Maine
What does an Addiction Counselor in Maine do? What is Their Job Role?
If your goal is to become a substance abuse counselor in Maine you've chosen a great profession. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 23 percent rate of job growth over the next decade, and although Maine's counselor growth projection is considerably less at 8.7 percent it is still higher than all occupational growth, which is at seven percent.
Job Description
Substance abuse counselors in Maine earn an annual median wage of $46,890 which is considerably higher than the national average of $41,070. Coupled with the lower state cost of living this means a substance abuse counselor in Maine can enjoy a comfortable lifestyle while helping others overcome addiction.
A full 50 percent of counselors in Maine hold a master’s degree. Another 25 percent hold a bachelor’s degree, so you should take that into consideration when making your long-term goals. Because the highest 10 percent median wage, which typically represents those with higher education levels and more work experience, is over $66,000 earning your master’s degree or higher can translate into almost $20,000 in annual wages. Although you can become certified with an associate degree only five percent of counselors have that level of education, so you should use it as a stepping-stone degree.
Because substance abuse counselor licensure requires a combination of education and experience you should plan your education accordingly. If you're beginning college with an associate or bachelor degree make sure the coursework will segue into a master's or doctorate in the long term. Here's a look at the licensure requirements for substance abuse counselors in Maine.
Overview
Maine offers two levels of licensure for counselors: Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC). In addition, the state offers a designation of Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) which is a supervisory position authorized to oversee those who are working towards their credential. Each type of certification requires specific education levels combined with specific supervised work experience before a counselor is qualified to take a certification exam.
Counselor credentials in Maine are overseen by the Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors. The Board is responsible for applications, testing, credentials, and renewal as well as maintaining the database of credentialed counselors.
Because work experience is a big part of your licensure requirements it's important you understand what clinical supervision means. You will be responsible for verifying your employment qualifies as work experience while earning your credential, so you should know what clinical supervision is and how to track it with your supervisor at each place of employment.
Substance abuse counselor credentials must be renewed periodically. Once you earn your certification or licensure you'll be required to complete continuing education before your credential expires. Having a working knowledge of the renewal procedure will help you plan your future goals as you work towards your next degree or credential.
The field of counseling is known as a high burnout occupation, so it's vital that you have a support system in place as you work towards your career goals. By joining professional organizations when you enter your substance abuse counselor program you'll be able to grow your network and support system as you learn.
Maine Licensing & Certifications for Associates & Independent Counselors
Maine has two credentials for substance abuse counselors as well as certification for approved clinical supervisors and is one of the few states that do not require a minimum education of bachelor’s degree for certification. In Maine there's also the position of Alcohol and Drug Counseling Aide (ADCA) to allow students to gain the necessary experience while qualifying for their credential. All positions require the applicant be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma, and pass a background check. Here's a look at the two counseling credentials and what is required to apply for each:
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC)
To apply to sit for the CADC you have three educational options.
First option: earn at least an associate's degree from a regionally or nationally accredited school and must be either in addiction counseling or clinically based behavioral sciences or in one of the following related fields:
Social and behavioral sciences
Social work
Counseling
Childhood development
Education and human development
Mental health and human services
Nursing
Psychology
Psychology/educational psychology
Rehabilitation services
Second option: an applicant may also show proof of completion of 30 credit hours from an accredited school in one of the following subjects:
Psychology
Crisis Identification and Intervention
Group Process
Introduction to Social Service Systems
Chemical Dependency
Chemical Dependency Counseling
Career Experience in Social & Rehabilitative Services
Models of Addiction
Addiction and the Family
Substance Abuse Counseling for Special Populations
Case Management
Introduction to Community Mental Health
Psychosocial Rehabilitation
Interviewing and Counseling
Crisis Identification and Resolution
Substance Abuse with a Dual Diagnosis Component
Sexual Abuse, Trauma and Recovery
Mental Health and Aging
Cultural Competency/Diversity
Vocational Aspects of Disability
Third option: earn a Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician Certificate (MHRT/Community) from the University of Maine at Augusta or the University of Southern Maine or a Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Technician Certificate from the University of Maine at Augusta.
In addition to the educational requirements a candidate must have 4,000 hours of supervised work experience working directly with alcohol and drug addiction clients. This experience must include three of the following functions:
Case Management
Client and Family education
Clinical evaluation
Counseling of individuals, groups, couples or families
Treatment Planning
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC)
The educational requirements to apply for your LADC are the same as the first option under CADC certification. You must hold at minimum an associate's degree in addiction counseling or clinically based behavioral sciences from an accredited institution and you degree must be in one of the following fields:
Childhood development
Counseling
Education and human development
Mental health and human services
Nursing
Psychology
Psychology/educational psychology
Rehabilitation services
Social and behavioral sciences
Social work
There are several options available to meet your work experience requirement to apply for your LADC:
6,000 hours of supervised work experience working directly with alcohol and drug addiction clients.
