). The average income for a substance abuse social worker is $40,630 per year (BLS, 2016).
In the field of psychology, substance abuse continues to be an area of great need. Those who struggle with this problem often feel ashamed and cannot request the help they need. With advanced training and careful planning, you can help patients reach their full potential.
Take the first step now by contacting substance abuse counseling degree programs below.
