A career in the behavioral health industry is a challenging yet rewarding career where you will positively impact thousands of lives. If you are wondering how to become an addiction counselor, you have a strong desire to help people and understand how devastating addiction can be to individuals and families. Many times, men and women who struggle with addiction prefer working in addiction care to help themselves and others with their struggles. Addiction counselor jobs are in high demand in a city near you and around the country.
The Behavioral Health Jobs website connects job candidates with rewarding careers in the behavioral health industry. We have hundreds of jobs in addiction care, family counseling, crisis intervention, and much more. To attract qualified candidates, many employers are now offering exceptional pay and benefits, including mental health benefits, to reduce caregiver burnout. Check out all of the available addiction counselor jobs in a city near you today on the Behavioral Health Jobs website.
Working in Addiction Care
An addiction counselor helps men and women from all walks of life who are struggling with substance use disorder. They work with individuals and their families to counsel and support them through their recovery process through a combination of behavioral therapy and medical support. Counselors will work with patients through residential, outpatient, and telehealth treatment programs in hospitals, treatment centers, and government and private facilities.
To succeed in a career as an addiction counselor, you will need the following soft skills:
- Active listening skills
- Able to show empathy
- Have a strong desire to help people
- Excellent communication skills
- Able to separate work and personal life
- Able to inspire others to reach their goals
If you are interested in how to become an addiction counselor, Behavioral Health Jobs is the best place to begin your search for a rewarding career working as an addiction counselor.
How to Become an Addiction Counselor
To ensure counselors can treat patients successfully, they need to undergo several years of education and training before they can treat patients. A typical education path for addiction counselors can take up to 10+ years to complete a bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. degree, supervised clinical hours, and continuing education.
Here is a breakdown of how to become an addiction counselor:
- Completion of a high school diploma or GED
- Completion of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in addiction counseling, psychology, or other mental health fields
- Work a set number of hours of supervised clinical care – Students with a bachelor’s degree will need to complete up to 3,000 hours, while students with a master’s degree will only need to complete 2,000 hours.
- Obtain certifications – The National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals offers three certifications for addiction counselors:
- National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I)
- National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II (NCAC II)
- Masters Addiction Counselor (MAC)
- Continuing education to stay up to date with current trends and new treatment modalities.
The cost of education and licensing for addiction counselors can cost more than $50,000, depending on your chosen education path. Fortunately, many employers now offer tuition reimbursement to help reduce the cost of education and licensing.
Behavioral Health Jobs Is Your Top Resource for Addiction Counselor Jobs
If you are interested in starting a career in the behavioral health industry, Behavioral Health Jobs has thousands of addiction counselor jobs across the country. You can search for jobs by education and work experience, licensing requirements, and onsite or remote work options. The behavioral health industry is one of the fastest-growing job markets today, with expected job growth of over 30% by 2030.
Start your job search today on the Behavioral Health Jobs website for an exciting career as an addiction counselor.
