Mississippi

What does an Addiction Counselor in Mississippi’s do? What is Their Job Role?

If your goal is to become a substance abuse counselor in Mississippi you've chosen an excellent profession. Although the field isn't growing as fast in Mississippi as it is in other areas of the country the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a healthy hiring growth of 12 percent over the next 10 years.

Overview

The median annual income for counselors in the state is $35,390 and the highest 10 percent earned an annual median income of $59,230. Combined with a low cost of living you can expect a stable income once you receive your state credentials and become a full-fledged substance abuse counselor.

Although a graduate degree is not required to work in the field over half of counselors hold at least a master’s degree and you will need that degree for state certification, so you should make a master’s or doctorate your long-term goal. Generally speaking, those with the highest education and most experience enjoy higher wages as well as the widest range of job choices in the field.

According to U.S. News and World Report the substance abuse counseling field will continue to grow due to a number of factors. The escalating opiate addiction crisis is making counseling more mainstream and accepted and at the same time the penal system is turning to treatment-oriented court sentences as opposed to incarceration. In addition, as insurance companies turn to prevention as an alternative to treatment this avenue of substance abuse counseling is seeing substantial growth as well.

Although most consider substance abuse to relate to drug and alcohol counselors also treat those with other issues such as gambling addiction and eating disorders. They may treat families and groups as well as individuals.

Mississippi Credentials

Mississippi awards two credentials for substance abuse counselors: Provisional Certified Addiction Therapist, or PCAT, which is an interim credential, and Certified Addiction Therapist (CAT) credential. Credentials are overseen by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH).

To be credentialed you must complete at least a Master's degree, specific educational requirements as well as experience. Because of the graduate degree requirement, the PCAT is designed to allow you a level of certification while you are employed in the field and working on your higher credential.

Your education must include specific coursework that pertains to the field of drug and alcohol addiction as well as counseling. To meet state requirements your work experience must be under the guidance of a clinical supervisor that has been designated as such by the DMH.

Once you've earned certification you will be required to periodically renew your license. During the interim period you will be required to complete specific continuing education credits before your renewal will be granted.

Becoming a substance abuse counselor takes a lot of work and dedication, so it's a good idea to join a professional organization as soon as you enroll in school. This will give you numerous benefits and resources to help you on your path to your new career.

Mississippi Licensing & Certifications for Associates & Independent Counselors

There are two credentials you can earn as a substance abuse counselor in Mississippi: the interim credential Provisional Certified Addiction Therapist (PCAT), which allows you to work in the field while earning your full certification and the Certified Addiction Therapist (CAT) Here's a look at the requirements of each:

Provisional Certified Addiction Therapist (PCAT) Requirements

Master's degree in a behavior science field such as:

Addiction counseling
Addiction studies
Healthcare administration
Health science
Criminal justice
Nursing
Regardless of your master’s degree field you'll need to complete five of the following courses:
Abnormal psychology
Theories of counseling
Marriage and family therapy
Group dynamics
Co-occurring disorders
Physiology and pharmacology of addiction
Sociology of addictive behavior
Cultural sensitivity
Diagnosis and treatment
Personality science
Treatment of addictive behavior

Once you meet the educational requirements you must be employed by the state mental health system before you can apply for your credential. The PCAT is only valid for two years and cannot be renewed; its sole purpose is to give you time to gain the required experience for your full licensure.

Certified Addiction Therapist (CAT) Requirements

The CAT credential includes the same educational requirements as well as a minimum of two years full-time clinically supervised experience in the field of alcohol and drug use prevention or treatment services. Graduate filed experience such as a practicum up to six months may be counted as long as it meets the clinical supervision requirements.

You must also pass the DMH sponsored National Counselor Exam(NCE) web-based training component before you can apply for your credential.

Education Requirements

Your educational requirements as stated above must be completed through a regionally or nationally accredited program. Because experience is required to become fully licensed, you should complete your practicum or internship under the supervision of a state approved clinical supervisor so you can use it for part of your experience requirement.

Although other majors are accepted ideally your master’s degree should be in addiction studies or addiction counseling to streamline your education process.

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.

State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors

In Mississippi, the State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors provides licensure and regulation of professional counselors. Anyone using the title of “Licensed Professional Counselor” in the state is subject to the regulations enforced by this Board. The mission of the Board is to protect the "public health, safety, and welfare" of Mississippi’s citizens. Board members in Mississippi are appointed by the Governor and must be confirmed by the Senate. Regulations are enforced to ensure the integrity of the Board. Mississippi takes the responsibilities of this regulatory Board very seriously.

Address

239 North Lamar Street

Suite 402

Jackson, MS 39201

Phone

(601) 359-1010

Website Address

https://www.lpc.ms.gov/secure/index.asp

Licensure:

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (P-LPC)

States are creating networks to improve remedies for children with extreme emotional disruptions along with their families. These networks call for staffing. The criminal justice system will definitely develop added demand for certified specialist counselors to deal with medicine culprits as a choice to jail time. Chemical abuse professionals that have actually gained a master's degree, have expert and location experience, and have in fact made tailored certification or qualification have the best job leads in this field.

