Pennsylvania

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


A substance abuse counselor works to help people overcome addiction and substance abuse. The counselor might stage interventions, conduct intakes, and lead ongoing individual and group therapy sessions. The counselor will assess the client's condition, triggers, and extenuating circumstances--and from there, help them put together a path toward recovery.


Pennsylvania laws and requirements regulate this profession are based on your education level and work background, so the path toward becoming a counselor will look different on a person by person basis.


Here is a bit of background info on the requirements and application process for prospective counselors in the state of Pennsylvania.


Overview


This position is ideal for the type of person who wishes to make a difference in others' lives. Substance abuse counselors must be skilled at communicating and assessing client needs on an individual level. Recovery plans take into account age, education, family, and level of addiction, as well as factors like occupation and income.


And beyond that, sadly, this is a field that likely will remain in high demand. So, with the right education and a clear picture of the requirements ahead, you could be well on your way to a rewarding career in chemical dependency counseling.


According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) over 15,000 mental health counselors, 6,000 rehab counselors and 9,600 substance abuse counselors are actively employed in Pennsylvania. Average salaries range from $37k to $39k, slightly higher than the national average.


In many cases, counselors will oversee the detox and rehab process, but they also provide ongoing care after treatment. Duties include evaluating the problem, leading group therapy sessions, teaching healthy coping mechanisms, and helping patients find jobs and get their career back on track.


What the actual job will look like depends heavily on your education and experience.


All counselors can expect to assess clients' addictions and behaviors, as well as any other underlying mental health issues. From there, the counselor will develop a plan of action aimed at benefiting not only the client, but their family, friends, and employer.


Addiction counselors often work one-on-one with clients in a therapeutic setting. Here, they'll work to uncover the triggers or causes of alcoholism or drug abuse. Counselors without a master’s degree will need to work under supervision, while those with an advanced degree may work on their own.


Pennsylvania Licensing & Certifications for Associates & Independent Counselors


Pennsylvania has four primary levels of certification. Each level has a different set of requirements they must meet, but the main difference lies in candidates’ education level and how many hours of supervised practice they must complete to earn their certificate.


Here is a look at the options:


Certified Associate Addiction Counselor (CAAC)


This addiction credential does not require a degree, is international in scope and reciprocal, and meets the state staffing requirements.

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC)


This counseling credential requires a bachelor's degree. Because the certification process is done in conjunction with the IC&RC, Pennsylvania counselors earn an internationally-recognized certification.

Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC)


Candidates must have a Master's degree or higher to qualify for this credential, as well as pass the IC&RC exam.

Associate Addiction Counselor (AAC)


Available to newer addiction counselors wanting to begin the process of working toward full certification. This designation isn’t necessarily specific to the type of degree you’ve earned; rather, it’s a starting point for those looking to obtain any of the certs outlined above.


It’s worth pointing out that while there are opportunities at all levels, more doors will open for you depending on whether you’ve got an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree. The primary distinction is, your degree level will determine how many working hours you’ll need before you can become a certified chemical dependency counselor in the state of Pennsylvania.

  • Associate’s degree: minimum 3,640 hours

  • Bachelor’s degree: minimum 1,820 hours

  • Master’s degree: practical course hours may meet the requirement, but this is decided on a case by case basis.


If your human service experience weren’t in an alcohol or drug abuse counseling environment, you'd be required to complete a training program to make up any differences. Many general counselors go on to obtain their substance abuse certification.


Education Requirements


Becoming a licensed advanced counselor in Pennsylvania means candidates must complete a master’s or doctoral program in counseling or behavioral sciences. Education must be completed at an accredited college or university.


The program should consist of 60 semester hours, spread out between topics like human growth and development, group work, career and lifestyle development, research and program evaluation and professional orientation.


As a point of reference, you can take a look at the 049 Pa. Code § 49.2. This document outlines the full range of subjects that make up an acceptable program. Additionally, you'll need 100 hours of practicum, as well as an internship of 600 or more hours.


