Louisiana

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


Substance abuse counselors are in high demand throughout the country with a projected job growth of 23 percent over the next 10 years. In Louisiana it is significantly lower at 14.8 percent, so if your goal is to become a substance abuse counselor in Louisiana you should take this into consideration. While the job market won't be as robust as in other areas by careful planning you can ensure your education and experience makes you stand out of the crowd once you enter the job market.


The median annual wage for counselors in Louisiana is slightly lower at $38,460, with the lowest 10 percent earning an average of $19, 060 and the highest 10 percent averaging $60,590 per year. The lower range typically represents those just entering the field and the higher wage range demonstrates the importance of education and experience in relationship to income.


Like other mental health professionals, substance abuse counselors are certified and licensed on the state level. Because licensure and certification is required for programs to be eligible for federal and state funding most facilities require counselors to meet the state standards.


Because certification and licensure is vital to your success as a substance abuse counselor you should have a clear understanding of the state requirements before you begin your education.


Overview


Louisiana substance abuse counselors are overseen by the Louisiana State Addiction Disorder Regulatory Authority. Louisiana has three credentials for counselors: Registered Addiction Counselor (RAC), Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC), and Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC). All three certificates have specific education, training, and experience requirements that must be met; the two professional credentials also require you pay a fee and pass a state exam.


Once you've earned your credential you'll need to follow state requirements for renewal and continuing education coursework. It's a good idea to plan your education and career in clear steps so you can become certified and progress in a timely manner. For example, by working an internship at a certified facility while earning your Bachelor's degree you can also earn credit for your experience requirements, and by planning your coursework in advance you can ensure you've met the educational requirements when you're ready to take your exam.


Louisiana Licensing & Certifications for Associates & Independent Counselors


Licensure in Louisiana is overseen by the Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority (ADRA) and follows the standards of the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (IC&RC). There are three credentials you can earn as a substance abuse counselor, and each requires specific coursework and experience. All three types of certification applicants must meet the following criteria:


  • At least 21 years old

  • Is a legal resident of the U.S.

  • Is not in violation of any ethical standard set forth by the ADRA

  • Has not been a substance abuser or compulsive gambler for a minimum of two years prior to application

  • Has not been convicted of a felony (requirement may be waived by review)

  • Has completed 270 clock hours of approved substance abuse education as outlined by ADRA

  • Has completed specific work hour requirements which must include a 300 hour practicum on 12 core functions and global criteria with at least 10 hours in each core function

  • Pass a written exam


The 12 core functions are:


  • Screening

  • Intake

  • Orientation

  • Assessment

  • Treatment Planning

  • Counseling

  • Case Management

  • Crisis Intervention

  • Client Education

  • Referral

  • Reports and Record Keeping

  • Consultation.


In addition, the following applies specifically to each level of certification:


Registered Addiction Counselor (RAC)


An RAC must have at least high school diploma as well as 6,000 hours of supervised work experience in substance abuse counseling, which is the equivalent of three full-time years. The supervisor must be a Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) or meet the criteria of the ADRA board.

Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC)


An CAC must hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in human services or behavioral science and complete 4,000 hours of supervised work experience in the treatment of substance abuse.

Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)


An LAC must hold at least a master’s degree in a human services or behavioral science field and complete 2,000 hours of supervised work experience in substance abuse counseling.


Education Requirements


Louisiana requires all formal substance abuse education to be from an accredited school. Educational criteria for each type of certification require 270 clock hours, 180 of which must be specific to substance abuse treatment as well as six hours in professional ethics. The remaining 84 hours can be in any related subject as approved by ADRA. Education is based on clock hours in order to allow those working towards their higher credential to include education outside the classroom. Certification clock hours are counted as follows:


  • One college credit hour equals 15 clock hours

  • One continuing education hour equals 10 clock hours

  • One hour of professional conference or workshop equals one clock hour


Because of the clock hour credit system, it's important that you validate and track your educational experience both inside and outside the classroom.


The following are examples of degree fields accepted as human services or behavior science by the ADRA:


  • Addiction studies

  • Behavioral health

  • Counseling

  • Criminal justice

  • Psychology

  • Public health

  • Rehabilitation counseling

  • Social work

  • Sociology


It's a good idea to combine fields of study to get a broader education on substance abuse; for example, if you plan to counsel for drug abuse you may benefit from majoring in addiction studies with a minor in criminal justice.


Because the field is paperwork intensive your degree should also include computer courses geared towards patient recordkeeping and maintenance. You can save time accumulating the required experience hours by doing your degree internship under an approved clinical supervisor.


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.


Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners


The Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners states in their mission statement that they “protect the public interest” in regard to mental health counseling. The Board regulates the counseling industry throughout the state including licensing and investigating complaints against professionals. The Board has established the Professional Assistance Program (PAP) to assist professionals and safeguard consumers.


Address

8631 Summa Avenue

Baton Rouge, LA 70809


Phone

(225) 765-2515


Website Address

http://www.lpcboard.org/


Licensure:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

  • Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC)

  • Provisional Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (PLMFT)


Louisiana addiction counselors are credentialed by the Addiction Problem Regulatory Authority. There are 3 levels of credentialing: Certified Dependence Specialist (LAC), Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC), in addition to Registered Reliance Specialist (RAC). Each of these credentials requires an assessment and likewise a duration of monitored job experience; the work experience duration is shorter for people that hold levels.


At least 180 hours need to be attached particularly to therapy of compound abuse issues. 6 hrs need to be in worth. The remaining hrs might consist of various other helpful coursework. One college debt human resources is taken into consideration for the matching of 15 clock human resources. One continuing education and learning and discovering system might be counted as 10 clock hours.


Consisted of in the experience demand is a 300 hour practicum. The practicum experience need to handle the 12 core addiction therapy functions; there need to be at least 20 hours of practicum in each function. Attributes consist of the following: testing, consumption, orientation, evaluation, therapy preparation, therapy, client education, circumstance surveillance, crisis intervention, recommendation, document keeping, as well as assessment with various other credentialed professionals.


The licensing firm might in many cases approve a waiver to an individual that has a level outside the human solutions market; this is done simply upon assessment with the IC & RC. The minimum age synchronizes as it is for the RAC credential: 21 years. The graduate needs to satisfy most needs for credentialing at the RAC degree, including having really finished 270 hrs of certifying coursework as well as additional 300 humans resources of practicum/ guidance.


At the LAC level, only 2,000 hrs are required; this commitment may be satisfied via one year of full time service. Straight guidance might include trackings, treatment team meetings, private discussions along with graph or medical record examination. Prospects for credentialing by any means degrees will take an International Credentials as well as additionally Reciprocity Consortium (IC & RC) exam.


A prospect at the RAC degree or better needs to submit three expert references along with a supervisor evaluation. These records are to be included in the application packet in authorized, protected envelopes. The candidate needs to in addition compose an instance summary of real consumer therapy. A run-through can be uncovered in the application packet.


Louisiana has three main degrees of accreditation. The three degrees are called the following: Registered Reliance Therapist (RAC), the Licensed Reliance Counselor (CAC) and additionally the Licensed Dependency Specialist (LAC).


A Registered Evasion Specialist will certainly call for 6,000 hrs of experience. A Licensed Prevention Expert will absolutely require 4,000 in addition to an Accredited Evasion Professional, 2,000. Prospects at any type of degree will absolutely take the IC&RC Evasion Expert Examination as quickly as numerous other needs have really been satisfied in addition to approval has been provided. Individuals might start training as PSITs on the endurance of a secondary school diploma or GED; they need to have accomplished the age of 18.


Those with a high college diploma, a felony-free document, 2 years or even extra without chemical abuse, and 180 hours of addictions-related education and learning can end up being Counselors-in-Training (CITs) if they are at least 18 years of age. More youthful individuals or those not having the requisite education and learning along with job experience for licensure can get in the area as early as 16 years old, filling up the responsibility of an Addiction Treatment Aide (ATA).


To obtain an RAC authorization, a counselor needs to pass evaluations, execute requisite monitored job hrs, as well as full an additional 90 or even much more authorized hrs of qualified education and learning as well as understanding. Along with the addiction-related education and learning required discussed over, Louisiana chemical abuse CITs need to finish job experience and need to attain better degrees of licensure.


A lot of people want to learn how to become a drug counselor in Louisiana, but they don't know what it takes to be one. If you are one of these people, you should realize that there are many different schools that will train you to be a drug counselor.


Most of the schools that you can go to when you want to learn how to become a drug counselor in Louisiana are part of a non-profit organization or they are non-profit. The non-profit group usually provides their counselors with financial support so that they can be certified and take the coursework necessary to do their job. When you consider all of the financial problems that many states are facing, this is a huge benefit to them.


Other schools offer their own financial aid for the people who attend and take the course work that is necessary for them to become certified and take their state's certified exams. Many of these schools will also give you counseling resources and offer the services that the state requires in order to help you.


There are also the private schools for drug counselor requirements. If you are going to enroll at a private school, you will have a better chance of getting in. Some of these schools for drug counselor requirements will have the same guidelines as those that are provided at the non-profit schools, so you will not be in any difficulty.


