Connecticut

What does an Addiction Counselor in Connecticut do? What is Their Job Role?


Drug and alcohol abuse have ravaged the lives of countless individuals and families. Substance abuse counselors can have a tremendous impact on those suffering from alcohol or drug dependency or addiction, aiding not only the people they help directly but society as a whole.


Overview


The substance abuse counselor licensure requirements for Connecticut are similar to other states, and virtually identical for those seeking the highest level of licensure. For the latter, Connecticut accepts reciprocity for those licensed in other states. Reciprocal licensing is awarded by the Connecticut Certification Board.


Connecticut Licensing & Certifications for Associates & Independent Counselors


In Connecticut, substance abuse counselors are titled at two levels. A Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) is the primary level, while the more advanced level is that of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC). Those at the LADC level must meet all CADC level requirements. All applications are handled by the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Send all applications and verification forms to:


Connecticut Department of Public Health

Alcohol and Drug Counselor Certification

410 Capitol Ave., MS # 12 APP

P.O. Box 340308

Hartford, CT 06134


Education Required for Practice


In Connecticut, CADC candidates do not need a college degree to qualify for licensure, but more highly educated individuals have better employment prospects. CADC candidates must have a minimum of 360 hours of “relevant” education, of which at least 240 hours are specifically alcohol and drug abuse-related. The 120 other necessary hours must consist of other human behavioral courses. Those courses relating to alcohol and drug abuse must include:


  • Assessment planning and treatment

  • Ethics

  • HIV/AIDS

  • Pharmacology

  • Ethnically diverse groups and special populations


Potential counselors need a minimum of 90 hours in counseling theory and techniques, but not more than 40 such hours of in-service work qualify for credit toward the educational requirements.


At least 300 hours of practical training is required. For these hours, work experience and/or internship does qualify. A supervisor must verify a minimum of 10 hours of work in each of the following fields:


  • Orientation

  • Case management

  • Referral

  • Keeping records and reporting

  • Treatment planning

  • Screening

  • Assessment

  • Intake

  • Counseling

  • Client education

  • Examination

  • Consulting

  • Crisis management


LADC candidates must possess at least a master’s degree in counseling, psychology, marriage and family therapy or related fields. A minimum of 18 semester hours is required in counseling or similar subjects. LADC candidates must document at least 240 hours of alcohol and drug abuse-related education for the same 360 hour total of relevant education as CADC candidates. Many LADC candidates will have already fulfilled this requirement if they have CADC certification, as it is also true of the necessary 300 minimum hours of practical training.


Some LADC candidates will have fulfilled this requirement at the certification level, and most will have fulfilled the 300-hour practical training requirements as well.


Background Checks


All candidates must undergo and pass a criminal background check for licensure eligibility.


CACREP Accredited Online Certification


Two types of accreditation are recognized in the United States; institutional and specialized. Institutional accreditation takes the entire institution into account while the specialized focus on professional preparation programs. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is a specialized accreditation that focuses on master’s and doctoral degree programs in counseling at colleges and universities worldwide. Only already-accredited institutions are eligible for CACREP review. The review for accreditation will center on programs offering graduate degrees in counseling.


Choosing a CACREP-accredited program ensures that the program meets the highest of quality standards. Many counseling specialties are accredited by the CACREP, including addiction counseling. Accredited addiction counseling programs prepare individuals to work with those affected by addictive behavior and their families. Addictive behaviors include alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, sex, and anything else that negatively affects your personal or work life by creating addiction behaviors.


CACREP-accredited programs will focus on treatment models and the phases of addiction including prevention, recovery, and relapse prevention. These 60-semester hour programs will include the application of interventions. When students choose a CACREP-accredited program they can be confident that:


  • the program meets or exceeds national standards

  • the program will focus on professional counseling rather than psychology or education

  • the program has an excellent reputation

  • CACREP graduates statistically receive higher scores on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE).

  • the requirements for licensure will be met.


Department of Public Health, Professional Counselor Licensure


The Connecticut Department of Public Health is responsible for overseeing Professional Counselor Licensure and regulating counseling practices in the state. Applicants must provide required proof of education to be eligible for the licensure examination. The Department of Public Health also enforces a period of practice under supervision for all new licensees.


