Careers
Addiction and substance abuse is one of America’s top public health problems and there is a growing need for a well-trained workforce. A career in substance abuse counseling can be incredibly rewarding and offers a wide variety of experiences. Jobs are available in substance abuse treatment centers, community mental health agencies, primary care, integrated health, criminal justice, hospitals, schools and universities, and military and Veteran’s Affairs.
There are several reasons why this program might be right for you:
- You want to help individuals struggling with substance addiction problems
- You want to work in the mental health field without completing a master’s or doctoral degree
- You did not get into a master’s or doctoral program and want to demonstrate you can succeed in graduate-level classes
- You are in a master’s or doctoral program and also want to be a licensed substance abuse counselor
- You have completed your formal education program but want additional training in addictions
All states require either certification or licensure to practice as a substance abuse counselor. Most states have multiple levels of licensure, typically a bachelor’s-level license that requires ongoing supervision, and a master’s-level license that allows independent practice. For example, the Arizona state licensing board offers three levels of licensure: Licensed Substance Abuse Technician (LSAT), Licensed Associate Substance Abuse Counselor (LASAC), and Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor (LISAC).