Still, going through all these rungs of the educational system, but the Certified Associate Addiction Counselor (CAAC) level, again, you won’t need a bachelor’s degree. Still, you’ll need to meet some other criteria before you’re eligible to get out there in the field.


Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) Licensing Credential


If you’re going in with a bachelor’s degree, you’ll likely explore getting your Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) credential.


  • To earn the CADC credential, you'll need to have completed a bachelor's degree at an accredited college or university.

  • You must also complete 300 hours of education specifically geared toward counseling and addiction. These educational requirements are similar to those linked to the CAAC certification.

  • Additionally, the candidate must obtain 4,000 hours of work experience in substance abuse counseling. If you have a master's degree, the number of hours will be reduced.

  • Candidates must pass the IC&RC exam.

Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) Licensing Credential


To become a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC), you’ll need to have a master’s degree. Here’s a look at the requirements for this designation:


  • A master’s degree, minimum, in a behavioral health field, with emphasis on counseling. Degrees must, of course, be earned at an accredited college or university.

  • 24 credit hours of counseling related coursework—While the board doesn't specify the classes needed, they must be directly related to treatment services, behavioral assessments, and diagnostics. It's also worth pointing out that entry-level courses like psychology 101 don't count toward said coursework--you'll need hands-on experience in this particular field.

  • Minimum of 3200 hours of supervised work, specifically in substance abuse counseling, completed in 24 months or less.

  • 100 hours spent working under clinical supervision

  • 1600 hours working directly with clients

  • And finally, passing the exam.


Your degree must be in the mental health field--in counseling, general psychology, marriage and family studies, substance abuse, rehabilitation, or another related area. The other part of this is, your degree must be earned at a regionally accredited institution.


Clinical Supervision Explained


Clinical supervision requirements will be based on the degree that you hold. For example, a candidate with a master's degree will need to complete a minimum of 3,600 clinical practice hours, post-graduate.


Those with a doctoral degree will see those hours reduced to just 2,400 supervised hours. Of those clinical practice hours, half must be performed in person, in what is called “direct client services.” This includes therapy sessions and other types of hands-on activities. Admin tasks such as staff meetings, office management, or intakes do not count toward this requirement.


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 Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors


The Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors is responsible for protecting the public from unprofessional and improper practices in professional counseling. The Board regulates clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors and also enforces regulations, issues licenses, and offers renewal. The Pennsylvania Board also conducts complaint hearings and enforces discipline including license suspension and revocation.


Address

P.O. Box 2649

Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649


Phone

(717) 783-1389


Website Address

https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/SocialWorkersMarriageanFamilyTherapistsandProfessionalCounselors/Pages/default.aspx


Licensure:

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)


According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Data, Pennsylvania has the third highest work level in the nation for reliance treatment therapists.1 Task openings for functioning as a behavior disorder or dependency treatment specialist are anticipated to improve 22 percent from 2014 to 2024, much quicker than the criterion for a lot of line of work.


You can qualify to function as a dependency therapy counselor in Pennsylvania based upon your education and learning and additional experience, or by attaining certification from an approved certifying body. You'll be certified to operate as an addiction therapy specialist if you have an appropriate college level. Your degree level finds out the variety of hrs at a human solution company required to certify as a dependency treatment specialist in Pennsylvania:2 Affiliate's level: minimal 3,640 hrs Bachelor's level: minimum 1,820 hours Master's degree: practical program humans resources could meet the requirement If your human service experience wasn't in an alcohol or drug abuse therapy environment, you'll be needed to finish a training program to consist of any kind of distinctions.


Pennsylvania state policy has actually created that you can end up being completely qualified as a material abuse counselor based on credentials with a state accrediting body. The state recognizing body has to hold membership in the International Accreditation as well as also Reciprocity Consortium. The Pennsylvania Qualification Board uses the following chemical abuse specialist certifications: CAAC, CADC along with CAADC.3 You can end up being a dependency treatment therapist in Pennsylvania with a CAAC qualification if you have a high school diploma or GED, together with 300 humans resources of education and learning as well as discovering associated to reliance counseling.