Address

410 Capitol Avenue, MS #12APP

P.O. Box 340308

Hartford, CT 06134-0308


Phone

(860) 509-7603


Website Address

https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Practitioner-Licensing--Investigations/Professional-Counselor/Professional-Counselor-Licensing


Licensure:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)


Connecticut's addiction counselor along with medicine counselors (A&DC s) are credentialed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health As Well As Wellness. They could be certified or accredited, depending on degree of education and learning as well as understanding; licensure is scheduled for specialists that hold academic degrees. No matter academic degree, the possibility will certainly need to end up a defined variety of education and learning as well as understanding and additionally training hrs, fulfill an experience need, and pass an analysis.


A master's degree might replace one year of experience. A Connecticut addiction counselor as well as medication counselor may be licensed or certified as a supervisor by the Connecticut Qualification Board. A chemical abuse counselor outside Connecticut must have similar qualifications. A professional in a related area (medication, psychology, specialist therapy, specialist community service, marital relationship as well as home treatment, signed up nursing, advanced method nursing) could be accredited to look after.


Connecticut has a certified Substance abuse Specialist along with Accredited degree. The two titles are: the Licensed Alcohol as well as also Medicine Counselor (CADC) and likewise the Accredited Alcohol and additionally Medicine Counselor (LADC). The LADC level calls for a Master's degree in a Behavioral Science if from another state, or a mix of a level in addition to monitored experience.


Licensure in Connecticut requires a master's level in social work, marital connection and household therapy, therapy, psychology, or a connected area from an identified facility as well as likewise a minimum of 18 human resources in graduate-level therapy. Students seeking to go after a master's level ought to consider bachelor's degrees in treatment, psychology, or sociology to aid them plan for graduate work.


Example programs consist of principle as well as also method vital abuse, cultural diversity in counseling, along with research study approaches in counseling. Applicants must expose evidence of completion through a verification kind on the Department of Wellness and wellness website or using qualification by a member of the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC). Candidates for licensure call for 300 hrs of supervised sensible training in alcohol along with medicine counseling as well as likewise 3 years of monitored task experience with alcohol as well as likewise medicine clients.


Leads need to additionally submit: An ended up application with a connected picture A confirmation kind recording 300 hours of supervised strategy A verification type recording 3 years of monitored work A confirmation type videotaping verdict of 360 hours of licensed education as well as learning Official transcripts for a master's level in community service, therapy, or an associated location Authorities confirmation of all expert licenses, certificates, or registrations (current or finished) held by the candidate as an alcohol as well as also medicine specialist $190 application expense Applicants require to also pass a criminal history check and also supply their social security numbers, existing addresses, in addition to telephone number.


If you are looking for ways to become an addiction counselor in Connecticut, it is important to realize that the state has several requirements that you need to meet in order to qualify. If you are seeking a career in the field of addiction, this is an important detail that you should consider.


The first step to becoming an addiction counselor in Connecticut is that you must have either a Master's degree or an equivalent degree from a recognized institution. This is a requirement that is not easily met unless you already have a background in counseling. It is possible to find an internship in a licensed facility where they can determine if you have the necessary skills and experience before making a decision about how to become a drug abuse counselor school required.


A second requirement to becoming a counselor in Connecticut is that you have taken some type of educational training that is related to the field of addiction. There are several programs available that will help you get an education in the matter.


An internship is a requirement that is a big one in how to become a drug abuse counselor school required. These places will usually require you to work for a certain amount of time for them, so you must make sure that you have the required amount of experience to qualify.


You also need to make sure that you have a certificate or license to practice as a drug counselor, which is a requirement that is often the first step in becoming a counselor in Connecticut. The state does not verify that you have a certificate in this field; however, it is still important that you have it so that you can practice under the proper supervision in the state.


The most difficult step that must be completed before you can take steps to become a counselor in Connecticut is that you must sit for a certification exam that will test your knowledge of the field. This can be a tough hurdle to clear because the state makes an examination more difficult than others that are in other states.


When it comes to how to be a drug counselor school required, the best way to go about it is to join a local or state-approved program that will be able to guide you through the requirements that are necessary. While there are some online courses that offer this curriculum, it is usually best to find a program that offers it locally so that you can see for yourself the educational requirements before committing to taking it.


Most students who enroll in these courses go on to earn a Masters in Counseling or a Masters in Substance Abuse Counseling, so if you already have the experience that is needed, you can feel confident that you can graduate and get your degree without having to take any additional courses. These classes can be taken at either the undergraduate or graduate level.


You can also study towards your certification if you are a teacher, and you might be surprised at how easy it is to obtain certification once you realize how many requirements it has. The real requirement, however, is the need to pass the written portion of the examination that is required to become a substance abuse counselor school required.