If you hold an associates or bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited school the supervised hours required are reduced to 4,000.
If you hold a master’s degree in addiction therapy or a clinical application behavioral science from an accredited college or university the supervised hour requirement is reduced to 2,000.
If you hold an active CADC credential the supervised hour requirement is 2,000 hours.
Education Requirements
As outlined above, the educational requirements in Maine are far less strident than in most states. The most important thing is to verify that your school of choice has the proper accreditation as required by the Maine Office of Substance Abuse. The following two organizations are accepted by the Board for accreditation:
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
In addition, although a graduate degree is not required for licensure the majority of substance abuse counselors in Maine hold a master’s degree, so this should be in your long term plans.
Make sure the credits of your associate's degree will segue smoothly into your future Master's program at the time you enroll.
If an internship is part of your educational requirements make sure you register as a Alcohol and Drug Counseling Aide (ADCA) and that your internship is under a Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) so you may apply your experience towards your licensure requirements.
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 Professional and Financial Regulation (DPFR)
Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure
The Maine Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure is a division of the DPFR which was created to protect Maine’s citizens through regulation. The Board currently only offers license renewals. Initial licenses are issued via the DPFR, but information can be acquired through the Board. The Board of Counseling Professionals investigates consumer complaints as well as offering specific information on Maine laws regarding the counseling profession.
Address
Gardiner Annex
76 Northern Ave.
Gardiner, ME. 04345
Phone
(207) 624-8603
Website Address
https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/counselors/
Licensure:
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Licensed Professional Counselor-Conditional (LPC-C)
Maine has a licensed Chemical abuse Therapist as well as Certified level. Both titles are: the Accredited Alcohol in addition to Medicine Therapist (CADC) and the Certified Alcohol as well as Medicine Therapist (LADC). There is a 3rd degree of licensure referred to as the Alcohol as well as Medicine Therapy Aide which allows you to get experience for the 2 better degrees, the Assistant's only requirement is that you have a High Institution Diploma, pass a criminal background check and likewise be 18 years of age.
Maine alcohol as well as likewise drug therapists are credentialed by the Board of Alcohol and additionally Medicine Specialist. The Board provides a Competent Alcohol as well as Drug Counselor (CADC) credential and also a Certified Alcohol as well as Drug Therapist (LADC) credential. Credentialing at the lower level needs college education and learning or monitored strategy while credentialing at the greater degree needs both.
With a certifying level at the associate or baccalaureate degree, the candidate will absolutely need 4,000 humans resources of monitored experience. With a certifying degree at the master's degree, simply 2,000 hours of experience are called for. The qualifying degree could be in reliance therapy or behavioral clinical research or in any of the adhering to areas: youth years improvement, education and likewise human advancement, training psychology, psychological wellness in addition to human solutions, nursing, psychology, recuperation options, social clinical looks into, or community service.
LADCs could achieve qualification as medical managers by passing the medical supervisor examination in addition to showing that numerous other demands have actually been met. As soon as education as well as understanding in addition to approach demands have actually been fulfilled, the possible alcohol in addition to medication therapist will definitely send out an application to be certified to take the analysis. The candidate will need a supervisor confirmation kind; this is to be consisted of in the specific same bundle as the application.
The information listed below attaches making every effort therapists to specialist sources as well as additional recommendations, preparing them to get as well as keep the qualifications they need for this task. Those interested in ending up being Maine chemical abuse counselors require to get a number of types of licensure from Maine's Board of Alcohol in addition to Medication Counselors. A grown-up with a high institution diploma or GED can wind up being an alcohol and also drug therapy aid (ADCA) if they can acquire entry-level work at a facility that supplies chemical abuse counseling solutions.
Although making a Maine drug abuse treatment certificate does not require a higher education and learning level, a linked partner, bachelor's, or academic degree gives a solid foundation for an individual's treatment education and learning as well as also occupation in addition to lowers the selection of task experience required for licensure. In addition to addictions-related degrees, the sticking to degrees supply relevant preparation for licensure in Maine: childhood innovation, academic psychology, rehabilitation services, social scientific researches, education and also discovering and human development, psychological health and also wellness as well as likewise human services, nursing, community service, social clinical researches, in addition to nursing.
People can similarly obtain the CADC credential by obtaining an associate level or completing at least 30 credit score reports of certified university coursework in numerous of the adhering to areas: chemical dependence, dependence, social competency, situation treatment, psychology, mental health as well as aging, team procedures, twin clinical diagnosis, psychosocial rehabilitation, area mental wellness as well as health, situation monitoring, sexual abuse/trauma healing, social option systems, or work aspects of unique requirements.
To become a drug and alcohol counselor in Maine, you need to be willing to work with people. The most common problems are people who abuse drugs and alcohol.