To license as a CAADC, you must hold an academic degree from an identified college, and your education and learning ought to consist of 180 hours associated with material use disorders and also co-occurring disorders. When you hold a master's level, you can get approved for the CAADC problem with 2,000 hrs of experience, with 100 hrs of guidance.


Pennsylvania has 2 major degrees of certification for those that hold degrees. Both degrees are referred to as the Certified Alcohol as well as also Medication Specialist (CADC) as well as the Qualified Advanced Alcohol in addition to Drug Counselor (CAADC). Each level has its actual own requirements that must be satisfied by prospective Drug abuse Counselors. Are you interested to find Dependence along with Substance Therapy education and learning? See colleges both areas in addition to online that inform extra wind up being a counselor or numerous other kinds of expert in pertinent job areas.


Capella College - Online Master of Scientific Research in Addiction Looks Into, BS Psychology, MS Treatment, MS Psychology You are needed to have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a behavior science with a medical application. It is recommended that your degree remain in Dependency Treatment. You are needed to have actually logged 4,000 hours over 2 years in expert oversaw work in an AODA setting with a minimum of 51% of these hours in straight customer contact.


You must have accumulated 300 hours of straight supervision throughout your job experience. You need to have 300 hours of Dependency Therapy associated education. With a minimum of 100 hours in alcohol in addition to different other drug abuse courses. You require to have 6 human resources in professional worth as well as additional obligations. You should likewise have 6 hours in training courses associated with contagious problems.


You have to pass the PCB produced exam. You can situate the application for the CADC below. You are needed to have a minimum of a Master's degree in behavioral scientific research with a clinical application. It is suggested that your level stay in Reliance Therapy. You are needed to have logged 2,000 hours of professional monitored work in an AODA setup with a minimum of 51% of these hours in a straight client phone call.


An in-home drug and alcohol counselor in Pennsylvania can help you reduce the negative effects of alcohol and drugs and regain your life and relationship with others. Drug and alcohol addiction is a serious problem and must be treated as soon as possible. The effects of drug and alcohol abuse can lead to physical, mental and emotional problems that can cause severe consequences in your life. Your family and friends need to be aware of how serious drug and alcohol abuse is and the different programs that exist to help addicts in Pennsylvania get help.


Your in-home drug and alcohol counselor in Pennsylvania will help you find appropriate treatment programs. A good counselor will know what programs are available in your area and what to expect during and after treatment. A good counselor will also be able to provide support to your loved ones and help them cope with the effects of an addiction.


If you or someone you care about is an addict, you need to find a qualified in-home drug and alcohol counselor in Pennsylvania. Drug and alcohol counseling is not just a program you attend once; it can be ongoing.


An in-home drug and alcohol counselor will not only help you find the right drug and alcohol rehab program, but they will also work closely with you and your family to help you cope with withdrawal symptoms and how to treat addictions in general. Your counselor will also be able to teach you coping mechanisms, techniques for dealing with stress, healthy eating, exercising, and other activities that will help you deal with the stress associated with an addiction. If you are ready for a change, but you do not know where to turn, your counselor can help guide you through the process.


If you or someone you care about is an addict, a good in-home drug and alcohol counselor in Pennsylvania can help you find the right treatment program. An in-home drug and alcohol counselor can help you learn more about the different types of addiction, help you set up goals and help you keep up with your recovery progress. Your counselor can also help you develop a personal recovery plan based on your needs and interests. Counselors will provide support and motivation and offer information about treatment programs.


An in-home drug and alcohol counselor can help you learn about relapse prevention and how to deal with the stress and negative effects of an addiction. Your counselor will also help you maintain a positive attitude and maintain a positive self-image.


A qualified in-home drug and alcohol counselor in Pennsylvania can help you deal with withdrawal symptoms and how to treat addictions in general. Your counselor will also be able to help you prepare for your future by teaching you coping mechanisms, healthy eating, exercise, and other ways to cope with stress. Your counselor will help you understand how to get help in your community by speaking with your doctor and/or local community groups and schools.