After you have completed all of the necessary steps to how to become a drug counselor school required, you can then apply for the local post of a certified substance abuse counselor. There are many requirements to achieve this and it might take a few years, but you must show that you have been educated and trained in the field to be granted this position.


After you have proven that you have what it takes to become a counselor in Connecticut, you can apply for a job that is going to be similar to that of a graduate student who is looking to become a master's counselor. The difference is that this person is already experienced and fully qualified to handle this type of work.


This person will be paid a salary much higher than someone who just wants to know how to be a drug counselor school required. In fact, the job is considered prestigious and can pay quite well.


Counselor Testing & Examination Process


Candidates must take the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium Examination for Alcohol and Drug Counselors. The ICRC exam’s questions are in a multiple choice format, with the candidate choosing between four possible responses. Of these four choices, just one answer is considered the best. Candidates only receive credit for choosing that best response.


Candidates go through testing via the Connecticut Certification Board, with all examinations done via computer. There is only one testing center authorized by the board in the state, located at 98 South Turnpike Road, Suite D, Wallingford, and the test is conducted four times a year. The state Department of Public Health notifies the Connecticut Certification Board about the candidate’s eligibility status.


Upon successful completion of the exam, candidates must send in the ICRC verification form to the Department of Public Health. Once the test is passed and all clinical supervision requirements are complete and verified, the candidate may apply for licensure from the Department.


Clinical Supervision Explained


All substance abuse counselor candidates require three years of supervised experience, with internships and work counting toward the qualification. A candidate with a master’s degree is generally credited with one year of experience, and overall, 2,000 hours of experience is usually considered the equivalent of one year.


Under Connecticut law, a supervisor qualifies if licensed as a drug and alcohol counselor in the state or is certified for clinical supervision by the Connecticut Certification Board. Those holding equivalent out-of-state credentials are also qualified. While certain professionals in other behavioral and/or health fields – including medical doctors, surgeons, psychologists, clinical social workers, registered nurses, professional counselors and marital and family therapists - may perform in a supervisory capacity, if this person is not a drug and alcohol counselor per se they must complete 50 hours of specialized training in this field prior to supervisory consideration. The specialized education includes the areas of assessment and treatment planning, pharmacology and treatment techniques. Clinical supervisors must have hands-on experience working with patients diagnosed or assessed with an alcohol or drug dependency.


Once the clinical supervision requirements are completed, the candidate may apply for a supervisory verification form from the Department of Public Health, along with a fee of $190. These forms are downloadable from the Department of Public Health website. The candidate fills out the top portion of the form, then gives the form to the clinical supervisor. That individual then sends the form, after notarization, directly to the licensing agency. The form verifies that the applicant has completed successfully all substance abuse-related training, practical training and internships or work experience.


Renewal and Continuing Education


All licenses are renewed annually. Each licensee must receive 20 hours of annual continuing education after their initial year of licensing, but it is possible to receive a waiver under certain circumstances, generally pertaining to illness or disability. The waiver may extend the time necessary to complete continuing education.


Continuing education must relate to a person’s field of practice. One hour per year on the topic of cultural competency is mandatory. Continuing education opportunities sponsored by licensed health care facilities and institutions qualify, as do courses available from accredited institutions of higher learning. The Connecticut Certification Board maintains a list of qualified continuing education providers. Online courses are permitted as long as such classes are offered by qualified providers.


Each licensee is responsible for obtaining certificates of completion from the provider for all relevant hours, and must keep these certificates for at least three years past the renewal date for the year in question. The licensee does not have to return such certificates to the Department of Health unless requested to do so, but the Department may audit such continuing education completion records at any time during the time period. If a licensee does not comply with their continuing education requirements, disciplinary action may ensue.

Potential Counselor Career Path Options


  • Addiction Counselor

  • Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselor

  • Behavioral Health Specialist

  • Certified Addiction Drug and Alcohol Counselor

  • Chemical Dependency Counselor

  • Mental Health Counselor

  • School Counselor

  • Substance Abuse Counselor


Associations & Organizations


The nonprofit Connecticut Association for Addiction Professionals (CAAP) serves as the Connecticut chapter of the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors, or NAADAC. To join CAAP, a counselor must already be a NAADAC member. CAAP’s mission is providing “advocacy and education for addiction focused professionals.” In accordance with both the NAADAC and the Connecticut Certification Board, CAAP provides the highest quality of education in accordance with members.