There are a few online schools for drug counselor requirements that are online as well. These online schools offer the same kinds of course work that non-profit schools do.


The schools that do not require regular classes can be a little hard to find, but if you check the local phone book, there will probably be some in your area. The counselors in those schools will be able to show you what you need to know in order to get the certification that you are looking for.


You may even have to wait until you apply for jobs in Louisiana before you actually get to learn how to become a drug counselor in Louisiana. These schools want to make sure that the person applying has the proper qualifications before they put the person on a waiting list for jobs.


If you have the proper education and are prepared to do the work of a counselor, you may have to get certified with formal training. There are schools for drug and alcohol counseling that do not require formal training to be certified, but if you really want to learn how to become a drug counselor in Louisiana, you may have to go through some of the other requirements.


No matter which program you choose, you will need to get background checks and questionnaires to fill out when you apply for jobs in the state and then go through training to get your certifications to start working in a field that is related to your degree. Most schools for drug and alcohol counselor requirements only require formal training, but they may be able to give you training on-the-job if you show up in a class.


You will also need to get yourself ready for taking the tests that are required to become a drug counselor in Louisiana. You will need to keep yourself updated on all of the requirements that are currently in place.


You may have to go back to school after you have completed formal training to further your education and get certified to practice in the field that you have chosen. If you would like to learn how to become a drug counselor in Louisiana, you should go back to school if you want to.


There are many schools for drug counselor requirements in every state, so there is no reason why you should have any trouble in finding a school for you to go to. Just make sure that you get all of the information that you need to know and that you know exactly what it is that you need to know in order to get the right kind of schooling.


Counselor Testing & Examination Process


Once you've met the educational and experience criteria you will be eligible for certification. The first step is to apply to the ADRA to verify both your education and work experience are acceptable. You'll be required to pay a fee of $186 and pass a background check when you apply and will also need to submit your documents regarding education and experience. Your application may take up to four weeks to be reviewed.


Once your application is reviewed you'll receive a notice of approval via email with a testing payment form attached. The fee for each credential is $285 and should be submitted promptly. Once your payment is processed you'll be contacted by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) through the Louisiana Substance Abuse Counselors and Trainers (LASACT) office with test scheduling instructions. Testing centers are located in LaPlace and Baton Rouge.


LASACT uses Computer Based Testing (CBT) and your test results will be available immediately. Your new credentials will be made available after the next formal ADRA board meeting.


Clinical Supervision Explained


Clinical supervision is your work experience as a substance abuse counselor while you're earning your certification. A clinical supervisor (CCS) must be approved by ADRA and meet the following criteria to become certified:


  • Hold a valid LAC, CAC, or RAC credential with an addiction add-on certificate

  • Complete 10,000 hours (five years full-time employment) of work experience treating addictive disorders, 4,000 of those hours being in a supervisory position

  • Completed 200 clock hours of face-to-face clinical supervision (up to 100 of which may be via computer real-time)

  • Complete 90 clock hours of education, 30 hours of which should be in the first five supervision domains (minimum four hours each domain and 60 hours specific to addiction treatment


The five required supervision domains are:


  • Administration

  • Counselor Development

  • Professional & Ethical Standards

  • Program Development & Quality Assurance

  • Program Evaluation

  • Treatment Knowledge


Because clinical supervisors must meet these strident requirements to earn the CCS certificate it is vital that you verify the credential when you are completing your work requirements prior to your certification and licensure.


Renewal and Continuing Education


Your substance abuse counselor certification must be renewed every two years. During the two years prior to renewal you will be required to complete 48 hours of continuing education including at least six hours in professional ethics.


Continuing education verification also uses clock hours; one semester credit hour equals 15 clock hours. The following forms are also acceptable types of continuing education:


  • Workshops

  • Courses

  • Seminars

  • Other educational programs offered by the ADRA

  • Education provided by a counselor's own agency with prior ADRA approval is accepted; in-service training is not acceptable.


You will be responsible for providing proof of completed continuing education when you submit your renewal form so it's vital that you track and document all CE during the two years your license is in effect.


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


Professional organizations will be vital to your career as a substance abuse counselor. They provide mentorship, peer networking, and continuing education as well as resources to complete your education and career.


You should plan to join one or more professional organizations as soon as you begin your counseling education. By having a solid foundation of resources to turn to you will make your professional path easier to find and follow. Here are a few organizations dedicated to the field of substance abuse counseling:


  • Louisiana Substance Abuse Counselors and Trainers

  • The Louisiana Association of Addiction and Offender Counselors

  • Louisiana Association of Addiction Professionals