A qualified in-home drug and alcohol counselor in Pennsylvania can provide treatment for both alcohol and drug abuse. An in-home counselor in Pennsylvania will teach you how to manage your emotions and what to expect when your drug and alcohol use are over. If you are ready for a change, a qualified counselor can help you get help and start to rebuild your life.


In-home counselors will give you the tools and resources that you need to cope with your addictions. These tools include medications, hypnosis, counseling, exercise, healthy eating, etc. Your counselor will help you find a healthy place to live, learn coping mechanisms, learn how to handle stress, and more.


An in-home drug and alcohol counselor in Pennsylvania can teach you coping mechanisms to help you overcome the challenges of recovery and prevent relapse. A counselor can also help you make informed decisions about your life and help you get the life you deserve. Your counselor will help you choose the best medication for your addiction, help you set up realistic goals, and healthy eating plans, and even help you learn effective money management skills.


A counselor in Pennsylvania will also teach you how to maintain a positive attitude and maintain a positive self-image by helping you learn how to avoid addictive behavior. When your addiction is over, you can then take advantage of the resources that are available to you in order to build a successful life. Your counselor will also help you learn new coping mechanisms to help you with day-to-day life. Once your drug and alcohol use are over, you will have a lot more to learn and a lot more to gain by taking advantage of the resources that are available to you and living the new life.


Counselor Testing & Examination Process


Counselor candidates can download information for their desired credential from the board website. There, you'll receive detailed information about certification criteria.


Fees vary, depending on your certification. A CADC candidate can expect to pay $350 for the exam. Retests are $200, and an AAC credential is $100.


You'll also need to produce supporting documents like recorded practice hours, transcripts, and a signed and notarized code of ethics.


The board will then review the application packet and deem the candidate eligible--or not--to take the exam. Once approved, the candidate can schedule their exam. If they fail, they must wait 60 days before they can try again.


Applications remain open for one calendar year. it's also worth noting that, if you have an existing CADC degree, you can upgrade your license if you earn a master's degree and complete the advanced IC&RC exam.


Renewal and Continuing Education


The Pennsylvania Certification Board does require that counselors take courses to stay up to date on the current best practices. What’s nice about the board’s site is, they’ve made it really easy for counselors and candidates to sign up for courses, directly from the site.


Additionally, if you’d rather take a course at another institution, you can check your desired classes in the Board’s database to see if it qualifies as continuing education.


Pennsylvania Substance Abuse Associations


As mentioned above, there are a few associations Pennsylvania substance abuse professionals can turn to--whether that's for continuing education, certification, or state requirements.


Here's a look at each organization and what they do for counselors and candidates in this field:


Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB)


The same Board that issues licenses to mental health counselors and social workers. The PCB site serves as a resource for prospective candidates looking for info on becoming a counselor and how to navigate the process. Their official website is quite helpful and features classes, study guides, and even offers a pre-application education review so you know where you stand.

IC&RC


The International Credentialing Organization. The PCB is actually a member of this organization, and they offer reciprocal licensing, so those moving between states can easily transfer their license and continue their work. The IC&RC is responsible for issuing the licensing exam and they set the standard for the profession on a global scale. Their website functions as a resource for those looking to learn more about the testing process.


NAADAC


The Pennsylvania Association for Addiction Professionals is the local chapter of the NAADAC, a professional organization for addiction professionals. The site offers webinars, seminars, and other ongoing training and networking services. It’s an optional, paid membership, but many counselors find the association to be a good resource.


Salary Expectations


Finally, if you’re considering this career path, know that you’ll truly need to be passionate about making a difference in the recovery community. This is difficult work and you might not always take home the biggest paycheck. Salaries, on average, stay within the $35k-$40k, but that’s accounting for those with an associate degree, bachelor’s, and master’s. Of course, you can improve your outcome (and desirability) by earning a master’s degree or higher.


With that in mind, Pennsylvania substance abuse counselors stand to make a big difference--helping clients through the recovery process, and the subsequent maintenance stages that will keep them moving forward in their lives.


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