The substance abuse therapist is a mental health and wellness therapist specializing in managing people who have a chemical reliance on drugs or alcohol. Whether counseling addicts or those that fear they will absolutely happen addicts, a chemical abuse counselor works with their consumer to aid do away with reliances as well as become self-dependent. The chemical abuse therapist could furthermore function closely with the family of the client as substance abuse absolutely affects the delighted among the chemically reliant individual.

If you have an all-natural disposition in the direction of helping those in demand, a job as a chemical abuse specialist could be simply what you are looking for! On this web page you can locate actions on just how to come to be a substance/addiction therapist, you can likewise surf to your home state to much more see specific licensure needs.

You can access each state at the base of this page. Furthermore, a fantastic source to recommend is the NBCC and/or the NAADAC. The NBCC helps discover the locate suitable contact information for specific states, offered licenses as well as additional required examinations. As well as additionally the NAADC is a national accreditation going beyond the majority of state requirements.

Otherwise if you establish to stop at Bachelor's Degree it is extremely suggested to make a B.S. in Psychology or a meticulously relevant area throughout up being an Addiction Expert. Specify what sort of therapy or psychology program you are aiming to check out. One of one of the most typical alternatives is a degree in Reliance Investigates from an acknowledged CACREP certified program.

Constantly twin talk to the state boards in which you stay to comply with all therapies and to most especially research study for the correct test. There are a selection of approaches ahead to be a compound as well as dependency misuse expert. Counting on where you are aiming to focus your time whether it continues to be in a federal government office setting, an unique method, a healthcare institution, and more.

Depending upon what specialized you choose, constantly connect with your state to recognize what credentials you will require to exercise to even more ending up being a Chemical abuse Counselor additionally described as an Addiction Specialist. Each state will certainly have requirements to maintain your credentials as a working out specialist. You will certainly require to contact your state worrying re-certification which may be required in between 3 as well as 10 years, all based on the state.

Substance abuse counselors are unable to suggest medicine or provide clinical or emotional therapy. Rather they team up with the customer in a campaigning for as well as mentoring capacity. The chemical abuse specialist becomes a vital number in the life of the addict. From aiding the client to see plainly the emotional bases of their reliance to helping with much more common jobs such as aiding the customer to find or maintain a job, the chemical abuse therapist collaborates with the customer to help them become self-sufficient in life.

People who have been arrested on drug charges and have received a court order to undergo drug and alcohol counseling should consider pursuing a certification to become an alcohol and drug counselor. A certification is not only a necessary step to becoming a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, but it also helps the counselor in gaining employment opportunities and working for rehabilitation programs. Certified counselors must take a minimum of 45 credit hours of continuing education courses and pass an examination to become certified.

People who have been arrested on drug charges are not eligible to receive a certification. The certified alcohol and drug counselor certificate will allow an individual to take a refresher course and become a registered counselor after receiving a certification from the American Association of Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselors.

The counselor certificate is similar to a bachelor's degree in the field of counseling, but it does not require a Bachelor of Science Degree. A two-year program is a good minimum requirement to become certified. Most states require a two-year program.

Those who have a high school diploma or GED can complete the program. Students must take a state-approved drug and alcohol education course and pass the state exam to be able to take the alcohol and drug counseling certification exam.

Once the program is completed, students will need to sit for a state-administered counselor certification exam. Students will take a practice test and a written examination in addition to passing the exam to become a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.

Those who have a Bachelor's degree are more likely to earn a counselor certificate. Counselors must complete a two-year program and take the state-administered exam before they can take the certification exam. Students should take a state-approved drug and alcohol education course and pass the state exam to become a certified counselor.

Students who have a four-year degree will need to take a three-credit course to earn a counselor certification exam. Students should take a state-approved alcohol and drug education course and pass the state exam to become a certified counselor.

Students with a Masters degree are eligible to earn a counselor certificate after completing a two-year program. Counselors take the state-administered test and pass the state exam to earn the certification. Students who have a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree are also eligible to earn a counseling certification. Counselors will take a two-year program and complete a state-approved drug and alcohol education course and pass the state exam to become certified.

Students who earn a Doctorate degree in Counselor Education will earn a counselor certification after completing a three-year program. The students will complete a two-year program and take the state-administered exam. Students who have a Master's degree and a Doctorate degree are also eligible to earn a counselor certification after completing a two-year program.

Students who earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree are also eligible to earn a counselor certification after completing a two-year program. The students will complete a two-year program and take the state-administered exam to earn the certification. Students who have a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degree are also eligible to earn a counselor certification after completing a two-year program.

Students who earn a Master's degree are able to earn a counselor certification after completing a two-year program. The students will complete a two-year program and take the state-administered exam to earn the certification. Counselors who have a Bachelor's degree and a Masters degree are also eligible to earn a counselor certification after completing a two-year program.

Students who complete a Masters degree are able to earn a counseling certification after completing a two-year program. The students will complete a two-year program and take the state-administered exam to earn the certification.

Those students who have completed their Bachelor's degree and are in need of a certificate should complete a two-year program and complete a three-credit course. Students will complete a two-year program and take the state-administered exam to earn the certification.