Many people who struggle with substance abuse issues turn to counselors. Counselors can help them work through their issues so they don't fall back into the habits they were trying to get out of. It is important to know that a person who has problems with drug and alcohol abuse should never seek help from another individual to try to quit.
Before you consider trying to work with someone else to help them quit, it is important to know what substance abuse is. This will help you understand the terminology and the treatment plans. When you know the difference between different types of drug and alcohol addiction, you will have more confidence when you meet with your client.
Becoming a drug and alcohol counselor is more than just picking up the phone and calling someone to ask them how to become a drug counselor. Counselors must be willing to deal with a wide range of individuals and come up with new ways to help each person get the help he or she needs. When a counselor starts to understand the addiction and the need for treatment, the work will be easier.
Some people don't go to counseling because they are afraid of the stigma that goes along with it. You have to remember that the stigma is real, however. Some people are embarrassed by the thought of going to a counselor.
If you want to help people, you need to understand the process. Many people don't want to use drugs or alcohol because they are embarrassed about it. Counseling will be uncomfortable for some people, but if you work with them you will find that the discomfort is part of the process. You will need to prepare yourself for the work you will be doing on a regular basis. In order to be effective you need to know about the behaviors that lead to substance abuse and understand what can be done to prevent people from going into situations where they may abuse drugs and alcohol. It is also important to know that alcohol and drug counseling services include a variety of methods and resources that can help people who have drug and alcohol issues.
The fees for these services are based on what services are needed, as well as possible rates for the services. The base rates for these services are affordable for people. Some of the organizations that offer counseling services also offer other types of services as well. These include group therapy, family therapy, and other forms of therapy.
Group therapy can be used by any number of people who may be struggling with substance abuse issues. Most groups will meet once a week or once a month. Group therapy can help a person learn how to interact with others, learn more about a certain issue, and can help them understand what is happening in their lives.
Personal therapy can be a great addition to group therapy. A counselor will be able to help a person who is struggling with substance abuse come to terms with their feelings and think clearly. Sometimes a counselor will be able to help the person with alcohol and drug issues to work through issues that are causing the person to abuse drugs and alcohol.
Private therapy can be used to help a person deal with the shame and guilt that alcohol and drug abuse brings. In private sessions with the counselor will be able to help the person to examine the problems that led them to abusing drugs and alcohol and determine how to overcome the problem. Private therapy can be used for a variety of reasons, including anxiety and depression.
Becoming a drug and alcohol counselor in Maine is a big decision. As with any major decision, it will require research and extensive discussion with a qualified counselor. Make sure that you are ready to take the steps required to get the help you need.
Counselor Testing & Examination Process
In Maine counselor credentials are awarded through the Board of Alcohol & Drug Counselors. Your first step will be to apply for the exam and you'll need to submit your documents and information online through that website. When applying you'll need the following:
Birth certificate
Background check
10-year non-certified motor vehicle report
Education transcripts
Supervised experience verification
The exams are overseen by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC). Once your application is approved by the BADC they will forward your information to the IC&RC and that organization will notify you via email with your testing date and location. The following exams are given; you may find sample tests on the BADC website:
CADC: IC&RC ADC examination
LADC: IC&RC ADC and Advanced ADC examinations OR IC&RC ADC and CPM (Case Oral) examinations
IC&RC will notify the Board with your test results and they in turn will notify you. Once you pass the exam you may apply for your licensure through that office.
Clinical Supervision Explained
Clinical supervision means your counseling work is done under the direct oversight of a Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS). Your CCS will be tasked with teaching you, consulting with you, and helping you research as needed in your clinical activity.
A CCS is also the person who helps you track your work experience hours and verifies the hours on the proper form for your certification. It is imperative that you make sure this paperwork is maintained throughout the time you are accumulating your work experience hours.
Renewal and Continuing Education
Your CADC or LADC expires on November 30 each year. You will be required to take continuing professional education (CPE) throughout your career; CPE verification is due biannually in odd numbered years. The following requirements are for each level of licensure:
ADCA: 12 contact hours
CADC: 24 contact hours
LADC: 36 contact hours
CCS: 12 contact hours
LADCs who are also certified clinical supervisors need to complete a total of 48 contact hours.
Your CPE must include at least four hours of professional ethics. The following activities are recognized as CPE:
Seminars, Workshops and Institutes
College Level Courses
In-Service Training Sessions (10 hours maximum)
Teaching, writing, audiotapes/disks, videotapes/disks, independent study, certain distance learning (10 hours maximum)
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
Affiliation with professional organizations will be vital to your career as a substance abuse counselor in Maine. Membership in a professional organization can have many benefits such as:
News on developments in the field
Changes in law that can affect your career
Mentorship
Networking
Continuing professional education opportunities
Job openings
As soon as you enroll in college you should join at least one organization. Your career advisor can recommend an association that is student-friendly, or you can join one of the following organizations:
Maine Association for Addiction Professionals
Maine Association of Substance Abuse Programs
Maine Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors
National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors